Transcript PowerPoint Template

LOGO
Unit 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 humancaused 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?
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
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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 industries
a) 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?