Biodiversity Flashcards
3 levels of biological diversity
- within species
- within community/ecosystem
- within landscape
Officially known =
formally described, named and classified species
Known unknowns =
As et unnamed species scientists are aware of
Unknown unknowns =
Species yet to be discovered
DNA based tools can assist with what?
assist traditional approaches to species recognition and calassification
Alfa diversity =
species diversity in a location or habitat patch
Beta diversity =
How different species composition is among locations
Gamma diversity =
Species diversity at the landscape level
Why preserve diversity?
- Biophilia/love of nature
- Utilitarian
- Ecosystem functioning
Biophilia
Biased towards charismatic species
Might be seen as a luxury and not necessity
Utilitarian
useful to humans now or in the future
sources of genetic diversity for crop breeding
new medicines
ecosystem functioning
humanity depends on local and global ecosystem processes
more diverse ecosystems function better
