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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