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4.1.1 Biodiversity. The amount of biological diversity per unit area. It includes: genetic, habitat and species diversity. Biodiversity. Is the total number of genetic characteristics of a specific species. Genetic Diversity.
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The amount of biological diversity per unit area. It includes: genetic, habitat and species diversity Biodiversity
Is the total number of genetic characteristics of a specific species. Genetic Diversity
Variety of forests, deserts, grasslands, lakes, oceans, coral reefs, wetlands, and other biological communities, (niches per unit area). Habitat Diversity
Is the number of species or organisms per unit areafound in different habitats of the planet. Species Diversity
Arctic Circle Arctic Circle 60° EUROPE NORTH AMERICA ASIA 30°N Tropic of Cancer Atlantic Ocean AFRICA Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 0° 150° 120° 90° 30°W 0° 60°E 90° 150° SOUTH AMERICA Indian Ocean Tropic of Capricorn AUSTRALIA 30°S Antarctic Circle 60° ANTARCTICA Critical and endangered Threatened Stable or intact Projected Status of Biodiversity 1998–2018
What are the relationships among ecosystem stability, diversity, succession and habitat ?
How does diversity change during succession? • How does habitat diversity influence species diversity and genetic diversity? • How does ecosystem complexity, with its variety of nutrient and energy pathways, provide stability? • How do human activities (agriculture, mining, logging, etc.) modify succession? • What are the potential positive and negative results of human activities that simplify ecosystems? (monocrop agriculture)
Why Should We Care About Biodiversity? Instrumental value: usefulness to us. Intrinsic value: because they exist, Regardless of whether they are useful to us or not.
Foxglove Pacific yew Digitalis purpurea, Europe Digitalis for heart failure Taxus brevifolia, Pacific Northwest Ovarian cancer Goods • Food, fuel, ecosystems, species, fiber, lumber, paper, … • 90% of today’s food crops • 40% of all medicines (85% of antibiotics)
Ecological Services: • Flow of materials, energy, and information in the biosphere • Photosynthesis • Pollination • Soil formation and maintenance • Nutrient recycling • Moderation of weather extremes • Purification of air and water
Information: • Genetic information: adaptation and evolution • Genetic information for genetic engineering • Educational and scientific information Option: • People would be willing to pay in advance to preserve the option of directly using a resource such as a tree, an elephant, a forest or a clean lake.
Recreation: • Hunting, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, water skiing, . . . . • Eco-tourism • Existence • Aesthetic • Protect natural capital for future generations Nonutilitarian: