Transcript Ecosystem and Biodiversity

Ecosystem and
Biodiversity
Bears are omnivores and eat a wide variety of food. Why might a bear choose to eat
fruits, nuts, and acorns in the fall instead of animal matter?
• BEARS WILL SWITCH FOODS BASED
ON WHAT IS MORE READILY
AVAILABLE TO BALANCE ENERGY
EXPENDED TO OBTAIN FOOD TO THE
ENERGY GAINED FROM THE FOOD
Use the following words to label the above picture of the water cycle.
-ocean/lake
-condensation
-Evaporation
-Surface Runoff
-Ground water
-precipitation
The trees in tropical rain forests
are important to nutrient
cycling in the biosphere.
• Describe one role of the trees
in the carbon cycle.
Describe one role of the trees in the carbon
cycle.
• (TREES TAKE IN CARBON
DIOXIDE AND RELEASE
OXYGEN – PHOTOSYNTHESIS)
• Describe one role of the trees
in the oxygen cycle.
Describe one role of the trees in the oxygen
cycle.
• (TREES TAKE IN CARBON DIOXIDE
AND RELEASE OXYGEN –
PHOTOSYNTHESIS)
• Describe one role of the trees
in the water cycle.
Describe one role of the trees in the water cycle.
• (TREES RELEASE WATER WHICH
RETURNS TO THE WATER CYCLE –
TRANSPIRATION)
Some rain forest trees are destroyed by burning,
while some others are cut down and left on the
forest floor.
• Describe one way that burning rain forest
trees affects nutrient cycling differently than
cutting them down and leaving them on the
forest floor.
Some rain forest trees are destroyed by burning,
while some others are cut down and left on the
forest floor.
Describe one way that burning rain forest trees
affects nutrient cycling differently than cutting
them down and leaving them on the forest floor.
• (BURNING TREES WILL ADD MORE CARBON
DIOXIDE TO THE ATMOSPHERE WHEREAS
LEAVING THEM ON THE FOREST FLOOR WILL
RETURN THEIR NUTRIENTS TO THE SOIL)
• Nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater is locked in ice.
Most of the rest is in aquifers that we are draining
much more quickly than the natural recharge rate.
Two-thirds of our water is used to grow food.
Americans use about 100 gallons of water at home
each day, while millions of the world’s poorest subsist
on fewer than 5 gallons. In 15 years, 1.8 billion people
will live in regions of severe water scarcity. Water
demand will keep going up unless we change how we
use it.
• **National Geographic, April 2010, Water Our Thirsty
World
• Using this information, explain how water could be a
limiting factor to the ecosystem you live in.
Place the correct relationship next to the number.
1.____ As buffalos walk through the grass, insects become
active and are seen and eaten by cowbirds.
2.____ A honeyguide bird will lead a badger to a beehive.
Once the bird locates the beehive, it makes a loud
noise
for the badger to hear. The badger gets the honey and the
bird eats the scraps.
3._____A tick burrows into the skin of a coyote and sucks
their blood, sometimes causing disease.
4._____A cheetah chases after a gazelle.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Mutualism
Predator-Prey
Commensalism
Parasitism
• Which organism will
have the lowest
energy?
• Which organism will
have the highest
biomass?
Biodiversity Definition
• Biodiversity = number of different species that
live in an ecosystem
–Low biodiversity: few species
–High: many species
Low Biodiversity
High Biodiversity
Low or High Biodiversity?
Low or High Biodiversity?
Low or High Biodiversity?
Benefits of Biodiversity
• Key Point #1: There are three main
benefits to biodiversity
–Many people find nature beautiful
–Provides medicines
–Preserves ecosystem stability
Ecosystem stability… What?
• Stable = things stay the same
• Key Point #2: High biodiversity = stable
ecosystem, low biodiversity = unstable
ecosystem
– If an ecosystem is unstable, one small change
could cause many species to die
– If an ecosystem is stable, it does not change
easily
Another way to write that!
• Key Point #2: High biodiversity = stable
ecosystem, low biodiversity = unstable
ecosystem
– CHANGE!
• Lots of species die  Unstable
• Most species don’t change  Stable
Threats to Biodiversity
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H- habitat loss
I- introduced species
P-pollution
P-population growth
O-overuse
Protect Biodiversity
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Clean up
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Low meat consumption
Low water consumption
Garden
Car Pool
Preserving Land and Wildlife