Biodiversity

Question 1

When defining biodiversity There are three components to consider from most narrow to most inclusive, which are…

Answer 1

genetic diversity
species diversity
ecological diversity

Question 2

Genetic Biodiversity

Answer 2

is the variation of inheritable traits (characteristics) in a species

For example if you chose the trait of fur color, in cats what is the variation – black, grey brown, tan, white, calico etc.

Question 3

Species Biodiversity

Answer 3

is the number of different kinds of organisms in an ecosystem or community

An ecosystem with high species diversity is usually more stable than one with low species diversity

species with high genetic diversity and many populations that are adapted to a wide variety of conditions are more likely to be able to weather disturbances, disease, and climate change.

The greatest number of species is in the tropics particularly rainforests and coral reefs. Currently there are 1.7 million species known.

Question 4

Ecological Biodiversity

Answer 4

looks at the complexity of a community in terms of niches (functions), trophic levels, and numbers of species present

it can also address the idea of ecosystem service: what does this ecosystem (for example an estuary) provide on a global scale?

Question 5

What are Biodiversity Hotspots?

Answer 5

are areas with a high diversity of species that occur no where else in the world. Hot spots are also areas with a high risk of human disturbance.

-Globally, hotspots occupy about 1.4 % of the earth’s total land mass a

-Hotspot areas include Madagascar, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Question 6


Benefits of Biodiversity

Answer 6

Food: many native fruits and other plants have been developed into cultivated varieties (for example, corn was developed from wild maize). Also pollinators

Drugs/Medicine: ½ of modern medicines are derived from wild species, from aspirin to quinine. Companies such as Merck spend a considerable amount of money on research to find and develop new drugs from wild species.

Ecological/Agricultural: Many organisms are important in soil formation and erosion prevention. Others are important in nutrient cycling, pest control and air and water purification.

Aesthetics: biodiversity provides for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, birding, hiking, camping etc. About 104 billion dollars are generated in the U.S. from nature related recreational activities.

Question 7

Threats to Biodiversity

Answer 7

1. Habitat Loss due to Destruction/Fragmentation
2. Invasive Species Introduction
3. Overexploitation (such as overfishing)
4. Disruption of interaction networks, such as food webs
5. Pollution and Climate Change also threaten biodiversity