Slide 1

What is biodiversity? What parts of the world do you think have high/low biodiversity? Slide 2 Describe the diversity of species types on Earth List areas of the world that have high levels of biodiversity and many threats to species Explain four ways in which biodiversity is important to ecosystems and humans PowerPoint Video Calculating the genetic diversity of the class Slide 3 Number of species known to science: Approx. 2 million Scientists predict there are: Over 10 million species Most of these known species are: Insects Where do these unknown species exist? Wilderness, deep oceans, cities Which species do we know more/less about? More: trees and animals, Less: Insects, fungi Slide 4 Slide 5 Biodiversity: the variety of organisms in a given area, the genetic variation within a population, the variety of species in a community, or the variety of communities in an ecosystem. Variety: different forms or types Slide 6 Slide 7 Slide 8 Species- variety of different organisms Genetic- variability within a species (DNA) Ecosystem- variety of habitats and organisms Slide 9 Slide 10 Slide 11 Slide 12 Areas of the world that contain a greater diversity of species than other areas. What is an example? Slide 13 Tropical Rain Forests Coral Reefs Islands Vocabulary: Endemic Species: species that are native to and found only within a limited area Slide 14 Slide 15 Slide 16 Slide 17 Slide 18 Species help balance the cycles of energy and nutrients Keystone species: a species that is critical to the functioning of the ecosystem which it lives because it affects the survival and abundance of many other species in its community Example: Sea otter Slide 19 Sea otters eat sea urchins Sea urchins eat kelp 1800s otters were hunted and disappeared Sea urchin population grew without predators Kelp disappeared Found more otters Otters ate urchins Kelp beds regenerated Slide 20 Genetic variation increases the chances that members of a population will survive environmental pressures or changes Genetic diversity: all of the different genes within members of the population Slide 21 Bottleneck: When population shrinks, its genetic diversity decreases When population increases again, there is a smaller variety of genes New populations chances of survival are low Slide 22 Slide 23 Slide 24 Humans use organisms for food, clothing, shelter, and medicine of drugs are made from plants Antibiotics made from chemicals found in fungi Biodiversity allows some crops to be save from disease preventing famine Slide 25 Slide 26 Ethics species have the right to exist whether or not they have any value Aesthetics and Recreation Ecotourism: a form of tourism that supports the conservation and sustainable development of ecologically unique areas Slide 27 Vieques, Puerto Rico Slide 28 Slide 29 Slide 30 http://www.ted.com/talks/marla_spiva k_why_bees_are_disappearing.html Slide 31 Slide 32 Slide 33 Slide 34 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLH1qLCv qSg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLH1qLCv qSg Slide 35 Non-native, or alien species- doesnt belong in particular ecosystem Generalist- thrive in a wide range of habitats, reproduce quickly Few to no predators- can thrive unchecked Outcompete endemic species for resources- sunlight, food, space, water Slide 36 Slide 37 Slide 38 Slide 39 If fossil fuel emission trends continue, the world may be 6 deg. C warmer (11 deg F) by 2100 (IPCC) The Earth may lose 25% of all land species by 2100. If species cannot adapt, they go extinct Other species may take their place, including invasives Slide 40 Read each of the situation cards and place them on the board under the correct Threat to Biodiversity category Slide 41 Slide 42 Slide 43 Research your assigned method to preserve biodiversity. Write 2-3 sentences or bullet points explaining it on a large piece of paper. (use the textbook or computer at your lab station) Slide 44 1. Captive Breeding Programs 2. Preserving Genetic Material (germplasms) 3. Endangered Species Act and Habitat Conservation Plan (2 groups) 4. CITES 5. U.S. Wilderness Act