Download Biodiversity Webquest

Biodiversity Web Quest
“EvErything Counts”
Name ____________________________ Date ___________ Period ______ Score _____
Goal: To comprehend biodiversity and the key levels of: species, genetic, ecosystem
and cultural diversity.
Directions:
Begin with the web page titled “Biodiversity Everything Counts”
http://www.amnh.org/explore/ology
What Is the Big Idea? (don’t forget to use the “next” button in this section)
1. What is biodiversity and how many types are there?
2. Why is biodiversity so important anyway? List seven reasons why biodiversity
is so important.
3. What can you do to help preserve biodiversity?
Saving Species
4. Scientist are not finding a diverse population of organism on the coral reefs in
the Bahamas, why?
5. What is so unique about Madagascar’s ecosystem?
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American Museum of Natural History http://www.amnh.org/
Biodiversity Web Quest
“EvErything Counts”
Name ____________________________ Date ___________ Period ______ Score _____
6. What is happening to the forest of Madagascar and what is the outcome?
7. Why is saving the biodiversity on Madagascar so important?
8. Why does Australia have such an unusual variety of spiders?
Going Going Gone
9. What are five reasons species are becoming extinct? Explain how
10. What does it mean for a species to be extinct? Give an example
11. How do invasive species travel or spread to a different ecosystem? Give an
example.
What is Biodiversity?- Go to the “Global Issues – Biodiversity” web site
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity
1. What is the definition this website gives for biodiversity?
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American Museum of Natural History http://www.amnh.org/
Biodiversity Web Quest
“EvErything Counts”
Name ____________________________ Date ___________ Period ______ Score _____
On this web site, scroll down and click on “Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions”
2. What is the current rate of extinction listed here (compared to the “background
rate”?
3. List three different statistics related to biodiversity that you find here
Why does biodiversity matter?- Go to the Center for Biodiversity and
Conservation web site:
http://cbc.amnh.org/center/what.html Scroll down to the paragraph labeled “Why
is Biodiversity Important?”
List five of the benefits of biodiversity that are listed here:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Biodiversity Threats- Go to : http://www.globalissues.org/article/171/loss-ofbiodiversity-and-extinctions
4. List and describe five examples of declining biodiversity listed here.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
What can you do?- Go to http://www.amnh.org/our-research/center-forbiodiversity-conservation/what-you-can-do
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American Museum of Natural History http://www.amnh.org/
Biodiversity Web Quest
“EvErything Counts”
Name ____________________________ Date ___________ Period ______ Score _____
2. List and describe five actions listed here that individuals can do to help create
and support biodiversity?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
3. Which of these options are most relevant to you? Explain.
Go to the Spectrum of Life page- http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanentexhibitions/biodiversity-and-environmental-halls/hall-of-biodiversity/spectrum-oflife
Choose 5 major groups of organisms. For each group list the number of known
species,where they live, and the ecological role and human uses
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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American Museum of Natural History http://www.amnh.org/