LOGO Unit 1: Diversity of Living Things Lesson 1: Intro to Biodiversity
Dec 29, 2015
LOGO
Unit 1: Diversity of Living ThingsUnit 1: Diversity of Living Things
Lesson 1: Intro to Biodiversity
Learning Goals
Describe the nature of biological diversity and the biological species concept
Outline some of the primary human-caused threats to Earth’s biodiversity
Biological Diversity or Biodiversity
The number and variety of species and ecosystems on Earth
Ex: a rainforest has more biodiversity than the tundra
Measuring Biodiversity
the number of types of plants, animals and microorganisms
The fundamental unit of biodiversity is the SPECIES
Species
population of individuals capable of breeding freely with each other under natural conditions Ex: under natural conditions, lions breed with lions; robins breed
with robins
10000 species discovered each year
> 1.7 million identified and described by scientists
Scientists estimate that there are 13 million different species in the world, but that estimate has been known to vary from 3 million to 100 million
Of all the species that have ever lived on Earth, how many are living today?
less than 1% 1% 10% 20% 50%
0.1%, so in other words 99.9% of all species that have ever lived are extinct!
Species Survival
Microorganisms Often single celled Bacteria and protists
Heterotrophs Cannot make their own food Feed on other living or dead organisms
Autotrophs Make their own food using suns energy
Interactions Between Species
Food supply
Protection
Transportation
Reproduction
Hygiene
Digestion
Biodiversity Includes
Genetic diversity
Species diversity
Structural diversity
Genetic Diversity
The genetic variability among organisms – usually referring to individuals of the same species
Species Diversity
The variety of species and the number of individuals of each species The larger the population, the more biologically
diverse and thus healthier
Species & Genetic Diversity
Result from:
Hybridization
Evolutionary Change
Structural Diversity
The range of physical sizes, shapes and distribution of the individuals, as well as habitats in an ecosystem
Impacts of Threats to BD
Threatened food supply
Elimination of sources of medicine
Economic impact: tourism
Disruption of biogeochemical cycles Carbon, nitrogen, etc.
Species extinction …
Classwork
1. Suggest three examples of species that clearly fit the definition of a species based on the biological species concept. Explain your choices.
2. Explain why some species must be defined based on their morphology rather than on reproductive behaviour.
3. Analyze some ways in which the loss of biodiversity might affect the following industriesa) agriculture and forestry b) tourism c) healthcare
4. E.O. Wilson estimates that we are losing 27000 species per year. Based on this number, how long will it take for 1 million species to become extinct?
5. What are some of the primary human activities responsible for the increased rate of extinction?
6. Explain how climate change is affecting biodiversity in the Arctic. Why are changes in the Arctic ecosystems significant for the rest of the world?