Biodiversity

Question 1

Three levels of biological diversity:

Answer 1

Within species - eg genetic diversity in a vole population
Within community/ecosystem - eg species diversity in a coastal redwood ecosystem
Within landscape - how different are communities in species composition? - eg Community and ecosystem diversity across the landscape of an entire region

Question 2

What is Species diversity

Answer 2

Officially known: Formally described, named and classified species (e.g Homo sapiens).
Known unknowns: As yet unnamed species scientists are aware of.
Unknown unknowns: Species yet to be discovered
Total estimated to be 10 (or more) times formally named species.

Question 3

Landscape diversity

Answer 3

Alpha 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

Question 4

Why preserve Biodiversity? 3 main reasons

Answer 4

Biophilia / love of nature, Utilitarian: useful to humans, now or in the future, Ecosystem Functioning

Question 5

Ecosystem Functioning

Answer 5

Humanity depends on local and global ecosystem processes.
More diverse ecosystems function better.
Why? Complementarity

Question 6

Utilitarian: useful to humans, now or in the future

Answer 6

Sources of genetic diversity for crop breeding
New medicines
Ecosystem services in agriculture – e.g. pollination, pest control (think back to landscape ecology example in Lecture 1)
Carbon sequestration (capture and storage)

Question 7

Biophilia / love of nature

Answer 7

Biased towards ‘charismatic’ species
Might be seen as a luxury, not a necessity