2. BIODIVERSITY quantumbiologist.com curiosanimals.net Biology-blog.com
In this lecture you will learn about the various forms of biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation within can be characterized by biomes are simply large geographic areas containing similar plants and animals. Most scientists agree that the Earth is composed of 8 major biomes, however, this is still highly debated. Depending on the scale you are considering biomes may consist of tropical rainforest filled with hundreds of micro and macro organisms or hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor composed mainly of microscopic organisms. For the purpose of this lecture we will focus on the larger 8 major biomes.
As you flip through the slides you will notice the 8 major biomes with key points bulleted. This is of course not an exhaustive list and additional information can easily be found on the internet. Before continuing on feel free to follow the activity below.
Activity:
Let the students look at the pictures for a few seconds and then ask them what is biodiversity?
Notes:
Emphasize that biodiversity comes in all shapes and sizes…humans included.
Ask the class if they can name a few additional diverse species…smallest…largest.
Try and get them to realize that diversity can begin at the microscopic level and end with the largest living organism the giant sequoia tree.
flower-show.com
earthref.org
dolphinsc.com
tropicalrainforest.com

3. WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE?
Here we have two rectangular images one of which has a unique pattern of colored circles and the other all white circles.
Activity:
Ask the class which one they would prefer by a raise of hands.
Notes:
This allows the class to see the preferences of their classmates. Of course, you will get a coupe of students who will choose the box with all white circles; however, this will actually strengthen the argument showing that the majority prefer diversity.

4. WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE?
agriculturesc.gov
Here we have two images of different ecosystems, one showing crops growing in rows on a farm and the other a temperate forest with a river flowing through it.
Activity:
Ask the class which one they would prefer by a raise of hands.
Notes:
This allows the class to see the preferences of their classmates. Of course, you will get a coupe of students who will choose the corn rows; however, this will actually strengthen the argument showing that the majority prefer diversity.
city-data.com

6. What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety or richness of life at all structural levels (molecular/genetic, species, ecosystem). It is an essential renewable resource.

7. COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
3 types of biodiversity
A simplified way of explaining 3 basic components of biodiversity will be discussed in the following 3 slides.
Here we see 3 different types of canines (left to right), a Chihuahua, Rottweiler, and wolf. Each one has their own unique set of physical traits, such as body shape and size and hair/fur color. These traits are determined by sets of genes that are different for each canine giving them their physical uniqueness. Remember that although they all possess genes that make them different, they also possess genes that make them very similar.
Notes: Emphasize to the students that although they are genetically similar they come in various sizes, shapes, colors, etc.
Activity: Can anyone give me another example of genetic diversity?
Notes: Humans: All similar genetically regardless of skin tone, ethic background, language, etc.
dogsindepth.com
americanrottweiler.org
animals-nationalgeographic.com
1. Genetic – types of dogs (canine family)

8. COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
Here we see 3 completely different types of organisms (left to right), a football player, elephant, and flowers. Just like genetic biodiversity, these organisms also have their own unique set of physical traits, such as shape, size, and cellular structure (the type of cells the organism is composed of). However, unlike genetic diversity these organisms are not classified by genes but into small biological units called “species”. Many scientist disagree on what a species actually is, however, to simplify things we will use this basic definition.
“A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.”
For example, a bird would also fall under species diversity, but a rock would not.
Activity: Biodiversity can be easily broken up into 3 parts, the second of which is species biodiversity. Species is a basic unit of biological classification to describe a group of organisms. Most have genetic similarities, however, not to the level of genetic diversity.
Notes: This is usually the one that students understand quickly.
rollinsd.com
africanelephantlearningzone.com
allthingscool.com
2. Species – types of living organisms

9. COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
Here we see 3 completely different types of ecosystems (left to right), a desert, forest, and coral reef. This type of biodiversity takes into account both living organisms and non-living objects. Each ecosystem is physically different (e.g. sand vs. trees vs. underwater) and is composed a diverse assemblage of living organisms and non-living objects. These differences are what distinguishes ecosystems from one another.
Activity: Biodiversity can be easily broken up into 3 parts, the third of which is ecosystem biodiversity. Variations in global environments with many organisms that are uniquely adapted to surviving in that specific location.
Notes: Emphasize to the students that ecosystems are not scale dependent. Multiple ecosystems can be found in a simple front yard. (e.g. shaded area, soil, tree canopy, constantly moist areas.)
phototravels.net
us-africa.tripod.com
coralreefinfo.com
3Ecosystems – various global environments

10. Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity provides us with:
Natural Resources (food, water, wood,
energy, and medicines)
Natural (Ecosystem) Services including: air and water purification, soil fertility, waste disposal, pest control)
Aesthetic pleasure

11. Natural Resources

13. Ecosystem services
Supporting
Provisioning
Regulating
cultural

14. Supporting services are those that support all ecosystems, and though they may not affect humans directly or do so over a long time, they are extremely important; without them, the other ecosystem services would not be possible.
Some examples are photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, the creation of soil, and water cycling.

