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Biodiversity trail
Answers
Biodiversity Trail - Answers
What is biodiversity?
The term biodiversity refers to the great variety of life there is on the Earth.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of all living organisms, from microscopic bacteria to
giant redwood trees. It includes the variety of genetic information available within a
species. The interrelationships between organisms are also an integral part of
biodiversity. Organisms have evolved over time to develop different adaptations to
survive in their habitats and niches. These adaptations contribute to the diversity of life
on earth.
There are many biodiversity hotspots across the globe which include ecosystems such as
rainforests, coral reefs and seamounts. These ecosystems contain the greatest proportion
of the Earth’s species although we only know about a small proportion of them.
Biodiversity trail
This trail will take you on a
tour of the diversity of life
here at Marwell and allow
you to discover more
about biodiversity and its
importance to us.
Use the map provided to
help you follow this trail.
You will need to look for
signs near the enclosures
to help find the
information you need. You
may also need to use your
own knowledge or
observational skills to work
out some answers.
1. HUMBOLDT PENGUIN
Humboldt penguins are named after the Humboldt
Current which runs past the coasts of Chile and Peru
where these birds live.
Whilst the most familiar penguin species are found in
colder climates, the Humboldt penguin originates from
a more temperate climate.
1. a) Which hemisphere are these flightless birds usually found in?
Southern hemisphere
1. b) What adaptations do Humboldt penguins have which allow them to be
successful in the ocean environments they spend most of their time in? (Choose 2).
Wings shaped like flippers – for swimming.
Streamlined body – to glide quickly through the water.
Special feathers – downy part close to the skin to trap air (for insulation); small stiff
overlapping outer-part (penguin spreads oil (produced by preening gland) on to
feathers to make them windproof and waterproof).
Black back with white underneath – for camouflage (counter-shading).
Mouth spines – instead of teeth. Found on the inside of the mouth and on tongue to
grip and hold on to wriggly fish!
Very good long-distance vision – for seeing both underwater and in air.
Webbed feet and tail – help penguins to steer underwater.
Denser bones than birds that fly – helps penguins to dive deep underwater.
2. GREATER FLAMINGO
Greater flamingos live in highly saline water (high concentrations
of salt) and alkaline habitats such as estuarine lagoons and
mangrove swamps.
2. a) What level of biodiversity would you expect to find in
such harsh conditions? Why?
Low levels of biodiversity – only animals that are adapted
to such extreme environments will be able to survive.
2. b) What adaptations can you see that might help greater
flamingos to survive in these environments?
Long legs – for wading through deep water, body kept out of
caustic water conditions which could otherwise be harmful.
Bill – designed for removing food from the silt (food items are
filtered out through comb-like plates in specialised beak).
Webbed feet – for walking through mud.
Additional adaptations:Rest by standing with one leg folded into the body – a
method for conserving body heat.
2. c) Why do you think there are mirrors and sounds in the
flamingo enclosure?
Although flamingos have bred in small groups in captivity, it is
believed that they generally prefer larger groups. The mirrors
have been put in to give the illusion of an increased flock size.
This visual effect has been reinforced by adding a speaker
which plays sounds of greater flamingos. We hope this will
encourage successful breeding for our flamingos.
3. CHEETAH
About 10,000 years ago, all but one species of cheetah
(Acinonyx jubatus) died out. Only a few individuals
survived, from which all of today’s cheetah are
descended.
The breeding of close relatives in this founder
population has resulted in today’s cheetah sharing
approximately 99% of their genetic information, compared
to about 80% for most species.
This means that there are very few alleles (different
forms of the same gene) within the remaining global
cheetah population.
3. a) What problems do you think this lack of genetic diversity within the cheetah
population could cause?
Very vulnerable to disease and sudden environmental change.
Growth and development issues (for example, some cheetah may be born with
asymmetrical skulls, poor quality sperm in males, etc).
Problems with reproduction (this has been apparent in captivity, however cheetah
seem to be doing OK in the wild).
4. HEART OF AFRICA
As you enter Heart of Africa, on the right hand side you will notice a board showing the
huge diversity of antelopes that there are.
4. a) What factors have determined the huge variety of shapes and
sizes of antelope that have evolved?
Diet and environment – these determine what adaptations the animal will
need to maximise its chance of survival.
If you walk over to the other side of Heart of Africa you can see a range of antelope
horns, which further illustrate the diversity of antelope.
Now look at the cichlid fish from Lake Malawi (back wall of Heart of Africa).
4. b) How are so many different species of cichlid fish able to survive
in the same lake?
Many different species have evolved to exploit distinct niches, this means that
they can coexist within an ecosystem without direct competition with each
other. For example: algae eaters, scale eaters, egg eaters, snail eaters, etc.
