Define biodiversity.

With reference to Figure 2 identify three factors that could explain the high biodiversity in Ecuador.

Figure 3: Table to show the species richness of Yasuni National Park

[Source: Margot S. Bass, Matt Finer, Clinton N. Jenkins, Holger Kreft, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia, Shawn F. McCracken,
Nigel C. A. Pitman, Peter H. English, Kelly Swing, Gorky Villa, Anthony Di Fiore, Christian C. Voigt and Thomas H. Kunz,
‘Global Conservation Significance of Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park.’ PLoS One, January 19, 2010.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008767]

Describe a method that may have been used for collecting the tree data in Figure 3.

biodiversity is a broad concept encompassing the total diversity of living systems / biodiversity includes the species, habitat and genetic diversity within an area / the amount of biological diversity per unit area; OWTTE;

Award [1 max] for a correct definition.

close to the equator/high primary productivity/favourable climate/highrainfall/insolation;
(Ecuador is in latitude of) tropical rainforest biome (which is a biodiversity hotspot);
(greater species/genetic diversity due to) high habitat diversity/climatic zones/biomes/range of coastal/lowland/forest systems;
active plate tectonics creating barriers to populations (and so encourages speciation);
altitude variation on mountains (create zonation/diversity of habitats);
active plate tectonics enabling succession (from volcanic material/lava/lahars etc); 
large protected area/national park;

Award [1] for each correct factor identified, up to [3 max].

aerial photograph;
identify from the leaf canopy the different species seen;

OR

use quadrat sampling/sampling points along a transect;
identify and count all the different species seen in quadrats/along transect;

OR

collect live specimens of leaves/fruits/seeds etc from the unit area;
have them identified (in labs) using keys/expert botanists;

Award [1] for each step identified up to [2 max].

Do not credit responses that address abundance rather than number of different species.

A good proportion of candidates were able to give a valid definition of biodiversity, though many confused the term with species diversity.

This was well answered. Great majority of candidates had the basic analytical skills to identify three geographic features that contributed to high biodiversity.

Most were able to suggest a valid practical method for finding number of tree species, though some mistakenly addressed methods for measuring abundance, or Simpson’s diversity index, or even the Lincoln index (for moving animals).