Download Biodiversity - McEachern High School

Ch10, Section 1: What is Biodiversity?
Standards: SCSh2b, 3c, 4a, 9c
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Biodiversity-
number of different
species in a given
area.
Highest in areas
that get lots of
sunlight, moisture,
and nutrients- like
a tropical
rainforest.
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Unknown!
We know 1.7 million
have been identified
and named.
Estimate greater than
10 million actually
exist.
Many unknown species
live in rainforest, deep
oceans, even cities.
Which group of
organisms make up
the majority of the 1.7
million known species?
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Genetic diversity
◦ Different genes within
all members of a
population.
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Species diversity
◦ Number of different
species in an area.
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Ecosystem diversity
◦ Variety of habitats,
communities, and
ecological processes
within and btwn
ecosystems.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Species are part of
balanced cycles
within ecosystems
Maintain genetic
diversity
Provide products
for human use
Ethical, aesthetic,
and recreation
uses
1.
Species are part of
balanced cycles
within ecosystems
◦ All species depend on
each other as food
sources
◦ Keystone specieswhen removed from an
ecosystem, the
ecosystem collapses
 Named after center block
in an arch that supports
arch (see picture)
 Ex: sea otter, salmon,
grey wolf (Yellowstone)
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Sea otters were killed
almost to extinction in
the 1800’s for their
fur.
Sea otters eat sea
urchins but since there
were no sea otters, the
sea urchin population
grew exponentially.
Sea urchins devoured
kelp which was home
to numerous species
of fish and
invertebrates.
Without kelp the entire
ecosystem suffered.
Sea
urchins
devouring
kelp stalk
2.
Maintain genetic
diversity
◦ Need diversity to keep
population healthy.
◦ If all species are
genetically identical then
an environmental change
could wipe out the
population.
◦ Creates bottleneck effect
◦ Ex: Cheetahs- there are
so few cheetahs left that
they begin to inbreed and
lose genetic diversity.
Suffering from genetic
disorders & disease.
Before cheetahs
were killed off
there was a lot of
genetic diversity.
Cheetahs
population killed
rapidly
Very few traits
survived.
3.
Provide products
for human use
A. Medicine
 1/3 of drugs derived
from plants
 Almost all antibiotics
from chemicals in fungi
 Ex: see chart
Drug
Origin
Use
Taxol
Pacific yew
Anticancer
Novacaine
Coca plant
Local
anesthetic
L-dopa
Velvet bean
Treatment
of
Parkinson’s
disease
B. Food
◦ Eating food from
rainforests ensures
protection of the
rainforest b/c it becomes
an exporting industry
 Ex: chocolate
◦ Need to create hybrids so
crop genes aren’t too
pure. (pure
genes=increased
susceptibility to disease
◦ Many undiscovered and
underutilized crops in
developing countries that
could be used to provide
income.
C. Clothing
◦ Ex: cotton, silk
D. Shelter
◦ Ex: wood, rubber
from rubber trees
4.
Ethics, Aesthetics,
Recreation
◦ Ethics- species have a
right to exist
◦ Aesthetics- personal
enjoyment; camping,
picking wildflowers,
hiking
◦ Recreation- fishing,
swimming, boating
◦ Ecotourism- form of
tourism that supports
conservation efforts;
enables developing
countries to earn income.