VOCABULARY FOLDABLE XIII

The variety of organisms in a place, whether it is small or large.

The transfer of the pollen, or male reproductive cells, of a flower to the female parts of a flower

Biodiversity-the variety of organisms in a place Bio-means life and diverse-means different The greater the biodiversity in an area, the healthier the area will be Biodiversity is a process that keeps life in balance on Earth

Variety of organisms found in the soil helps other organisms to survive (fungi break down dead organisms) Food, shelter, clothing and medicine Pollination-the transfer of the pollen, male reproductive cell, of a flower to the female parts of a flower The diversity of pollinating animals helps many species of flowering plants survive and thrive

Earth’s biodiversity is threatened in many places by human activities For example, many rain forests are being destroyed, they are cut down for farms, lumber and mines This threatens the species in the rain forests and reduces biodiversity Tropical rain forest are the most diverse environments on Earth

1.A biologically diverse area has a.no living things b.a few different kinds of living things c.many different kinds of living things d.a large number of one kind of living things

2. In a clump of soil, fungi a. break up the soil b. break down the parts of once-living organisms c. eat living insects d. allow water and air to easily get into the soil

3. Which environment is MOST biodiverse? a. a tropical rain forest b. a polar ice cap c. a desert d. a stream