1. BIODIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
American Alligator and Shark cases

2. At multiple levels… Species diversity – Genetic diversity –
Biodiversity: A Crucial Part of the Earth’s Natural Capital fig p. 79
At multiple levels…
Species diversity –
Genetic diversity –
Ecosystem diversity –
Functional diversity –

3. Think about Lego’s At multiple levels… Species diversity –
Genetic diversity –
Ecosystem diversity –
Functional diversity –

4. How do species change (become more diverse) over time?
Biological evolution: changes in the genetic characteristics of populations Darwin: Origin of Species
Natural selection: individuals with certain traits are “selected for” under certain conditions
Huge body of evidence has supported biological evolution through natural selection

5. SPECIES RICHNESS VS. SPECIES EVENNESS
‘Rich’ = tropical rain forests. Many different orgs but only a few of each
e.g. Beetles on a tree in Panama
‘Even’ = Coniferous forests. Hundreds of thousands of trees, but all Douglas fir.
Know the difference!

6. A specie’s role in the ecosystem = its niche
Generalists examples
Specialists examples

7. Any given species may play one or more of 5 important roles:
Native
Non-native
Indicator
Keystone
Foundation