Biodiversity and Conservation Mind Map

Levels of biodiversity refer to the different scales at which biological variety is observed: genetic diversity within a species, species diversity in a community, and ecosystem diversity across habitats or ecological systems.

When asked for levels, write all three main levels with one example each. If alpha, beta and gamma are asked, clearly mention the scale of comparison.

Patterns of biodiversity are regular trends in species richness, especially the increase in diversity from poles to tropics and the increase in species number with sampled area, expressed by the species-area relationship.

For species-area questions, always write the formula, define each symbol and mention that Alexander von Humboldt described the relationship between species richness and explored area.

The importance of biodiversity refers to the direct, indirect and ethical reasons for protecting biological variety, including useful products, ecosystem services and the responsibility to allow other species to exist.

Use three headings in answers: narrowly utilitarian, broadly utilitarian and ethical. Add one specific example under each heading.

Loss of biodiversity is the reduction or disappearance of genetic variation, species or ecosystems due to factors such as habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, alien species invasion and co-extinctions.

For a long answer, write all four causes with one mechanism and one example. Use the term habitat fragmentation separately from habitat loss.

In-situ conservation is the protection of species, genetic diversity and ecosystems in their natural habitats through protected areas and community-linked conservation practices.

Mention natural habitat in the first line. Then add examples such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, hotspots and sacred groves.

Ex-situ conservation is the protection of threatened species, reproductive material or genetic resources outside their natural habitat in managed facilities such as botanical gardens, zoological parks, seed banks and cryopreservation centres.

Write outside natural habitat in the definition, then give examples: botanical gardens, zoological parks, seed banks and cryopreservation.