Download Ecosystem Structure and Biodiversity

Ecosystem Structure
and Biodiversity
Ecosystem Structure and
Biodiversity
Objectives - You should be able to:
1. Explain the hierarchy of organisms
2. Define biodiversity
3. Explain how diversity affects the ecosystem
Ecosystem Structure and
Biodiversity
Important Vocabulary
 Biodiversity
 Organism
 Species
 Population
 Community
Ecosystem
 Biome
 Biosphere
 Hot Spots
 Endemic Species

Ecosystem Structure and
Biodiversity
In most cases, diversity is a good thing.
Biodiversity is the amount of different
species of organisms that occupy an
area.
Ecosystem Structure and
Biodiversity
The measure of the amount of different types of
organisms that can live in an area is a sign of the
biological complexity in that area.
It is generally thought that an area that contains a
lot of different types of organisms is better off
than an area that does not show the same amount
of diversity.
Coral Reefs Have High Biodiversity!
Ecological Organization
It is helpful in understanding Biodiversity to also
understand ecological organization. Here is a
helpful reminder of how organisms are grouped.
Organism - Population – Community –
Ecosystem – Biome - Biosphere
Organism
The organism stage refers to the smallest units.
Organism refers to the individual.
Species
Species are similar organisms that are capable of
interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
Population
Populations are groupings of all the same type of
species.
Community
Similar organisms make up a population. Several
populations of different species make up a community.
Ecosystem
Several communities along with their abiotic
components make up an ecosystem.
Biomes
Ecosystems with similar climate (temperature
and precipitation) make up the world’s biomes.
Biosphere
The biosphere is all the biomes linked
together and form the part of the Earth,
including air, land, and water, within
which life occurs.
Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Health
An ecosystem is healthy and doing well if it has a
lot of biodiversity. It means that there are a lot of
different types of organisms living there and that
there is plenty of food. That is good!
Unhealthy ecosystems do not have a good
biodiversity.
Examples
An example of an ecosystem with good
biodiversity would be a forest that has been
untouched for hundreds of years. There are a lot
of different organisms there and there are lots of
them.
MORE BIODIVERSITY MEANS A MORE
STABLE ECOSYSTEM!
Biodiversity Hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots are geographic regions with a
significant amount of biodiversity that is
threatened with destruction.
Biodiversity hotspots contain many endemic
species.
Endemic Species are those species native to a
particular area. They are not naturally found
elsewhere.
THE END!!!