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Explore the components of biodiversity, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Learn why biodiversity is important and the threats it is facing. Discover the concept of habitat and niche, and understand the impacts of pollution on biodiversity. Find out how ecological succession contributes to increasing biodiversity over time.
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B A Which do you like better?
Biodiversity What does “Bio” mean? Life Bio =
Biodiversity What does “Diversity” mean? Diversity = Variety
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things
There are 3 components of biodiversity 1. Diversity of genes Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all the same species —but they're not the same because there is variety in their genes. Chihuahua Beagle Rottweilers
There are 3 components of biodiversity 2. Diversity of number of speciesFor example, monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species. Saki Monkey Meadow Beauty Golden Skimmer
There are 3 components of biodiversity 3. Variety of ecosystems Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers are all Freshwater Ecosystems. Rocky coast, Sand Dune, Estuary, Salt Marsh , Coral Reef are all Marine Ecosystems.
Habitat • What is a habitat? • Where an organism lives. • Includes biotic and abiotic factors. • Ex: for a frog, it could be a pond.
Factors • What is a biotic factor? • Any biological influence on an organism. • Includes all other living organisms in the ecological community. • What is an abiotic factor? • Any physical, non-living influence on an organism. • Both determine survival and growth of an organism as well as ecosystem productivity.
Recognizing Factors – Give it a try!! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Habitat may be described as: • The NAME of the place where the creature lives eg Arctic Canada is the habitat of the polar bear • The DOMINANT VEGETATION of the place where the creature lives eg Heather moorland is the habitat of the grouse. • The TYPE of place where a creature lives eg freshwater lakes are the habitat of the pike habitat of the grouse.
Niche • What is a niche? • Full range of conditions in which an organism lives, both biological and physical, and how an organism uses these conditions. • No two species can share the same niche, but niches can be similar.
A species is difficult to define exactly!! A group of morphologically similar creatures which can: • Interbreed to produce fertile offspring • Are ‘reproductively isolated’.
B A Which is more diverse?
Biodiversity has Intrinsic Value Intrinsic Value = Something that has value in and of itself
What do we get from biodiversity? Oxygen Food Clean Water Medicine Aesthetics Ideas
Should we be concerned about biodiversity? The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate • Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each year. • when species of plants and animals go extinct, many other species are affected.
Threats to biodiversity Habitat destruction Pollution Non-native Species Introductions Global Climate Change Exploitation/Overuse
One major, pervasive impact… Pollution - any addition of matter or energy that degrades the environment for humans and other organisms Function of population size and new technology Liquid waste Gases Particulates
Pollution - THERMAL – water is used as a coolant for power plants The warmer the water – the less oxygen is can hold; aquatic life dies
Other major human impacts Movement of/ increased exposure to exotic species (including pathogens) • Problems of non-native or invasive species • Emerging Infectious Disease – never known before or absent for 20 years • Zika, Ebola, SARS, etc.
Other major human impacts Modification of ecosystems to exploit resources: farming, development, deforestation
Natural systems are more diverse than human managed-ecosystems.
Environmental costs • Forested areas effectively reduce erosion • road building in forests increases erosion • loss of soil & nutrients to erosion reduces productivity • Forested areas modify climate • Forests provide habitat for many species • Forest recreation
ENDANGERED VS THREATENED Threatened:population low but extinction less imminent Endangered: not so low that extinction imminent
Extinction prevention • Most biodiversity preservation interest occurs in developed countries. Most vulnerable species already eliminated. • Less-developed and developing countries have both highest population growth and the majority of the world’s species. • More concerned with immediate needs of food and shelter than long-range issues such as species extinction.
Ecological Succession Definition: • Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary • The gradual replacement of one plant community by another through natural processes over time
Primary Succession • Begins in a place without any soil • Sides of volcanoes • Landslides • Flooding • Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil to survive • Called PIONEER SPECIES
Primary Succession • Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of weather and erosion help break down rocks into smaller pieces • When lichens die, they decompose, adding small amounts of organic matter to the rock to make soil
Primary Succession • Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in the new soil
Primary Succession • The simple plants die, adding more organic material • The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over
Primary Succession • These plants die, and they add more nutrients to the soil • Shrubs and trees can survive now
Primary Succession • Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to move in • What was once bare rock now supports a variety of life
Secondary Succession • Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living organisms • Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession • Example: after forest fires, flooding, human disturbances (logging, mowing)