5. AMUR LEOPARD
Many species are threatened by human activities – the Amur leopard is one of these
threatened species.
5. a) What is the conservation status of the Amur leopard?
Critically endangered
5. b) Identify 2 threats to the Amur leopard in the wild
Deforestation – due to expanding human population and settlements as well as the
construction of new roads.
Traditional medicines – Amur leopard body parts used in some traditional medicines.
Poaching – for fur and also where leopards cross into human areas in search of food as they
may take livestock.
Conservation efforts to try to protect Amur leopards from extinction
include anti-poaching patrols, education, and captive breeding
programmes.
5. c) Amur leopards are also listed under CITES (Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix I.
What do you think this means?
There is a complete ban on commercial trade in this species.
Therefore no Amur leopards or their products (eg. furs) can be traded
into or out of membership countries.
6. OKAPI
(Please be quiet in the okapi house)
The okapi is a large mammal (almost 2
metres tall!) and lives in the Ituri Forest of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, central Africa.
The okapi was not known to European scientists until
1901 because it is such a shy and elusive animal.
6. a) What does this tell you about our current
knowledge of the biodiversity of life on earth?
If an animal as large as the okapi managed to go
undiscovered for so long, it is likely that there are
many other species of which we have no
knowledge.
6. b) What activity is currently threatening the forest habitat in which the okapi live?
What is the product of this activity used for?
Mining – for minerals such as coltan used in the manufacture of microchips for mobile
phones.
Also – logging and agriculture.
6. c) For which forest are the okapi the ‘flagship’ species? Why have a flagship
species?
The Ituri forest in the DRC – a flagship species is a species chosen to act as an
ambassador for a particular threatened habitat. This species not only raises
awareness and support for itself, but also for the threatened habitat it comes from
and the other species it shares that habitat with. Therefore flagship species are
important for conserving the biodiversity of the habitats they come from for the
future.
7. CHAPMAN’S ZEBRA
Different species have different social structures.
Whilst some species live in herds, for example
giraffes, other species prefer to lead a mostly
solitary lifestyle, for example tigers.
7. a) What is the social structure for Chapman’s
zebras?
Family groups, sometimes large herds.
7. c) How is this social structure useful for the
zebras’ survival?
Provide each other with an effective warning
system against predators. Also, merging of their
stripy patterns confuses predators and makes it
more difficult to single out an individual.
8. PARTULA SNAILS
The Polynesian partula tree snail species are currently
under threat.
Since 1970, 50 species of partula snail have become
extinct and some are now extinct in the wild.
Therefore many of the remaining species are part of a
conservation breeding programme.
8. a) What has caused the massive decrease in numbers of these snails?
Introduction of carnivorous snails (invasive species) – introduced to reduce the
population of African land snails (which were introduced to the islands to farm for food but
became a pest species by eating crops). However instead of predating on the African land snails
these carnivorous snails preferred to eat the many species of partula snails.
Habitat destruction – to widen roads for viewpoints and for communication installations.
8. b) Why is it important that Marwell is part of the breeding programme for partula
snails?
Some species of partula snail are extinct already, others have a very small population. If Marwell
and other zoological collections were not involved in breeding programmes then it is very
probable that all species of partula snails would become extinct. This would have consequences
for the biodiversity of the Polynesian islands and would cause a reduction in global biodiversity.
9. WORLD OF LEMURS
If a species is endemic it means that it is only found in a particular habitat or location
and it is not found anywhere else in the world.
9. a) Where are fossas endemic to and what is their current conservation status?
Endemic to: Madagascar
Conservation status: Endangered
9. b) Why is it important to conserve the habitats where these endemic animals are
found?
These habitats are the only places these species are found in the wild. Therefore if
their habitats are destroyed these species will likely become extinct or extinct in the
wild as they’d have nowhere to live.
Although lemurs all belong to the same family (lemuridae) there is much diversity
between different species.
9. c) Write down some of the key features of Alaotran gentle lemurs.
Distribution: By Lake Alaotra, Madagascar
Habitat: Reed beds (this habitat is threatened as it is drained and burned to make
way for rice paddy fields).
Diet: Shoots, stems, leaves
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Colour: Grey with a chestnut tinge
Other key features: Live in small family groups. Muzzle quite
blunt. Rounded head shape.
9. d) Compare the Alaotran gentle lemur to one of the other lemur species we have
here at Marwell. What are the similarities and differences between these two lemur
species? – Try to explain some of the reasons for these similarities/differences.
For example: Like the Alaotran gentle lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs are also found in
Madagascar. However, their distribution isn’t restricted to just around Lake Alaotra.
