Biodiversity: Who cares? Adapted from a presentation from the University of Florida.
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Transcript of Biodiversity: Who cares? Adapted from a presentation from the University of Florida.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity:
Who cares?Who cares?Adapted from a presentation from the University of FloridaAdapted from a presentation from the University of Florida
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
A B
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
A B
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
A B
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
A B
A B
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
A B
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
A B
Which do you like better?Which do you like better?
What do you think biodiversity What do you think biodiversity means?means?
Bio =
BioBiodiversitydiversity
What does “Bio” mean?
BioBiodiversitydiversity
Diversity = Variety
What does “Diversity” mean?
BiodiversityBiodiversity is the is the variety of lifevariety of life on on EarthEarth and the and the essential essential
interdependence of all living thingsinterdependence of all living things
• Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown
•The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things including microscopic species like bacteria, algae and mites.
There are 3 components of There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity
1.1. Diversity of genesDiversity of genesChihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but
they're not the same because their they're not the same because their genes are differentgenes are different..
ChihuahuaChihuahua BeagleBeagle
RottweilersRottweilers
2. Diversity of species2. Diversity of speciesFor example, squirrels, spiders, and For example, squirrels, spiders, and dandelions are all dandelions are all different speciesdifferent species. .
Squirrels Spider Dandelion
There are 3 components of There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity
Variety of ecosystemsVariety of ecosystemsThe tundra, rain forest and wetland are examples of The tundra, rain forest and wetland are examples of ecosystems. Each one is different, with its ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of own set of speciesspecies living in it. living in it.
Labrador tundra
BC Rain Forest
Manitoba wetland
There are 3 components of There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity
Canada’s biodiversityCanada’s biodiversityThere are many different ecosystems in There are many different ecosystems in
Canada – that fit into what are called Canada – that fit into what are called ecozonesecozones
Ecozones are just big areas that are often Ecozones are just big areas that are often divided by mountains, big lakes or very divided by mountains, big lakes or very different vegetationdifferent vegetation
Ecozones stretch from the arctic in the North Ecozones stretch from the arctic in the North to the mixed wood plains in Southern to the mixed wood plains in Southern Ontario.Ontario.
And from the Pacific Maritime ecozone to And from the Pacific Maritime ecozone to the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.
Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?
A B
Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?
A B
Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?
A B
A B
Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?
A B
Which has more cultural Which has more cultural diversity?diversity?
Which has more biodiversity?Which has more biodiversity?
A B
Which has more biodiversity?Which has more biodiversity?
A B
So why care about biodiversity?
Well? It has value.
What value?
The value of biodiversityThe value of biodiversity
1. Value just for being there – value in itself.1. Value just for being there – value in itself.
2. Value for something else – to produce goods (e.g. forests), services (clean water). 2. Value for something else – to produce goods (e.g. forests), services (clean water).
What do we get from What do we get from biodiversity?biodiversity?
OxygenOxygen
FoodFood
Clean WaterClean Water
MedicineMedicine
AestheticsAesthetics
IdeasIdeas
Should we be concerned about Should we be concerned about biodiversity?biodiversity?
What we know:What we know: The Earth is The Earth is losing species losing species at an alarming rateat an alarming rate
Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur
each year.each year. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many when species of plants and animals go extinct, many
other species are affectedother species are affected. .
Threats to biodiversityThreats to biodiversity
Habitat destructionHabitat destruction
PollutionPollution
Species IntroductionsSpecies Introductions
Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change
ExploitationExploitation
Ecosystem Species Richness
Species losses from different biomes
BiodiversityBiodiversity
BiodiversityBiodiversity is the variety of living things in an is the variety of living things in an ecosystem.ecosystem.
MonocultureMonoculture
An environment with An environment with very low very low biodiversity (e.g. biodiversity (e.g. a cornfield) is a a cornfield) is a monoculturemonoculture..
The Risk of a MonoculturesThe Risk of a Monocultures
Monocultures are very vulnerable to Monocultures are very vulnerable to ecological ecological collapsecollapse: when all living things in an : when all living things in an ecosystem die.ecosystem die.
ResilienceResilience
An ecosystem with An ecosystem with highhigh biodiversity is biodiversity is resilientresilient: : it can recover from changes.it can recover from changes.
If most of the squirrels are removed from the food
web (e.g. by disease), the predators still have other prey and the producers
still have other herbivores eating them.