4.6.1 Biodiversity Within a Community

Ways to Measure Biodiversity

1. Species Diversity

• The number of different species and the number of individuals within each species in a community.
• Measured using techniques such as random sampling and calculating the Simpson's Index of Diversity, which accounts for both species richness and abundance.

2. Genetic Diversity

• The variety of genetic information within a species, reflecting the number of different alleles in the gene pool.
• Greater genetic diversity increases a species' ability to adapt to changing environments.

3. Ecosystem Diversity

• The range of different habitats within a particular area or ecosystem.
• Includes variation in physical environments, such as forests, rivers, and grasslands.

Threats to Biodiversity

• Deforestation: Large-scale removal of forests reduces habitats.
• Agricultural Practices: Monocultures and use of pesticides decrease species and genetic diversity.
• Urbanisation: Development of urban areas disrupts ecosystems.