Analyze Biodiversity Data - Biology
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What is a common interpretation if sensitive indicator species decline in a dataset?
What is a common interpretation if sensitive indicator species decline in a dataset?
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Environmental quality is likely worsening (for example, pollution increasing). Declining sensitive species suggests habitat degradation.
Environmental quality is likely worsening (for example, pollution increasing). Declining sensitive species suggests habitat degradation.
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What is the difference between correlation and causation when analyzing biodiversity data?
What is the difference between correlation and causation when analyzing biodiversity data?
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Correlation is association; causation means one factor produces the change. Correlation shows pattern; causation proves mechanism.
Correlation is association; causation means one factor produces the change. Correlation shows pattern; causation proves mechanism.
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What is a confounding variable in a biodiversity field study dataset?
What is a confounding variable in a biodiversity field study dataset?
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An uncontrolled factor that affects the response and is linked to the predictor. Hidden variable influences both predictor and response.
An uncontrolled factor that affects the response and is linked to the predictor. Hidden variable influences both predictor and response.
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What is the key assumption when using a transect to compare diversity across a gradient?
What is the key assumption when using a transect to compare diversity across a gradient?
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Sampling points are consistently spaced and represent the gradient. Systematic sampling accurately reflects environmental changes.
Sampling points are consistently spaced and represent the gradient. Systematic sampling accurately reflects environmental changes.
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Find $p_i$: a species has $n_i = 8$ individuals out of $N = 40$. What is $p_i$?
Find $p_i$: a species has $n_i = 8$ individuals out of $N = 40$. What is $p_i$?
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$0.2$. Divide individual count by total sample size.
$0.2$. Divide individual count by total sample size.
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Which option best describes why two communities can have equal richness but different diversity?
Which option best describes why two communities can have equal richness but different diversity?
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They can differ in evenness despite having the same richness. Evenness affects diversity independently of richness.
They can differ in evenness despite having the same richness. Evenness affects diversity independently of richness.
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What is species evenness in biodiversity analysis?
What is species evenness in biodiversity analysis?
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How evenly individuals are distributed among species. Measures how balanced abundance is across species.
How evenly individuals are distributed among species. Measures how balanced abundance is across species.
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What is relative abundance for species $i$ in a sample?
What is relative abundance for species $i$ in a sample?
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$p_i = \frac{n_i}{N}$. Proportion of species $i$ out of total individuals.
$p_i = \frac{n_i}{N}$. Proportion of species $i$ out of total individuals.
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What does abundance mean in a biodiversity data table?
What does abundance mean in a biodiversity data table?
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The number of individuals of a species in the sample. Raw count of organisms for each species.
The number of individuals of a species in the sample. Raw count of organisms for each species.
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Which option best describes why two communities can have equal richness but different diversity?
Which option best describes why two communities can have equal richness but different diversity?
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They can differ in evenness despite having the same richness. Evenness affects diversity independently of richness.
They can differ in evenness despite having the same richness. Evenness affects diversity independently of richness.
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What is a keystone species and why is it important in biodiversity interpretation?
What is a keystone species and why is it important in biodiversity interpretation?
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A species with large ecosystem impact; its loss can reduce diversity. Disproportionate ecological influence maintains community structure.
A species with large ecosystem impact; its loss can reduce diversity. Disproportionate ecological influence maintains community structure.
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What is an indicator species in environmental monitoring datasets?
What is an indicator species in environmental monitoring datasets?
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A species whose presence or abundance reflects environmental conditions. Abundance changes signal environmental health changes.
A species whose presence or abundance reflects environmental conditions. Abundance changes signal environmental health changes.
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What is the role of replication when comparing biodiversity between two habitats?
What is the role of replication when comparing biodiversity between two habitats?
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It reduces random error and increases confidence in differences observed. Multiple samples distinguish real patterns from chance.
It reduces random error and increases confidence in differences observed. Multiple samples distinguish real patterns from chance.
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What is the difference between accuracy and precision in biodiversity measurements?
What is the difference between accuracy and precision in biodiversity measurements?
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Accuracy is closeness to true value; precision is consistency of repeats. Accuracy measures correctness; precision measures repeatability.
Accuracy is closeness to true value; precision is consistency of repeats. Accuracy measures correctness; precision measures repeatability.
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Calculate richness: a site has species counts A:5, B:0, C:2, D:1. What is richness?
Calculate richness: a site has species counts A:5, B:0, C:2, D:1. What is richness?
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3 species. Count species with abundance greater than zero.
3 species. Count species with abundance greater than zero.