This is because ring-tailed lemurs inhabit scrub and forest areas instead of reed beds,
and these different habitats are reflected in the different diets of these lemurs... Etc.
10. TROPICAL WORLD
On your way around Tropical World answer the following questions. Please read
through the questions 10.a) – 10.c) before you start so that you are aware of what you
are looking for.
Although rainforests cover only 6% of the Earth’s land area, they contain over half of
the world’s plant and animal species.
Rainforests have the highest level of biodiversity of all the ecosystems on Earth and
humans have found ways to exploit this.
10. a) As you look around Tropical World complete the blank spaces in the table
below for 5 rainforest plants that humans use.
COMMON NAME
LATIN NAME
ORIGIN
USE
Banana
Musa cavendishii
Canary Islands
Food
Joseph’s coat
Codiaeum
variegatum ‘Petra’
South East Asia
Treatment of
leprosy
Japanese banana
Musa basjoo
Japan
Rope-making
Angel’s wings
Caladium x
hortulanum
Tropical America
Wound dressings
Rosy periwinkle
Catharanthus
roseus
Madagascar
Treatment of
leukaemia
PTO for more Tropical World questions
10. b) i) Which different species would be affected if a parrot flower (Heliconia
psittacotum) is killed?
The parrot flower is an example of a micro-ecosystem. The
species that would be affected include invertebrates, frogs,
lizards, snakes, hermit hummingbirds, tent bats.
10. b) ii) Try to draw a partial food chain or food web for some of the species that are
part of the parrot flower ecosystem
Frogs
Invertebrates
Snakes
Lizards
Nectar
Hummingbirds
The niche of an organism is its role or function within an ecosystem. For example, the
role of some birds may be to eat fruits and disperse the seeds.
10. c) Which fish in Tropical World fulfils a
similar role to these birds?
The pacu – eat fruits that fall into the
water. The seeds pass through the pacu
and are dispersed in the rivers they live
in.
11. PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS
Pygmy hippos are semi-aquatic mammals which inhabit
rivers and swamps in forested areas in western Africa.
11. a) What adaptations do the pygmy
hippos have to help them survive in
their habitat?
Produce a sticky substance from their
skin – acts as a kind of sunscreen.
Ears, eyes and nose positioned on top
of head – so they are still able to
breathe, see and hear whilst
submerged and concealed by water
(helps them camouflage).
Partially webbed feet – for swimming.
11. b) What is threatening the habitat of the pygmy hippos?
Human developments – the preferred habitat of the pygmy hippo (heavy forest
surrounding water) has suffered from deforestation and now the land has been
transformed into human settlements.
12. CAPYBARA
Capybara are the World’s largest rodents and lead a partially aquatic lifestyle.
12. a) How are capybara similar to the pygmy
hippos you saw earlier in terms of their
adaptations for this lifestyle?
Similar to pygmy hippos - ears, eyes and nose
positioned on top of head – so they are still able
to breathe and use their senses whilst the rest of
their body is submerged in water.
Also - partially webbed feet – help them to
swim.
12. b) i) How is the growing of single crops on large grassland areas in South America
affecting capybara?
Destroying the grassland habitat of the capybara.
12. b) ii) What could you do to help? How does this help?
Buy locally produced items – helps by reducing the demand for overseas products
(such as items grown on South American grasslands). If there is less demand then it is
less likely more grassland will be planted with more crops. However, we may also
need to consider alternative livelihoods for farmers who rely on income for their crops
if demand for their products is reduced. You could do some more research into this
area and hold a debate back at school/college on this issue.
13. GIANT ANTEATER
Giant anteaters are unusual looking animals with
a diet consisting mostly of ants and termites.
13) What adaptations do giant anteaters have to
help them obtain food?
Long sticky tongue (up to about 50cm long!) – to
help pick up insects as anteater sucks them in
(one anteater can eat up to 30,000 ants in one
day).
Long powerful claws – to rip open termite
mounds and ant hills.
Very good sense of smell – to detect ants and
termites.
14. SUMMARY
On your journey around Marwell you have looked at just a small sample of the millions
of plant and animal species that exist on earth.
14. a) Why do you think it is so important for humans to take steps to preserve the
biodiversity of our planet?
Could come up with ideas such as:• Unknown organisms still yet to be discovered with possible uses in medicine, etc.
• Many plants and animals that we rely on already could be at risk.
• Complex food webs could be affected by loss of biodiversity – unknown what the
effects of losing biodiversity would actually be.
14. b) What steps could we take to help preserve biodiversity?
Could come up with suggestions such as:• Sustainable living (living in a way that does not impact upon future generations).
• Conservation efforts to conserve species and their habitats.
• Education and awareness raising.