Lesson 1 - intro to biodiversity

Created by

Gabby Amorim

Cards (15)

What is biodiversity? 
The variety of life on Earth
What are the characteristics of ecosystems with high levels of biodiversity? 
A large number of species
Complex food webs
A variety of ecological niches
Increased genetic diversity
Abundant resources
What is the correlation between biodiversity and ecosystem health? 
Higher biodiversity is directly correlated with:
Increased health
Increased resistance (strength) to disturbances
Increased resilience (flexibility) after disturbances
What are the three levels of biodiversity?
Ecosystem Diversity
Species Diversity
Genetic Diversity
What does ecosystem diversity refer to? 
The variety of habitats that exist within a given region
How does abiotic factors influence species diversity? 
A variety of abiotic factors, microhabitats, and resources allows for more niches
Greater species diversity leads to greater genetic diversity
How does temperature and precipitation affect biodiversity distribution? 
As temperature and precipitation decrease, biodiversity generally decreases
Which ecosystem has the most biodiversity? 
The rainforest
Which ecosystem has the least biodiversity?
The tundra
What is species diversity? 
The number of species in an ecosystem
What are biodiversity hotspots? 
Sites that support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species
High NPP to support a large biomass
Examples include rainforests, coral reefs, and wetlands
What are the two components traditionally used to define biodiversity?
Species Richness and Species Evenness
What does Species Richness refer to? 
The number of different species in a given area
What does Species Evenness measure? 
The relative abundance of each species
What are the definitions of Species Richness and Species Evenness? 
Species Richness: The number of different species in a given area.
Species Evenness: The relative abundance of each species.