Question 1:

Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is a comprehensive term that encompasses all the variety of life on Earth. It is defined at three main levels:

• Genetic diversity (Option C): The variety of genes within a species. This is the range of genetic material present in a population or a species' gene pool.

• Species diversity (Option A): The variety of species within a habitat or a region. This is the total number of different species living in a defined area.

• Ecosystem diversity (Option B): The variety of ecosystems in a given place. This includes the variety of habitats, biological communities, and ecological processes.

Therefore, the most complete definition of biodiversity includes all of these components.

The correct answer is: D. All of the above

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
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Question 2:

The correct answer is C. The number of niches in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of different habitats, biotic communities, and ecological processes within an ecosystem. A key component of this diversity is the presence of a wide range of niches, which are the specific roles, resources, and interactions an organism has within its environment. A greater number of niches supports a wider variety of species and complex interactions, contributing to the overall diversity of the ecosystem.

• A. The variety of different species present in an ecosystem describes species diversity.

• B. The range of genetic material present in a gene pool describes genetic diversity.

• D. The abundance of individuals within each species in an ecosystem is a measure of a species' population size, which is a factor in species richness and evenness, but not the primary definition of ecosystem diversity itself.

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 3:

Excellent question. This tests the understanding of specific ecological tools.

Here is the analysis of each option:

• A. Simpson Reciprocal Index: This is a biodiversity index. It calculates a single number that represents both the number of species present (richness) and their relative abundance (evenness). A higher value indicates greater biodiversity.

• B. Lincoln Index: This is a tool used to estimate population size of a single species, typically using mark-recapture methods. It does not measure the diversity between multiple species.

• C. Biotic Index: This is a tool used to measure water quality and pollution levels in an aquatic ecosystem by indicating the types of organisms (often invertebrates) present. While it relies on the presence or absence of species tolerant or intolerant to pollution, it is not a direct, general measure of biodiversity.

• D. Mitotic Index: This is a cellular biology tool that measures the percentage of cells in a tissue sample that are undergoing mitosis (cell division). It is often used in cancer research and toxicology, not ecology.

Conclusion: The tool specifically designed to quantify biodiversity by combining species richness and evenness is the Simpson Reciprocal Index.

The correct answer is A. Simpson Reciprocal Index

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 4:

Species evenness refers to how similar the abundances of each species are in an ecosystem. If all species have similar abundances, evenness is high; if one species dominates, evenness is low.

Ecosystem X:

• Species 1: 5

• Species 2: 9

• Species 3: 55
  Total individuals = 5 + 9 + 55 = 69.
  Here, Species 3 has much higher abundance (55) compared to Species 1 (5) and Species 2 (9). So, evenness is low.

Ecosystem Y:

• Species 4: 28

• Species 5: 24

• Species 6: 26
  Total individuals = 28 + 24 + 26 = 78.
  All three species have very similar abundances (24, 26, 28). So, evenness is high.

Therefore, Ecosystem Y has higher species evenness.

Answer for Q4: B. Ecosystem Y has higher species evenness.

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 5:

Species richness is simply the number of different species present in an ecosystem.

• Ecosystem X has 3 species (Species 1, 2, 3).

• Ecosystem Y has 3 species (Species 4, 5, 6).

Both ecosystems have the same number of species (3), so they have equal species richness. The fact that they are different species does not matter; richness only counts the number of species, not their identity.

Answer for Q5: C. Both ecosystems have equal species richness.

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 6:

Based on historical and scientific evidence, the cause that was not a primary factor in the extinction of the North Island giant moa is:

C. Climate change and environmental shifts

Explanation:

• A. Hunting by the Māori people: This was a major cause. Moa were hunted extensively for food by Māori settlers after their arrival in New Zealand (around 1300 CE). Their large size and inability to fly made them easy targets.

• B. Deforestation for farming: Māori cleared land for agriculture, which destroyed moa habitats and reduced their food sources.

