the variety of life - the range of living organisms that can be found in an area
what are species?
a group of individuals whose members are able to interbreed freely to produce fertile offspring, similar in:
appearance
anatomy
physiology
genetics
biochemistry
what is a habitat?
the place where an organism lives
what is an ecosystem?
all the living organisms and non-living components in a specific area and their interactions
how is biodiversity affected by climate?
the more extreme the climate - the lower the diversity (since its harder for life to adapt)
how is biodiversity affected by latitude?
the further from the equator, generally the lower the biodiversity ad the climate is less stable/more extreme
what is species diversity?
divided into:
species richness = number of different species living in a particular area
species evenness =a comparison of the number of individuals of each species
there is structural/functional differences
area could differ in species diversity even if it has the same number of species
what is genetic diversity?
refers to the variety of genes that make up a species
leads to genetic diversity
greater genetic diversity within a species allows for better adaptation to a changing environment, and is more likely to result in individuals who are resistant to disease
why is biodiversity important?
interdependence - species connected through food chains so rely on each other
fungi/bacteria help decompose dead organic matter
humans rely on species as a source of food, building materials or drugs
