Chapter 5, Problem 8A

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area. Biodiversity increases the stability of an ecosystem and contributes to the health of the biosphere. There are three types of biodiversity that includes ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity.

Answer to Problem 8A

Correct answer:

Option (D)

Explanation of Solution

Explanation correct answer:

Option (A) Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems that are present in the biosphere. An ecosystem can be defined as the segment of nature that comprises the biological community and its physical environment both interacting and exchanging materials as well as energy. A forest, a freshwater lake, an estuary and a prairie are different ecosystems and hence, they are representing ecosystem diversity.

Explanation incorrect answer:

Option (B) Extinction refers to a condition when the last individual of particular species dies and the species disappear from the biosphere permanently.

Option (C) Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population. The variety of color demonstrates a form of genetic diversity. Genetic diversity within the same population increases the chances that some species will survive during changing environmental conditions or during an outbreak.

Option (D) Species diversity refers to the number of different species and relative abundance of each species in a biological community.