• D. Habitat loss: As human populations grew, habitat destruction (through burning and clearing of forests) further pressured moa populations.

• C. Climate change and environmental shifts: While climate changes can contribute to extinctions, the moa survived previous natural climate shifts. Their extinction occurred rapidly after human arrival, indicating that human activities (hunting and habitat alteration) were the primary drivers, not climate change.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 7:

Let's evaluate the options:

• A. Overfishing and habitat disturbance: This contributed to their decline by reducing their food supply and disrupting their coastal habitats.

• B. Hunting for fur, meat, and oil: This was a major cause. They were aggressively hunted by European colonizers and later by fishermen for their blubber (oil), skin, and meat.

• C. Capture for display in museums and zoos: While not the primary driver, captures for scientific collections and public display did occur and added pressure to the already dwindling population.

All these factors combined led to the species' extinction.

The correct answer is D. All of the above.

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 8:

When designing nature reserves, key principles from conservation biology are applied to ensure their effectiveness. Let's evaluate each statement:

• I. Smaller habitats promote biodiversity: This is false. According to island biogeography theory and conservation practices, larger habitats generally support greater biodiversity. Larger reserves can sustain larger populations, reduce the risk of extinction due to stochastic events, and contain more diverse habitats and resources. Smaller habitats are more prone to edge effects and support fewer species.

• II. The nature reserve should be actively managed, for example removing invasive species: This is true. Active management is often necessary to maintain ecosystem health. This includes controlling invasive species, restoring degraded areas, and sometimes managing populations (e.g., through controlled burns or reintroductions) to preserve native biodiversity.

• III. Habitat corridors between fragmented parts of a habitat can enhance genetic diversity: This is true. Corridors connect isolated habitat fragments, allowing animals and plants to move between them. This promotes gene flow, reduces inbreeding, and helps populations adapt to environmental changes, thereby enhancing genetic diversity.

Therefore, only statements II and III are correct.

Answer: B. II and III only

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 9:

The EDGE of Existence programme, run by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), focuses on:

A. Protecting threatened species that have relatively unique evolutionary histories.

Explanation:

• "EDGE" stands for Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered.

• The programme prioritizes species that are not only highly threatened (endangered) but also evolutionarily unique, meaning they have few close relatives and represent a significant amount of unique evolutionary history (e.g., they have distinct genetic lineages or traits).

• Examples include the pangolin, aye-aye, and Chinese giant salamander, which are both highly threatened and evolutionarily distinct.

• While the other options (B, C, D) may be part of broader conservation efforts, they are not the primary focus of the EDGE programme. Its core mission is to highlight and conserve evolutionarily distinct species at risk of extinction.

Answer: A. Protecting threatened species that have relatively unique evolutionary histories.

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.

Question 10:

Let's evaluate each statement in the context of the loss of mixed dipterocarp forests in Southeast Asia:

• I. Deforestation disrupts water cycles and increases soil erosion: True. Deforestation, especially in tropical rainforests like dipterocarp forests, reduces water retention, alters local and regional rainfall patterns, and leads to significant soil erosion due to exposure of bare soil.

• II. Planting of oil palm trees helps with rewilding: False. Oil palm plantations are a major driver of deforestation in Southeast Asia. They replace diverse native forests with monocultures, which drastically reduce biodiversity, fragment habitats, and do not support rewilding (the process of restoring natural ecosystems and wildlife). Instead, they degrade ecosystems.

• III. Has been caused by anthropogenic factors: True. The loss of these forests is primarily due to human activities such as logging, agricultural expansion (e.g., oil palm, rubber), infrastructure development, and fires.

• IV. Disrupts indigenous communities and leads to loss of cultural heritage: True. Indigenous communities often depend on these forests for their livelihoods, cultural practices, and traditional knowledge. Deforestation displaces these communities and erodes their cultural heritage.

Therefore, statements I, III, and IV are correct, but II is false.

Answer: A. I, III and IV only

*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret.
Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.