Ecosystems at Risk
... An ecosystem is defined as a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. ...
... An ecosystem is defined as a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. ...
Consumer diversity interacts with prey defenses to drive ecosystem
... 2010, Hoey and Bellwood 2009), but few studies have examined responses of browsing herbivores to the diverse array of macroalgae that commonly characterize degraded reefs (Mantyka and Bellwood 2007, Burkepile and Hay 2008). Studies in marine soft sediment (Duffy et al. 2003), terrestrial shrub (Rogo ...
... 2010, Hoey and Bellwood 2009), but few studies have examined responses of browsing herbivores to the diverse array of macroalgae that commonly characterize degraded reefs (Mantyka and Bellwood 2007, Burkepile and Hay 2008). Studies in marine soft sediment (Duffy et al. 2003), terrestrial shrub (Rogo ...
Diversity and ecosystem functioning: Litter decomposition
... Balvanera et al., 2006). Ecosystem processes may dramatically change as species become extinct, often with unpredictable consequences (Naeem et al., 1994; Tilman, 1999). A great number of species will be lost especially in species-rich tropical rainforests owing to human activity (Dirzo and Raven, 2 ...
... Balvanera et al., 2006). Ecosystem processes may dramatically change as species become extinct, often with unpredictable consequences (Naeem et al., 1994; Tilman, 1999). A great number of species will be lost especially in species-rich tropical rainforests owing to human activity (Dirzo and Raven, 2 ...
Information Document
... processes and impacts of biological invasion differ among islands, as well as among types of environments on the same island. Case studies are provided to illustrate these differences. ...
... processes and impacts of biological invasion differ among islands, as well as among types of environments on the same island. Case studies are provided to illustrate these differences. ...
Preston and Johnson 2010
... challenging to observe. Many live their lives secretively, in intimate contact with their host, but invisible to the outside world. With some notable exceptions (e.g., tapeworms), parasites also tend to be very small. It may be easy to assume then, that since parasites are generally inconspicuous, t ...
... challenging to observe. Many live their lives secretively, in intimate contact with their host, but invisible to the outside world. With some notable exceptions (e.g., tapeworms), parasites also tend to be very small. It may be easy to assume then, that since parasites are generally inconspicuous, t ...
File
... become increasingly concentrated as they move up through the food chain because each successive organism consumes several contaminated organisms. This increased concentration is called biological ...
... become increasingly concentrated as they move up through the food chain because each successive organism consumes several contaminated organisms. This increased concentration is called biological ...
pptx
... integration of natural history, DNA barcoding, morphology, and collections. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105:12359-12364. Burns, J.M., Janzen, D.H., Hajibabaei,M., Hallwachs,W., and Hebert, P.D.N. 2008. DNA and cryptic species of skipper butterflies in the genus Perichares in Area ...
... integration of natural history, DNA barcoding, morphology, and collections. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105:12359-12364. Burns, J.M., Janzen, D.H., Hajibabaei,M., Hallwachs,W., and Hebert, P.D.N. 2008. DNA and cryptic species of skipper butterflies in the genus Perichares in Area ...
The influence of biotic interactions on soil biodiversity
... can greatly reduce the diversity on plant roots of both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Egerton-Warburton & Allen 2000; Egerton-Warburton et al. 2001) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (Lilleskov et al. 2002), probably in part because greater resource availability favours competitive fungal species that suppr ...
... can greatly reduce the diversity on plant roots of both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Egerton-Warburton & Allen 2000; Egerton-Warburton et al. 2001) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (Lilleskov et al. 2002), probably in part because greater resource availability favours competitive fungal species that suppr ...
Root competition can cause a decline in diversity with increased
... effects are possible, and that plants in all treatments experience intraspecific interactions. However, the hypotheses we test and our experiment focus on the effects of interspecific competition on the community.) The community with both root and shoot competition was simply a mixture of the seven ...
... effects are possible, and that plants in all treatments experience intraspecific interactions. However, the hypotheses we test and our experiment focus on the effects of interspecific competition on the community.) The community with both root and shoot competition was simply a mixture of the seven ...
Megafauna and ecosystem function from the
... Fig. 1 maps the deficit in current megafaunal diversity compared with what would be expected if Late Pleistocene species had survived to the present (44). Loss has been most dramatic in the megaherbivores and megacarnivores. The Late Pleistocene harbored at least 50 species of terrestrial megaherbiv ...
... Fig. 1 maps the deficit in current megafaunal diversity compared with what would be expected if Late Pleistocene species had survived to the present (44). Loss has been most dramatic in the megaherbivores and megacarnivores. The Late Pleistocene harbored at least 50 species of terrestrial megaherbiv ...
Reading Biodiversity Action Plan
... Caversham to the north of the River Thames and much of Tilehurst on the north western edge of the town lies within the Chilterns area. It is an area of chalk overlain with a glacial outwash of clays, gravels and sands. This acid – calcareous mix gives rise to the characteristically patchy distributi ...
