6.3 - Biodiversity

• What is biodiversity?

  • Biodiversity = the variety of life that an area has
  • Determined by the total number of different species present
  • A lot of species = more biodiversity!
• Why is biodiversity important?

  1. Ecosystem with high biodiversity = STABLE
  2. We get many products from a variety of living organisms!
• Significance of Biodiversity

  • Ecosystem with high biodiversity = stable
  • there are more kinds of organisms that can interact to provide a wide variety of niches (jobs)
  • Think of a full food web vs a sparse food web - less varied foods = more organisms die -> collapse of web
• Significance of Biodiversity

  • We get so many products from a variety of living organisms
  • Ex: food, medicine, clothing, wood, ecological importance!
• What factors lead to biodiversity loss?

  • H = Habitat Alteration
  • I = Invasive Species
  • C = Climate Change
  • O = Overharvesting/Overhunting
  • P = Pollution
• Habitat Alteration: when land is developed by humans and natural habitats are destroyed

  • Species must adjust to the change, find a new habitat, or die
  • Ecosystems -> split up by development = habitat fragmentation
  • Fewer species can live here, pops. are smaller and more vulnerable to extinction
• Invasive Species: when a non-native species moves into an ecosystem

  • No natural predators -> pop. increases & competes with natives for food and resources
• Overharvesting/Overhunting

  • For centuries, we've caused species extinction when we hunt for meat, trophies, furs, hides, and medicine
  • In the rest of the world, species are poached for profit
  • Many of these species are endangered
• Pollution: Chemicals or energy released that harms the health of a human or organism in the environment

  • Physically injures living organisms
  • Destroys habitats
  • Poisons food chains
• Climate Change

  • Speciation/extinction has occurred for millions of years
  • The difference now is the pace of this change
  • declining sea ice for mating & birthing
  • warming ocean temp. -> coral bleaching
  • higher temps distrupt migration -> leaves open niches in food chains
  • Many species aren't able to quickly adapt to new food, habitats, predators for survival
• Extinction: when a species is eliminated

  • causes a decrease in biodiversity
  • extinction = on-going problem due to its fast rate
• • There are four solutions to reduce biodiversity loss: conservation, going green, ecotourism and education, and captive breeding programs
• Conservation: the wise management of natural resources in order to preserve them

  • govt. regulations and collabs. among nations is the key to ecosystem restoration
  • ex: endangered species act and freshwater act
• Go Green

  • use less stuff = less waste like plastic and pollution
  • use less energy = less land destruction
  • get involved = become an activist and help cause change in politics
• Ecotourism and Education

  • teaches people about the state of our ecosystem and biodiversity health
  • goal = help people make positive changes by becoming involved
• Captive Breeding Programs

  • zoos and conservation groups raise and breed animals in a protected surrounding and then are introduced back into the wild