Module 5.4 – Biodiversity and Global Change (Possible Written Questions)

How do scientists identify biodiversity hotspots?

Hotspots contain many endemic species and have experienced significant habitat loss.

Compare instrumental value and intrinsic value of biodiversity.

Instrumental value benefits humans directly, while intrinsic value recognizes species have value regardless of human benefit.

Give an example of instrumental value.

Medicines, crops, pollination, water purification, or timber.

Give an example of intrinsic value.

Protecting endangered species because they have a right to exist.

Describe how habitat fragmentation affects biodiversity.

Fragmentation isolates populations, increases edge effects, and raises extinction risk.

Why is habitat destruction considered the greatest threat to biodiversity?

It removes resources and living space required for species survival.

How can invasive species reduce biodiversity?

They may outcompete, prey upon, or spread diseases to native species.

Describe how climate change affects biodiversity.

It shifts species ranges, alters timing of biological events, changes communities, and increases extinction risk.

Which major group of animals is currently most threatened?

Amphibians.

Why are amphibians particularly vulnerable to extinction?

They are sensitive to habitat loss, disease, pollution, and climate change.

Compare threatened, near-threatened, and least concern species.

Threatened species face high extinction risk, near-threatened species may soon become threatened, and least concern species have stable populations.

Explain why biodiversity is important to ecosystem stability.

Higher biodiversity generally increases ecosystem resistance, resilience, and functioning.