Question

Different measures of this quantity are unified as a series of values that depend on an order parameter q called the Hill number. R. H. Whittaker (-5[1])introduced a set of terms that defines the beta form of this quantity as the ratio between its local and regional forms, which are respectively denoted alpha and gamma. Historical perturbations such as glaciation have been proposed to explain a phenomenon in which this quantity increases as latitude approaches zero. This quantity is measured (-5[1])by the Simpson index, (10[1])which accounts (10[1])for richness and evenness. (10[1])Human activity (10[2])threatens regions (10[1])with high values (10[1])of this quantity known as its “hotspots,” which include the Amazon rainforest. For 10 points, name this measure of how many different species reside in an area. ■END■ (10[2])

ANSWER: biodiversity [or biological diversity or species diversity; prompt on species richness or species evenness until read by asking “species richness/evenness is a measure of what quantity?”]
<Biology>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Summary

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Oscar DespardCambridge ALSE A25-5
Enoch BoatengManchesterSouthhampton B79-5
Zosia MikolajczukSouthampton AImperial B8310
Luke NashDurham BOxford A8510
Adsayan GaneshWarwick AVanderbilt8910
Owen IredaleImperial ALSE B9110
Arvin BoraghiCambridge COxford B9110
Faiz AhmedBirminghamBristol B9310
Ted WarnerBristol ACambridge D9610
Cormac BeirneLSE ACambridge A12410
Benedykt Chodzko-ZajkoSouthhampton BManchester12410