Explain why a habitat with a large number of different species is considered to have high biodiversity.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Scientists monitor the number and variety of species living in different habitats to assess the health of ecosystems.
Model answer (4 marks)
1. Biodiversity is the variety of species present in a habitat.
2. A habitat with many different species shows a greater range of species.
3. This greater range creates more complex food webs and interactions.
4. Complex interactions make the ecosystem more stable and able to recover from disturbances.
2. A habitat with many different species shows a greater range of species.
3. This greater range creates more complex food webs and interactions.
4. Complex interactions make the ecosystem more stable and able to recover from disturbances.
Examiner tips
- Use the exact definition of biodiversity; link species number to variety. Show the chain: many species → greater variety → complex food webs → stability. Keep each point concise and directly tied to the marks.
- common_mistakes
- :
- Confusing biodiversity with population size of a single species. Failing to mention stability or recovery as a benefit of high biodiversity.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- Biodiversity refers to the variety/range of different species in a habitat/area
- A large number of different species means there is greater variety, so biodiversity is high
- High biodiversity means the ecosystem has more complex food webs / greater variety of interactions between organisms
- High biodiversity makes the ecosystem more stable / better able to recover from changes or disturbances
Key terms in this question
Related
- All WJEC GCSE Biology (Wales) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Explain" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →