1. Unit 8-Environmental Science Chapter 6.3-Biodiversity

2. What is Biodiversity?
The total variation in all organisms in the biosphere
Three levels:
Ecosystem Diversity: variation in habitat and ecological processes
Species Diversity: the number of different species in the biosphere
Genetic Diversity: different genetic information carried by a particular species

3. Biodiversity and Medicine

4. Biodiversity and Agriculture

5. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

6. Threats to Biodiversity
When humans reduce genetic diversity we reduce species diversity
When humans reduce environmental diversity we reduce species diversity
We do this by altering habitats, hunting, introducing invasive species, polluting food webs, and contributing to climate change

7. Threats to Biodiversity
Altered Habitats
Complete destruction of habitat
Habitat fragmentation: splitting ecosystems into pieces
Makes species more vulnerable
Hunting
Many species killed for food, money, and medicine

8. Threats to Biodiversity
Introduced (Invasive) Species
Pollution
Climate Change

9. Conserving Biodiversity
Protecting individual species
Species survival plans (SSPs)
Preserving habitats and ecosystems
National parks
Marine sanctuaries
Ecological hotspots: a place where significant numbers of species and habitats are in danger
Considering local human interests
Tax credits
Tourism
Carbon credits