Chapter 57, Problem 2TYK

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Species is the term used to describe the group of individuals having similar characteristics and able to reproduce among themselves. Species forms the basic level of the taxonomic hierarchy. Species richness includes the total number of different species found in an ecological region. This particular richness serves as a good measure of the quantification of different species in a typical area.

Answer to Problem 2TYK

Correct answer:

Species richness is generally defined as the number of different species present within an area.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation/justification for the correct answer:

Option (a) is given that the species richness typically measures the number of species found in an area. Species richness takes into account the crude quantitative aspects of the number of species in an area. This richness is specifically concerned with the overall number of different species located in a geographical or ecological construct. Hence, option (a) is correct.

Explanation for incorrect answers:

Option (b) is given that species richness defines the quality of species in the given area. The quality of species in an area is measured through species diversity specifically. Species richness is only concerned with the quantity of the different species. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (c) is given that the functional importance of a species is measured through species richness. Species richness only provides a quantitative measure of the different members of a species located in an area. However, the functional importance of a species relies on the interaction among the species, which cannot be explained through species richness. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (d) is given that the species richness measures the abundance of individuals present within a species. The abundance of the individuals within a given species is measured through the study of species abundance or relative species abundance. However, species richness does not take into account these two factors. So, it is an incorrect option.

Hence, options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Species richness serves as a crude measure of the number of different species present within an area. The measure can only be utilized to get a quantitative picture of the overall species in an ecological community.