a.

Ecological Efficiency:

Concept: Ecological efficiency refers to the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level
to the next in an ecosystem. It's essentially a measure of how much usable energy gets passed on
as you move up the food chain.
Definition: Imagine an ecosystem where 100 units of energy enter as sunlight. If only 10 units
are stored by primary producers (plants), then the ecological efficiency is 10%. This means only
10% of the available energy is transferred to the next level.

b. Biomass:

 Concept: Biomass refers to the total amount of living matter in a given area or
ecosystem, usually measured in dry weight. It can be measured for specific
populations, trophic levels, or the entire ecosystem.
 Definition: For example, the biomass of all insects in a forest might be 10
kg/hectare, while the total biomass of the forest might be 200 tons/hectare. This includes
all living organisms, from trees and animals to microorganisms. Definition: Biomass
refers to the total mass of living organisms in a given area or ecosystem. It includes
plants, animals, microorganisms, and their organic matter. Biomass is often measured in
units such as grams per square meter or tons per hectare.

d. Foundation and Keystone Species:

 Foundation Species: These are species that have a excessively large impact on
their environment, often forming the basis of the ecosystem. For example, trees
in a forest or corals in a reef.

 Keystone Species: These are species that have a critical role in maintaining the
structure and function of an ecosystem. Their presence influences the diversity
and balance of the ecosystem, often more than expected from their abundance
or biomass. For instance, sea otters in kelp forests

E. Species Richness and Evenness:

Species richness is the number of species that has been recorded for a specific group of
organisms during a specific time period
Species Evenness: It measures how evenly distributed the richness of each species is
within an ecosystem. High evenness means that species are more equally represented in
numbers.
F. Alpha (or local) diversity expresses the number of species within a given area.
Beta (or turnover) diversity expresses the difference, or turnover, in species from one
habitat to another.
Gamma (or regional) diversity- total number of species observed in all habitats within a
geographic area.

g. Ecological Niche:

 Concept: An ecological niche is the specific role and functional position of a

species within an ecosystem. It includes how a species interacts with its
environment and other organisms, the resources it uses, and its contribution to
the ecosystem.

h. Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity:

-Ecological footprint: This is a measure of the demand humans place on nature's

resources. It calculates the area of land and water needed to produce the resources we
consume and absorb our waste, using a common unit called global hectares (gha).
Ecological footprint is the impact of a person or community on the environment,
expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources

 biocapacity is capacity of ecosystems to regenerate what people demand from

those surfaces

What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, refers to the variety of life forms within a particular
ecosystem, region, or the entire planet. It includes the diversity of species of plants, animals,
microorganisms, their genetic variations, and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is usually
measured in terms of species richness, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

This concept is crucial because it represents the complexity of life on Earth and the
interdependence of different species within ecosystems. Biodiversity provides numerous
benefits, including:

1. Ecosystem Stability:
2. Economic Value:
3. Cultural Significance:
4. Ecosystem Services:
9. What is species diversity? Briefly describe different types of species diversity
Species diversity refers to the variety and abundance of different species present in a
particular area or ecosystem. It's a component of biodiversity and encompasses various
aspects of species richness, evenness, and distribution within a given habitat.

1. Native Species: These are animals or plants that naturally belong and do well in
a specific place, like camels in deserts or certain birds in forests.
2. Ubiquitous Species: These are creatures that seem to be almost everywhere, like
cockroaches that can be found in many different environments.
3. Endemic Species:
 Endangered & Restricted: These are species that live only in a particular
area and are often at risk.
 Different from Native: They're different from native species because
they're only found in that specific place, unlike natives that can be found in
other areas too.
 Example: Kiwis, which are only found in New Zealand.
4. Paleoendemic Species:
 Extra Special Endemic: These are even more restricted, found only in one
small area for a very long time.
 Example: Kiwis, which have been in New Zealand for ages and nowhere
else.
5. Exotic Species:
 Out-of-Place Visitors: These are species brought or moved by people
into new environments where they don't naturally belong.
 Big Trouble Makers: They can cause serious problems, like habitat
changes and loss of local species.
 Examples: Acacia and Eucalyptus in Bangladesh, which aren't from there
originally.
6. Cosmopolitan Species:
 Global Travelers: These are creatures found almost everywhere around
the world.
 Example: The Blue Whale, a giant that roams oceans all over the planet.

10. What is a biological hotspot? Give two examples

A biodiversity hot spot - Is a relatively small area with an exceptional concentration of

species. A biodiversity hotspot is a region with a high level of endemic species. Most
hotspots are located in the tropics and most of them are forests. Biodiversity hotspots
are home to unique flora and fauna and these regions have been identified as some of
the world’s most important ecosystems. Indo-Burma, New Zealand, Japan
11. What are the two criteria for considering biodiversity hotspot?

To be considered as biodiversity hotspot, it must fulfill two criteria:

-Habitat should contain at least 1500 species of plants that are specific to that area.

-More than 70% of the original habitat has been lost.

12. Mention 4 ecological and 4 economic importance of biodiversity

Ecological

 Green plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and replenish it with
oxygen
 Parasites and predators act as natural population controls
 Trees provide habitat and food for birds, insects, other plants
 Water purification and nutrient cycling
 Wetlands serve as sponges to reduce the impacts of floods
Economic

 Agriculture and Food Security

 Medicinal Resources
 Other goods such as paper and pencils come from raw materials provided by the
biodiversity
 timber and other forest products (e.g. oak, beech, pine) are used as building

materials and for shelter. Fibers such as wool and cotton are used to make
clothes

13. Explain 4 key processes of biological evolution

• Genetic Mutation Genetic mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that
create new genetic variation. Mutations are the primary source of genetic

diversity within populations. random changes in the structure/number of DNA

molecules in a cell

• Natural Selection when some individuals of a population have genetically based

actions that increase their chances of survival and their ability to produce offspringWhen
there is a variation within a species, some individuals may be better suited to the
environment. These better suited individuals will survive and reproduce offspring leading
to a large population in a few generations. This process is known as Natural Selection
 • Geographic Isolation and Migration Sometimes populations of the same
species become geographically isolated from each other for a long time. During
that time they may change so much that they can no longer reproduce together
even when they are brought back together, thus, two new species occur.
Migration has been an important evolutionary process over geologic time
• Genetic Drift Diversity due to random changes in the frequency of gene variants
in a population

14. Explain the interaction between species

1. Competition:
 What It Is: When two or more organisms are trying to get the same
things, like food or space, and it's not good for either of them.
 Example: Two male birds competing for mates in the same area. The
winner gets the mates, and this competition leads to better adaptations in
the species over time.
2. Symbiosis:
 What It Is: When two organisms help each other out and both benefit. It's
like teamwork in nature.
 Example: Bees and flowers have a symbiotic relationship. Bees get food
from flowers, and flowers get pollinated by the bees. Both have special
body parts for this interaction.
3. Predation:
 What It Is: When one organism (predator) hunts and eats another (prey).
It's like a natural food chain.
 Example: Lions hunting zebras, bears catching fish, or foxes going after
rabbits.
4. Parasitism:
 What It Is: When one organism (parasite) lives on or inside another
organism (host), using it for survival but not helping. It's a bit like one-
sided teamwork.
 Example: Ticks, lice, or fleas living on animals. They depend on the host
for food, but the host may be harmed by the parasites.

15. Mention four factors that tend to increase biodiversity

A physically diverse habitat

Moderate amounts of disturbance

A small variation in environmental conditions

High diversity at one trophic level, increasing the diversity at another trophic level

An environment highly modified by life

Middle stages of succession

Evolution

16. Difference between in-situ and ex-situ conservation

1. In-Situ Conservation:
 Definition: In-situ conservation involves the protection and preservation
of species within their natural habitats, such as forests, grasslands,
wetlands, or oceans.
 Examples: National parks, wildlife reserves, and sanctuaries where species
live and reproduce in their natural environments without being removed.
2. Ex-Situ Conservation:
 Definition: Ex-situ conservation refers to the conservation of species
outside their natural habitats, often in controlled settings like zoos,
botanical gardens, seed banks, or captive breeding programs.
 Examples: Zoos housing endangered species, botanical gardens
cultivating rare plants, or seed banks storing seeds of diverse plant
species.

Key Differences:

 Location: In-situ conservation occurs within the species' natural habitats, while
ex-situ conservation happens outside these natural environments.
 Method: In-situ conservation focuses on protecting species in their original
ecosystems, while ex-situ conservation involves relocating species to controlled
settings for protection.
 Goal: In-situ conservation aims to maintain species within their ecological
context, while ex-situ conservation aims to safeguard species that are threatened
or endangered by providing a safe environment outside their natural habitat.

17. What are protected areas? Give examples

Certainly! Here's a simple table outlining the differences between infiltration and
percolation:

Aspect Infiltration Percolation

Entry of water into soil from Downward movement of water

Definition the surface within the soil

Initiation Begins at the ground surface Follows after access, deeper within

Location Occurs at the soil surface Happens below the soil surface

Water penetrates upper soil Water moves vertically through soil

Process layers layers

Depth of Deeper movement within the soil

Movement Initial entry into the soil profile

Influenced by soil texture, Affected by soil permeability,

Factors slope, etc. composition

Affects by rainfall intensity & Continues movement after initial

Effect of Rain duration entry

magine a clean, healthy lake. Now let's see how different things can pollute it:
Nutrient overload: Too much fertilizer runs off from farms and sewage spills, feeding
algae like crazy. These algae then die, sucking up oxygen from the water, leaving fish
gasping for air!

Muddy mess: Dirt and sand wash in from construction sites and farms, clouding the
water. Imagine trying to swim in a bathtub full of mud! Fish can't see to eat, and their
gills get clogged.

Danger zones: Radioactive materials from mines or leaks from power plants can be like
invisible landmines in the water, harming everything they touch.

Hot bath: Factories and power plants release hot water, making the lake like a steaming
soup. This lowers the oxygen levels, making it harder for fish to breathe.

Tiny terrors: Germs from sewage and animal waste can spread diseases in the water,
making it unsafe to drink or swim in. Eww!

Oxygen thieves: Things like rotting plants and food scraps use up oxygen as they
decompose, leaving less for fish and other creatures. Like breathing in a crowded room,
it's hard to get enough air!

Poisonous chemicals: Acids, salts, and metals from factories and mines can make the
water toxic, like a bad potion in a fairy tale. Animals get sick, and the water becomes
unusable.

Sneaky plastics and oils: Oil spills and tiny plastic pieces float around, harming animals
that swallow them or get tangled up. It's like throwing trash in the lake and expecting
fish to be happy!