Science 9 – Unit 1: Biological Diversity Topic 1: Biological Diversity and Survival Topic 2: Habitat and Lifestyle Topic 3: Passing it on Topic 4: Wearing your Genes Topic 5: When Plans Change Topic 6: The Best Selection Topic 7: The Sixth Extinction? Topic 8: Pains and Gains

Topic #1 Biological Diversity and Survival What is Biological Diversity? - Variations of characteristics or features that make species unique

Become an Ecogeek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGxJArebKoc&feature=related

Definitions Species: A group of organisms that share similar characteristics (physical and genetic) Speciation: The evolution of different species from a single ancestor

Speciation of Man

Adaptations for Survival Every organism has adaptations that enable it to survive in its environment. Most are so the organism has the greatest opportunity to obtain food. There are 3 ways in which an organism will adapt: Structurally Behaviorally Physiologically

Structurally Where the organism changes its external physical characteristics Example: The pitcher plant

Behaviorally Where the organism changes its patterns Example: Birds migrating, or bears hibernating

Physiologically Where the organism adapts its internal structure Example: shivering, slowing of the heart rate

Diversity Index: Compares diversity of a species in an area with the total number of organisms in the same area Where there are many different kinds of organism would mean a HIGH diversity Index An area with fewer kinds of species would have a LOW diversity index

Calculating Diversity Index: Measure out a section of land you wish to study and mark it off(your trial) Study each species in that area. Assign each different species with a different letter Determine the number of RUNS in your trial by counting how many different letters you recorded Count the total number of specimens in your trial Divide the number of runs by the number of specimens to determine diversity Index Diversity Index=Number of Runs/number of specimens

Assignment: Read and Highlight Topic Booklet Complete Topic 1 Vocab and Questions