1. Biodiversity Chapter 10 Section 1
Ms. Mandel

2. Learning Targets I can define biodiversity.
I can describe the 3 levels of biodiversity.
I can explain why biodiversity is important to ecosystems and humans.

3. Biodiversity

4. Biodiversity What is it? How many known species are there?
The number of species in a given area
How many known species are there?
1.7 million
How many total species may there be on the planet?
Over 10 million

5. 3 Levels of Biodiversity
Species diversity
the number of different species in a given area
has the most attention
Ecosystem diversity
the variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes within and between ecosystems’
Genetic diversity
the different genes contained within all members of a population

6. Benefits of Biodiversity
Ecosystem Stability
Species and population survival
Medical and industrial uses
Agriculture
Ethics, aesthetics, and recreation

7. Ecosystem Stability How are species connected to ecosystems?
Every species is either dependent on or depended upon by at least one other species in ways that are not always obvious
If one species disappears, a strand in the food web is removed

8. What is a keystone species?
A species that is critical to the functioning of the ecosystem in which it lives because it affects the survival and abundance of many other species in its community
sciencewitness.com

9. Species and Population Survival
What is a critical factor in species survival?
The level of genetic diversity within populations
Why is genetic variation important?
It increases the chances that some members of the population may survive environmental pressures or changes

10. What happens as a population shrinks?
Genetic diversity decreases like it’s passing through a bottleneck
Even if the population is able to increase, there will be inbreeding within a smaller variety of genes
Members of the population may then become more likely to inherit genetic diseases

11. Medical and Industrial Uses
~ ¼ of drugs prescribed in US are derived from plants
New chemicals and industrial materials may be developed from chemicals discovered in all kinds of species

12. Agricultural Uses
Most of the crops produced around the world originated from a few areas of high biodiversity
Most new crops are hybrids
GMOs
What’s the risk?
Depending on too few plants for food may result in famine
Need to crossbreed with wild genes

13. Ethics, Aesthetics and Recreation
Species and ecosystems have a right to exist whether or not they have any other value
Personal enjoyment such as camping, bird watching, keeping pets, boating, hunting, fishing, etc.
Ecotourism
Tourism that supports conservation and sustainable development of ecologically unique areas

14. Biodiversity

15. Let’s Review What is biodiversity?
How many species have been discovered?
What are the 3 levels of biodiversity?
Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?
Why is biodiversity important to humans?