9. BIODIVERSITY, CLASSIFICATION AND CONSERVATION
1. Biodiversity, Classification, and Conservation:

Species: A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile
offspring.

Ecosystems: Interactions between living organisms and their physical
environments.

Niche: The role and position of a species in an ecosystem.

Levels of Biodiversity: Genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem
diversity.
 Genetic Diversity: Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes and
genetic characteristics within a population or species.
 Species Diversity: Species diversity is the number and variety of
different species present in a particular ecosystem or on Earth.
 Ecosystem Diversity: Ecosystem diversity represents the variety of
different ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, deserts, and oceans,
within a geographic area.

Spearman's Rank and Pearson's Linear Correlation: Statistical
tools to analyze relationships between species distribution and
environmental factors.

Simpson's Index of Diversity (D): A measure of biodiversity in a
habitat.

Classification: Arranging organisms into a taxonomic hierarchy.

Kingdoms: Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation,
climate change.

Conservation: Methods to protect endangered species and ecosystems.
2. August Weismann's 1886 Research on Inherited Factors:

Weismann's experiments with mice showed that acquired traits are not
passed from parents to offspring.

This supported the concept of the separation of germ cells and somatic
cells, laying the foundation for modern genetics.
3. Binomial system of classification
 The binomial system of classification, also known as binomial
nomenclature, is a system used in biology to name and categorize
species of living organisms.
 It was developed by the Swedish botanist and physician Carl Linnaeus
in the 18th century and is still widely used today.
 In the binomial system, each species is given a two-part scientific
name, consisting of a genus name and a species name.
 These names are typically written in Latin and are italicized or
underlined.
 The genus name is capitalized, while the species name is in lowercase.
For example, in the scientific name "Panthera leo," "Panthera" is the
genus name, and "leo" is the species name.
 This system offers several advantages:
Universal Language: Latin is used to ensure that scientists around
the world can communicate and understand each other's descriptions
of species, regardless of their native languages.
Clarity and Precision: The binomial system provides a clear and
precise way to distinguish between species. Organisms with the same
genus name are closely related.
Consistency: It ensures consistency in naming, reducing confusion
and ambiguity in the identification of species.
Hierarchy: The binomial system fits within a broader hierarchical
framework that includes higher categories like family, order, class,
phylum, and kingdom, allowing for the organization of species into
larger taxonomic groups.
Overall, the binomial system of classification simplifies the process of
naming and categorizing the immense diversity of life on Earth and
serves as the foundation of modern biological taxonomy.
Multiple Choice Questions – Self Testing Exercise:
1. What is a species? a) A group of similar individuals b) A group of organisms
that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring c) A group of organisms that
look alike d) A group of animals living in the same area
2. What is a niche in ecology? a) The physical environment of an organism b)
The role and position of a species in an ecosystem c) The competition between
species d) The geographical area where a species lives
3. What are the three levels of biodiversity? a) Genetic diversity, habitat
diversity, ecosystem diversity b) Species diversity, ecosystem diversity, food
chain diversity c) Genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity d)
Kingdom diversity, phylum diversity, class diversity
4. Which statistical method is used to analyze relationships between species
distribution and environmental factors? a) Punnett square b) Spearman's Rank
Correlation c) Simpson's Index of Diversity d) Taxonomic classification
5. What does Simpson's Index of Diversity (D) measure? a) The age of a habitat
b) The size of a habitat c) The biodiversity of a habitat d) The number of
invasive species in a habitat
6. Which of the following is not a kingdom in the taxonomic hierarchy? a)
Plantae b) Animalia c) Mammalia d) Fungi
7. What is a major threat to biodiversity associated with human activity? a)
Natural climate change b) Preservation of natural habitats c) Pollution d)
Disease outbreaks
8. What does August Weismann's research on mice support? a) The inheritance
of acquired traits b) The blending of inherited factors c) The existence of
Lamarckian inheritance d) The separation of germ cells and somatic cells
9. Which of the following is NOT a threat to biodiversity? a) Climate change b)
Habitat destruction c) Conservation efforts d) Pollution
10.What is the main goal of conservation biology? a) To maximize human
population growth b) To preserve the genetic diversity of species c) To
accelerate the extinction of endangered species d) To exploit natural resources
to the fullest extent
Possible answers
What is a species? Answer: b) A group of organisms that can interbreed and
produce fertile offspring
What is a niche in ecology? Answer: b) The role and position of a species in
an ecosystem
What are the three levels of biodiversity? Answer: c) Genetic diversity,
species diversity, ecosystem diversity
Which statistical method is used to analyze relationships between
species distribution and environmental factors? Answer: b) Spearman's
Rank Correlation
What does Simpson's Index of Diversity (D) measure? Answer: c) The
biodiversity of a habitat
Which of the following is not a kingdom in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Answer: c) Mammalia
What is a major threat to biodiversity associated with human activity?
Answer: c) Pollution
What does August Weismann's research on mice support? Answer: d) The
separation of germ cells and somatic cells
Which of the following is NOT a threat to biodiversity? Answer: c)
Conservation efforts
What is the main goal of conservation biology? Answer: b) To preserve the
genetic diversity of species