1.1 Importance of Biodiversity Flashcards
Biodiversity has three levels.
(a) List the three levels
Genetic diversity, Species diversity and Ecosystem diversity
Genetic Diversity and Importance
sum of all forms of genes present in a particular species
-allows populations to ADAPT to changes in environmental conditions and evolve over time
-helps ensure the survival of a species (avoids monoculture, protects against disease/pathogens)
Species Diversity and Importance
variety of species + relative abundance of the species in an area
-allows ecosystems to SURVIVE environmental changes (drought, plague & disease outbreaks)
-each species contributes to the whole ecosystem and helps the ecosystem to be successful
Why is high species diversity important?
Helps maintain ecosystems
-e.g. predators have prey to eat
Helps maintain ecosystem functions
-e.g. different species of wetland plants help filter water, prevent shoreline erosion & provide habitats for fish
Ecosystem Diversity and Importance
refers to a diverse range of habitats, the various organisms that live in the habitats, and the relationships that connect them
-biotic and abiotic components
-e.g. forest contains many different types of ecosystems within it
-helps species to THRIVE
Why is high ecosystem diversity important?
High ecosystem diversity= High species diversity
-diverse habitats can support more species
Why is high species diversity important in ecosystems?
High species diversity= stronger ecosystems
-ecosystems can withstand disturbances better (e.g. forest fires, drought)
Ecosystem Diversity
-different types of ecosystems within a given area
-biotic and abiotic components
-forest may contain many different types of
ecosystems within it:
Ex. Forest Floor Shrub Layer
Leaf Litter Canopy
Spring Fed Pond
Pollinators
-Insects, Birds, Bats
-Increase plant genetic biodiversity
-fruits/vegetables
(Bees pollinate around 1/3 of all fruits/vegetables we eat!)
Products we get from biodiversity
-Aspirin from willow, Antibiotics from fungi, Anti-cancer drugs from many plants i.e. Rosy periwinkle)
-Rubber, waxes, oils
Ecosystem services
-Ecosystems filter water, cycle nutrients, clean the
air, prevent flooding, and prevent erosion
-Ecosystems also help modify climate
When scientists or farmers selectively breed
an organism for certain traits, which type of
biodiversity are they manipulating?
Genetic Diversity
Products are often developed from living
organisms.
(a) List three such products.
(b) Identify the organism each was developed
from.
yeasts
-produces bread, wine, beer, and milk products
cattle fat (tallow)
-used in wax paper, crayons, margarine, paints
sheep wool
-shirts, socks, yarn
Name four natural services that ecosystems
provide for the biosphere
-cycle carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.
-clean air, purify water, control erosion, prevent floods, and modify climate
How might the loss of biodiversity negatively
affect humans?
no bees–> decrease in meats,eggs,vegetables,fruits
no trees–> no clean air, no wood
loss of potential medicines, foods, and products
Why is the use of pesticides considered a
dilemma for farmers?
kills honeybees which pollinates their crops
Today, the fishing industry locates fish with
satellites, spotter airplanes, and sonar systems
that detect objects underwater. What
impact do you think this fishing equipment
might have on the diversity of marine species?
-this equipment kills aquatic animals, so it will reduce the diversity of marine species and cause them to reduce in population size
Why is it important to maintain wild
populations of crop plants such as corn
and wheat?
scientists often use genes from wild populations of corn and other crop plants to introduce important
characteristics, such as resistance to disease or pests, into genetically uniform crops
-they need to be maintained so that other plants can inherit the resistant charateristics in the gene pool which will help them withstand changes in the environment
Give an example of a type of organism that
humans are dependent on for survival. How
would our lifestyles change if this organism
became extinct?
honeybees
-a world without bees could struggle to sustain the global human population
-our supermarkets would have half the amount of fruit and vegetables
-trees and plants would seriously struggle to grow
-our diets would change
-malnutrition
-cost of food would skyrocket
Examples of genetic diversity in a forest
-different traits within organisms of the same
species
e.g. red striped beetles vs. green striped beetles, blue fish vs blue and red fish
Examples of species diversity in a forest
-different species in the ecosystem
e.g. fish, birds, trees, mushrooms, plants, beetles, raccoons
Examples of ecosystem diversity in a forest
e.g. river, trees, dirt, fallen logs
What makes honeybees a keystone species?
Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large effect on the ecosystems in which they live, such as the honeybee.
-without honeybees, there would be a lot of negative impacts on the ecosystems they inhabit
-e.g. no pollination(causes a lot of problems)
Are humans keystone species?
the human species can be considered a keystone species
-they dominate other species and can cause population crashes
-if humans become extinct, ecosystems would function very differently
-would change species populations (human
activities cause extinction)
What is Biodiversity?
-variety of living organisms
-millions of different species on earth
species definition
able to interbreed and produce fertile/viable offspring
with species, mating occurs _______
naturally
why is a mule not considered a species?
it is an infertile hybrid
Why can’t Tamiascurius hudsonicus and Scurius carolinensis breed?
because they are different species and genera
genetic diversity
-the diversity of DNA patterns within a species
-allows populations to adapt to changes in their
environments
-Ex. Disease resistance in humans
importance of genetic diversity
-Current farming practices use genetically uniform crops –> monocultures
-Any new pests/diseases that occur can potentially destroy entire crops
-Ex. Irish Potato Famine 1840s
Inbreeding of one species will _____ genetic diversity
reduce
Problems that can arise from inbreeding:
Epilepsy, breathing problems, twisted stomachs, hip dysplasia, etc.
With the Spanish flu killing an estimated 50 Million people, how were some people NOT as severely affected as others?
genetic diversity
species diversity
the number of different species within a given area
rainforests have ____ species diversity
HIGH
arctic has ___ species diversity
LOW
Each species _____ to the ecosystem
contributes
Many species depend on one another for survival, called…
symbiotic relationship
Importance of high species diversity
-helps maintain ecosystems
Ex. Insect eating birds benefit from a large diversity of prey items
How does high species diversity help maintain ecosystem functions?
Ex. Different species of wetland plants help filter water, prevent shoreline erosion, provide habitat for fish etc.
ecosystem diversity
different types of ecosystems within a given area
-biotic and abiotic components
-forest may contain many different types of
ecosystems within it
High Ecosystem Diversity =
High Species Diversity
(Diverse habitats can support more species)
High Species Diversity =
Stronger Ecosystems
(Ecosystems can with withstand disturbances ex. Forest fires & Drought)
