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TASBiologyQuick questions
Unit 1: Biodiversity and the Interconnectedness of Life
Quick questions on Measuring Biodiversity - TCE Biology (Tasmania)
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the three levels of biodiversity?Show answer
Biodiversity is more than just a count of species. It is measured at three connected levels:
What are diversity indices?Show answer
To capture richness and evenness in one figure, ecologists use a diversity index such as Simpson's index. The index returns a value that rises as both richness and evenness increase, so it is a fairer comparison than a raw species count. The exact formula is less important at this level than the idea: a single number that reflects both how many species are present and how balanced their abundances are. Comparing index values lets ecologists track change over time or compare two sites objectively.
What is sampling to estimate biodiversity?Show answer
It is rarely possible to count every organism, so ecologists sample. Common methods include:
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