Question

Which of the following could describe species diversity in a biological community? A) The number of different species present in the community B) The evenness of the distribution of species across different trophic levels C) The productivity of the community, measured in terms of the amount of energy or matter that is produced or consumed D) The stability of the community over time, measured in terms of its ability to resist disturbances and recover from perturbations

Answer 1

Species diversity can be described by the number of different species in a community (species richness) and the evenness of the species distribution across various trophic levels (species evenness). Community productivity and stability, while important, do not directly describe species diversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Species diversity in a biological community can be described by both A) The number of different species present in the community and B) The evenness of the distribution of species across different trophic levels.

In context A, it refers to species richness, which is simply a count of the different number of species present. In context B, it refers to species evenness, which is about how equal the community is in terms of individuals within each species.

However, options C) The productivity of the community, and D) The stability of the community, while important for understanding the dynamics of a biological community, are not directly describing species diversity.

Learn more about Species Diversity