15. 2. Provisioning services are those that provide products that humans take and use.
An example is ocean fisheries that, when they are fished responsibly so that the population is stable, can provide fish for us to eat. If we overfish our fisheries, they will not be renewable and eventually we will run out of those fish.
Other provisioning services are timber, drinking water, and plants that we use to make clothing, medicine, or food. We also get fuel from ecosystems, such as the oil that powers our cars, the coal that gives us electricity, and wood for fuel. renewable alternative sources of energy, such as solar power, hydroelectric power, and wind power.

16. 3. Regulating services are the benefits that we get from the regulation of natural ecosystem processes.
Some examples are
pollination,
air quality regulation – plants remove carbon dioxide and contribute oxygen to the air,
decomposition – healthy soil ecosystems break down and detoxify waste materials into reusable nutrients,
water filtration, and
flood and erosion control

17. 4. Cultural services are the non-material benefits that people gain from natural ecosystems. Humans have always interacted with nature, which has contributed to our cultural, spiritual, and intellectual development.
Examples : learning and building of knowledge,
creative and spiritual inspiration, and recreational and aesthetic value. People love going camping to be in the great outdoors, and America’s beautiful National Parks, such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon attract millions of visitors from around the world every
year.

18. Edward O. Wilson
The one process ongoing that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly that our descendents are least likely to forgive us.

19. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES VALUE
(trillion $US)
Soil formation 17.1
Recreation 3.0
Nutrient cycling 2.3
Water regulation and supply 2.3
Climate regulation (temperature and precipitation) 1.8
Habitat 1.4
Flood and storm protection 1.1
Food and raw materials production 0.8
Genetic resources 0.8
Atmospheric gas balance 0.7
Pollination 0.4
All other services 1.6
Total value of ecosystem services 33.3

20. H Habitat loss, including that caused by human-induced climate change.
“The decline of Earth’s biodiversity is an unintended consequence of multiple factors that have been enhanced by human activity. They can be summarized by the acronym HIPPO, with the order of the letters corresponding to their rank in destructiveness.”
H Habitat loss, including that caused by human-induced climate change.
I Invasive species (harmful aliens, including predators, diseases, and competitors that displace native species
P Pollution
P Population, Human overpopulation to be exact, a root cause of the other four factors
O Overharvesting, Overuse (hunting,
fishing, gathering)
E. O. Wilson “The Creation”

22. Habitat loss is the greatest reason for biodiversity loss.
Habitat loss is due to:
Conversion of natural areas to farms, houses, etc
Fragmentation of ecosystems by human activities, housing, transportation, agriculture etc.
Simplification of genetic diversity and complex ecosystems by planting/selecting monocultures.
Habitat loss/destruction

23. Invasive / Exotic Species
Invasive, exotic species introduced from elsewhere outcompete native species because they:
Have no natural predators
Colonize disturbed habitats quickly
Have a high biotic potential (r-species)

24. Cane Toads – The Conquest movie
Cane Toads – The Conquest movie

25. Pollution
Pollution (Oil spills, human agricultural waste, fertilization, pesticides, acid deposition, greenhouse gases etc) caused by human activities has a negative effect on biodiversity

26. Population, Human overpopulation that is.
7.0 Billion and counting. The expansion of human population and affluence, especially in the developing world harms natural ecosystems.

27. Overharvesting, Overuse, Overexploitation
Overhunting, overfishing, destructive harvesting practices (cyanide, dynamite), illegal trade, exotic pet industry

28. Climate change

29. Why does Biodiversity Matter?
Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems.
The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species.
Harvard University Life Sciences - HHMI Outreach Summer 2010 Workshop for Biology Teachers

30. Each living thing has a role to play in its ecosystem
Producer
Autotroph
Consumer
Herbivore
Carnivore
Decomposer
Nitrogen fixator
Harvard University Life Sciences - HHMI Outreach Summer 2010 Workshop for Biology Teachers

31. What is happening to Biodiversity?
On the Planet:
The rate of extinction of species is now 100 times greater than the natural rate because of humans.
Our modern period is often called “The Sixth Mass Extinction” due to biodiversity loss.
Harvard University Life Sciences - HHMI Outreach Summer 2010 Workshop for Biology Teachers

32. Biomagnification
The increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.