Download 4.1.1 Biodiversity

4.1.1 BIODIVERSITY
BIODIVERSITY
The amount of biological diversity
per unit area.
It includes: genetic, habitat and
species diversity
GENETIC DIVERSITY
Is the total number of genetic characteristics of a
specific species.
HABITAT DIVERSITY
Variety of forests, deserts, grasslands, lakes, oceans, coral
reefs, wetlands, and other biological communities,
(niches per unit area).
SPECIES DIVERSITY
Is the number of species
or organisms per unit
area found in different
habitats of the planet.
State of US species.
Projected Status of Biodiversity
1998–2018
Arctic Circle
60°
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
30°N
Tropic of Cancer
Pacific
Ocean
0°
150°
120°
Tropic of Capricorn
ASIA
Atlantic
Ocean
90°
AFRICA
30°W
SOUTH
AMERICA
0°
Pacific
Ocean
60°E
90°
Indian
Ocean
150°
AUSTRALIA
30°S
Antarctic Circle
60°
ANTARCTICA
Critical and endangered
Threatened
Stable or intact
What are the relationships
among ecosystem stability,
diversity, succession and
habitat ?
• How does diversity change during succession?
• How does habitat diversity influence species diversity and
genetic diversity?
• How does ecosystem complexity, with its variety of nutrient
and energy pathways, provide stability?
• How do human activities (agriculture, mining, logging, etc.)
modify succession?
• What are the potential positive and negative results of human
activities that simplify ecosystems? (monocrop agriculture)
Why Should We Care About
Biodiversity?
Instrumental value:
usefulness to us.
Intrinsic value:
because they exist,
Regardless of whether
they are useful to us or
not.
Goods
 Food, fuel, ecosystems, species, fiber, lumber, paper, …
 90% of today’s food crops
 40% of all medicines (85% of antibiotics)
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea,
Europe
Digitalis for heart failure
Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia,
Pacific Northwest
Ovarian cancer
Ecological Services:
 Flow of materials, energy, and information in the biosphere
 Photosynthesis
 Pollination
 Soil formation and maintenance
 Nutrient recycling
 Moderation of weather extremes
 Purification of air and water
Information:
 Genetic information: adaptation and evolution
 Genetic information for genetic engineering
 Educational and scientific information
Option:
• People would be willing to pay in advance to preserve the
option of directly using a resource such as a tree, an elephant,
a forest or a clean lake.
Recreation:
• Hunting, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, water skiing, . . . .
• Eco-tourism
Nonutilitarian:
 Existence
 Aesthetic
 Protect natural capital for future generations