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Find $p_i$: a species has $n_i = 8$ individuals out of $N = 40$. What is $p_i$?
Find $p_i$: a species has $n_i = 8$ individuals out of $N = 40$. What is $p_i$?
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$0.2$. Divide individual count by total sample size.
$0.2$. Divide individual count by total sample size.
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Calculate percent composition: $n_i = 12$ and $N = 60$. What percent is species $i$?
Calculate percent composition: $n_i = 12$ and $N = 60$. What percent is species $i$?
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$20%$. Multiply relative abundance by 100 for percentage.
$20%$. Multiply relative abundance by 100 for percentage.
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Identify the more even community: A has counts $25,25,25,25$; B has $70,10,10,10$.
Identify the more even community: A has counts $25,25,25,25$; B has $70,10,10,10$.
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Community A. Equal abundances create maximum evenness.
Community A. Equal abundances create maximum evenness.
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Which community has higher richness: A has 6 species; B has 4 species. Choose one.
Which community has higher richness: A has 6 species; B has 4 species. Choose one.
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Community A. Richness is simply the count of species present.
Community A. Richness is simply the count of species present.
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Compute $\sum p_i^2$ for two species with $p_1 = 0.5$ and $p_2 = 0.5$.
Compute $\sum p_i^2$ for two species with $p_1 = 0.5$ and $p_2 = 0.5$.
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$0.5$. Square each proportion and sum the results.
$0.5$. Square each proportion and sum the results.
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What is species richness as used in biodiversity datasets?
What is species richness as used in biodiversity datasets?
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The number of different species present in a defined area. Simply counts distinct species without considering abundance.
The number of different species present in a defined area. Simply counts distinct species without considering abundance.
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What is species evenness in biodiversity analysis?
What is species evenness in biodiversity analysis?
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How evenly individuals are distributed among species. Measures how balanced abundance is across species.
How evenly individuals are distributed among species. Measures how balanced abundance is across species.
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What is the key assumption when using quadrat sampling to estimate plant diversity?
What is the key assumption when using quadrat sampling to estimate plant diversity?
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Quadrats are representative and placed using an unbiased method. Random placement captures true community diversity patterns.
Quadrats are representative and placed using an unbiased method. Random placement captures true community diversity patterns.
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What is a common sampling bias that can reduce observed species richness?
What is a common sampling bias that can reduce observed species richness?
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Insufficient sampling effort or unequal detectability among species. Undersampling misses rare or hard-to-detect species.
Insufficient sampling effort or unequal detectability among species. Undersampling misses rare or hard-to-detect species.
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What is biodiversity in the context of analyzing ecological data?
What is biodiversity in the context of analyzing ecological data?
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Variety of life measured across genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Includes all forms of life variation across three hierarchical levels.
Variety of life measured across genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Includes all forms of life variation across three hierarchical levels.
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Compute Simpson diversity $1-\sum p_i^2$ for $p_1 = 0.5$ and $p_2 = 0.5$.
Compute Simpson diversity $1-\sum p_i^2$ for $p_1 = 0.5$ and $p_2 = 0.5$.
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$0.5$. Subtract the sum of squared proportions from one.
$0.5$. Subtract the sum of squared proportions from one.
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Compute $\sum p_i^2$ for $p = 0.8$ and $0.2$ (two species).
Compute $\sum p_i^2$ for $p = 0.8$ and $0.2$ (two species).
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$0.68$. Calculate: $(0.8)^2 + (0.2)^2 = 0.64 + 0.04$.
$0.68$. Calculate: $(0.8)^2 + (0.2)^2 = 0.64 + 0.04$.
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Compute Simpson diversity $1-\sum p_i^2$ for two species with $p = 0.8$ and $0.2$.
Compute Simpson diversity $1-\sum p_i^2$ for two species with $p = 0.8$ and $0.2$.
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$0.32$. Apply formula: $1 - 0.68 = 0.32$ for diversity.
$0.32$. Apply formula: $1 - 0.68 = 0.32$ for diversity.
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Identify the correct conclusion: if richness is constant but $H$ increases, what changed?
Identify the correct conclusion: if richness is constant but $H$ increases, what changed?
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Evenness increased. Higher diversity with constant richness means better evenness.
Evenness increased. Higher diversity with constant richness means better evenness.
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Choose the correct inference: two sites share few species; is beta diversity high or low?
Choose the correct inference: two sites share few species; is beta diversity high or low?
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High beta diversity. Few shared species indicates high species turnover.
High beta diversity. Few shared species indicates high species turnover.
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