... Caversham to the north of the River Thames and much of Tilehurst on the north western edge of the town lies within the Chilterns area. It is an area of chalk overlain with a glacial outwash of clays, gravels and sands. This acid – calcareous mix gives rise to the characteristically patchy distributi ...
Resilience of Microbial Systems Towards Disturbances - UvA-DARE
... the recognition that species function rather than number was more relevant, and based on this assumption other theories like the redundancy and insurance hypothesis were developed. The observation that different responses can occur within similar environments was the trigger for additional theories ...
... the recognition that species function rather than number was more relevant, and based on this assumption other theories like the redundancy and insurance hypothesis were developed. The observation that different responses can occur within similar environments was the trigger for additional theories ...
Importance of large carnivores for species diversity and top down
... It has been widely debated since the 1960´s whether ecosystems are regulated by topdown or bottom-up processes. Hairston et al. (1960) proposed the three-trophic-level hypothesis (also called the HSS-hypothesis after the author’s last names). They were the first to suggest that because ‘the world is ...
... It has been widely debated since the 1960´s whether ecosystems are regulated by topdown or bottom-up processes. Hairston et al. (1960) proposed the three-trophic-level hypothesis (also called the HSS-hypothesis after the author’s last names). They were the first to suggest that because ‘the world is ...
Strategic overview of influences of aquaculture on
... 1. Aquaculture in Ireland Since the 1980s, the global production of capture fisheries has stopped growing, while demand for fish has continued to increase rapidly. In response, world aquaculture production has increased by an average of 7% per annum and now produces half of the fish and shellfish c ...
... 1. Aquaculture in Ireland Since the 1980s, the global production of capture fisheries has stopped growing, while demand for fish has continued to increase rapidly. In response, world aquaculture production has increased by an average of 7% per annum and now produces half of the fish and shellfish c ...
Connections between species diversity and genetic diversity
... many selection-based theories of diversity in community ecology to deal with individually, so to determine which theories may be relevant to explaining correlated patterns of species and genetic diversity, it is useful here to highlight the subtle distinction between models of species coexistence, a ...
... many selection-based theories of diversity in community ecology to deal with individually, so to determine which theories may be relevant to explaining correlated patterns of species and genetic diversity, it is useful here to highlight the subtle distinction between models of species coexistence, a ...
Woodlands - Landuse - Conservation Management Networks
... cover of less than 30% and usually less than 30m in height. White box usually follows this definition, although in areas previously cleared and regenerated it may have a more dense forest structure. Woodland trees usually have a spreading branch appearance, different to the usual straight trunk and ...
... cover of less than 30% and usually less than 30m in height. White box usually follows this definition, although in areas previously cleared and regenerated it may have a more dense forest structure. Woodland trees usually have a spreading branch appearance, different to the usual straight trunk and ...
Riparian Areas: Providing Landscape Habitat Diversity
... of the provincial land base, but are often considered the most dynamic of all landscape features. Natural disturbances and fluvial processes continually work together in these areas to create distinctive ecosystems that are crucial for biological habitat diversity. Because of their usually abundant s ...
... of the provincial land base, but are often considered the most dynamic of all landscape features. Natural disturbances and fluvial processes continually work together in these areas to create distinctive ecosystems that are crucial for biological habitat diversity. Because of their usually abundant s ...
Ecological Balances, Activity Based Foundation Course on
... 4.1.1 Growing seeds in a box . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.2 The nature of growth . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.3 Innate capacity for growth . . . . . . . . . 4.1.4 Age at first reproduction . . . . . . . . . 4.2 Limits to population growth . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2.1 Natural growth: S-curve . . . . . . . . ...
... 4.1.1 Growing seeds in a box . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.2 The nature of growth . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.3 Innate capacity for growth . . . . . . . . . 4.1.4 Age at first reproduction . . . . . . . . . 4.2 Limits to population growth . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2.1 Natural growth: S-curve . . . . . . . . ...
Evolution and the latitudinal diversity gradient
... generating the current latitudinal diversity gradient. However, while the Earth’s environment was predominantly tropical up to c. 45 Ma, average species durations are in the range of 10–15 Myr (Stanley 1985). Thus, few of the species that comprise the current latitudinal diversity gradient likely ar ...
... generating the current latitudinal diversity gradient. However, while the Earth’s environment was predominantly tropical up to c. 45 Ma, average species durations are in the range of 10–15 Myr (Stanley 1985). Thus, few of the species that comprise the current latitudinal diversity gradient likely ar ...
Biodiversity Guide Farmers and Certifiers - WFA - NOFA-NY
... Genetic Diversity — different genes and combinations of genes within populations ...
... Genetic Diversity — different genes and combinations of genes within populations ...
List of Tables
... marine ecosystems (Seagrass and Coral reefs), which was conducted from 6th to 16th April 2014. The survey entailed sampling in various locations within the Southern part of Lamu Archipelago. The survey focused mainly on two critical nearshore ecosystems (seagrass beds and coral reefs). Assesment wit ...
... marine ecosystems (Seagrass and Coral reefs), which was conducted from 6th to 16th April 2014. The survey entailed sampling in various locations within the Southern part of Lamu Archipelago. The survey focused mainly on two critical nearshore ecosystems (seagrass beds and coral reefs). Assesment wit ...
Combinatorial functional diversity: an information theoretical approach
... which rely upon the frequency distribution of trait combinations and measure association of traits and their heterogeneity are introduced. The ideas behind the presented methodology date back to the early 1980’s when P. Juhász-Nagy developed his information theoretical models to evaluate scale depen ...
... which rely upon the frequency distribution of trait combinations and measure association of traits and their heterogeneity are introduced. The ideas behind the presented methodology date back to the early 1980’s when P. Juhász-Nagy developed his information theoretical models to evaluate scale depen ...
Discoveries of new mammal species and their
... ‘‘charismatic’’ group. Many assume that nearly all mammal species are known to scientists. We demonstrate that this assumption is incorrect. Since 1993, 408 new mammalian species have been described, ⬇10% of the previously known fauna. Some 60% of these are ‘‘cryptic’’ species, but 40% are large and ...
... ‘‘charismatic’’ group. Many assume that nearly all mammal species are known to scientists. We demonstrate that this assumption is incorrect. Since 1993, 408 new mammalian species have been described, ⬇10% of the previously known fauna. Some 60% of these are ‘‘cryptic’’ species, but 40% are large and ...
Unit F212/01 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health
... on the rate of pepsin activity over the whole range of substrate concentrations. ..................................... This should be answered on Fig. 1.1 ..................................... [2] ...
... on the rate of pepsin activity over the whole range of substrate concentrations. ..................................... This should be answered on Fig. 1.1 ..................................... [2] ...
The relationships between net primary productivity, human
... Gaston, in press). I also calculated the mean NPP for each park (sampling grain was 4 km2) and correlated this with park size to determine if high productivity parks were mostly small. Correlations between human development and species richness and NPP do not identify the extent of spatial conflict ...
... Gaston, in press). I also calculated the mean NPP for each park (sampling grain was 4 km2) and correlated this with park size to determine if high productivity parks were mostly small. Correlations between human development and species richness and NPP do not identify the extent of spatial conflict ...
Biodiversity
Global Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on Earth and the variations within species. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number of species) within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be highest near the equator, which seems to be the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. It is the richest in the tropics. Marine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest and in the mid-latitudinal band in all oceans. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity. Biodiversity generally tends to cluster in hotspots, and has been increasing through time but will be likely to slow in the future.The number and variety of plants, animals and other organisms that exist is known as biodiversity. It is an essential component of nature and it ensures the survival of human species by providing food, fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources to mankind. The richness of biodiversity depends on the climatic conditions and area of the region. All species of plants taken together are known as flora and about 70,000 species of plants are known till date. All species of animals taken together are known as fauna which includes birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. More than 99 percent of all species, amounting to over five billion species, that ever lived on Earth are estimated to be extinct. Estimates on the number of Earth's current species range from 10 million to 14 million, of which about 1.2 million have been documented and over 86 percent have not yet been described. The total amount of related DNA base pairs on Earth is estimated at 5.0 x 1037, and weighs 50 billion tonnes. In comparison, the total mass of the biosphere has been estimated to be as much as 4 TtC (trillion tons of carbon).The age of the Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. The earliest undisputed evidence of life on Earth dates at least from 3.5 billion years ago, during the Eoarchean Era after a geological crust started to solidify following the earlier molten Hadean Eon. There are microbial mat fossils found in 3.48 billion-year-old sandstone discovered in Western Australia. Other early physical evidence of a biogenic substance is graphite in 3.7 billion-year-old metasedimentary rocks discovered in Western Greenland. Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions and several minor events have led to large and sudden drops in biodiversity. The Phanerozoic eon (the last 540 million years) marked a rapid growth in biodiversity via the Cambrian explosion—a period during which the majority of multicellular phyla first appeared. The next 400 million years included repeated, massive biodiversity losses classified as mass extinction events. In the Carboniferous, rainforest collapse led to a great loss of plant and animal life. The Permian–Triassic extinction event, 251 million years ago, was the worst; vertebrate recovery took 30 million years. The most recent, the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, occurred 65 million years ago and has often attracted more attention than others because it resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs.The period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing biodiversity reduction and an accompanying loss of genetic diversity. Named the Holocene extinction, the reduction is caused primarily by human impacts, particularly habitat destruction. Conversely, biodiversity impacts human health in a number of ways, both positively and negatively.The United Nations designated 2011–2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.