Download Unit A: Biological Diversity

Unit A: Biological Diversity
1.1 Examining
Diversity
Pg. 8,9
Examining Diversity
•Species – a group of organisms that have
the same structure and can reproduce
with one another
•It is estimated that there are 30-100
million kinds of organisms today
•Regardless of their uniqueness, all life
forms share similar characteristics
Understanding Biological Diversity
•Biological diversity – refers to all the
different types of organisms on Earth
•Ecosystem – living (biotic) things
interact with other living and nonliving (abiotic) things in a shared
environment
Diversity Within an Ecosystem
•Population – members of a species that
live in a specific area and share the same
resources
•Community – populations of different
species living in the same area (the biotic
components of an ecosystem)
Diversity Within Species
•Individuals within a species show variation
Ex. The banded snail shows great genetic
diversity
•Some diversity is visible
and some is not
Ex. Blood type
Species Distribution
•Species are not spread out
evenly across the globe.
•Areas around the equator
have the greatest number of
species of all organisms.
•Tropical Regions have the
highest species density on
earth.
•As you move towards the
poles the number of species
decreases
Created using a
Diversity Index
Classifying Biological Diversity
• Carolus Linnaeus created a naming
system based on the structure of
organisms and they are named using
Latin, their Genus and then species
Ex.
•Wolf = Canis lupus
•Dog = Canis familiaris
The Kingdoms
•Scientists have been using the 5-Kingdom
Classification system
1) Animalia
2) Plantae
3) Fungi (yeast, mould, mushrooms)
4) Protista (mostly single-celled organisms)
5) Monera (bacteria)
Classification
•Kingdom
•Phylum
•Class
•Order
•Family
•Genus
•Species
Questions
1. Pg. 15 - Check & Reflect Questions
#1 -3, 6 – 7, & 9
2. Diversity Index Worksheet
1.1 - Pg. 15 C&R Answers
1. Biological diversity describes the variety of
species and ecosystems on Earth as well as the
ecological processes of which they are part.
2.There are so many different kinds of
organisms on Earth because the environment
varies a great deal from place to place. This can
cause evolutionary pressures.
3. Scientists use a five-kingdom classification
system. Once an organism is placed into a
kingdom, they are further divided into phyla,
classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
6. A population describes the members of the
same species that live in a specific area and
share resources.
A community describes the populations of
different species that live in the same area and
share resources.
7. Generally, there is greater diversity toward
the equator because the climate (warmer,
wetter, more stable) can support a greater
variety of plants, which, in turn, support a
greater variety of animals by providing food
and shelter.
9. It is in our best interests to preserve
biodiversity because no one is quite sure of
what losing species or ecosystems may mean
in the long term. May could food chain/web
and ecosystem collapse.
Section 1.2 – Interdependence
1. Read pages 16-19
2. Fill in the notes handout
3. Complete:
•Pg. 19 C&R # 2, 3 (space on back of notes)
Assignment - Pg. 19 C&R # 2, 3
2) A decreased population will mean that there
are more resources available for those that are
left.
This will lead to less hunger/starvation in the
population. If there are less hungry/starving
animals around (a less dense population) there
will also be a decreased spread of diseases and
overall healthier population.
1.3 - Variation Within Species
Stability of an ecosystem relies on the
diversity of its species and interactions
between species.
The only reason these species survive is
due to the complex relationships in which
everything in the ecosystem supports
everything else. This is known
as____________________________
Healthy ecosystems
have a great deal of
biodiversity of species.
But there is also a great
deal of diversity within
a species itself.
Ex. Human Variations
Variability - Variation of characteristics within a species.
Variability and Survival
Why is variation important? What advantage could it have for
a species if its members have differing characteristics?
Ex. See infoBIT pg. 20 - Coats of Many Colours
As we have already seen not only is there a huge
diversity in species but also in environments (differing
environments create evolutionary pressures to
create new species and variation).
Species with greater variation among their members
will have a greater chance of surviving in differing
environments.
Discovery Ed. Vid: Snakes –
Variations and Characteristics
Environmental variation and change does not always involve
climate, it can also include:
• Introduction of a new predator
• Spread of a new disease
• Introduction of a toxic substance
• Loss of a food source
In all cases variability within a species will help it to survive.
How can the differences in coat colours for the foxes in the
infoBIT example help them survive environmental changes?
Discovery Ed. Vid: Insects Produce lots of Offspring
Another aspect of species survival and variability is natural
selection.
Natural Selection - Gradual change (over generations) in a
species' structure or behavior due to environmental stress
and/or changes.
Ex.
Read pg.24 for further examples
Read Section 1.3 in text (pg. 20-24) to fill in the remaining sections of your notes.
Assignment
1. Read Section 1.3
2. Complete 1.3 Notes
3. Pg. 24 #3-5
Check & Reflect pg. 24 # 3-5
3. Changes related to climatic events, such as flooding or
drought. Other examples may include:
• the introduction of a new predator
• the loss of a food supply
• or the loss of a nesting or breeding site
4.
Ex. Red foxes and banded snails are examples where colour
variation in coats and shells would provide camouflage;
Ex. variation in size and symmetry allowed individuals in the
cliff swallow population to survive;
Ex. variation in bacteria enables some to survive antibiotics
and develop into “super bugs.”
5. If a population of sparrows were to inhabit a
new island and the only food source were plants
that produced large seeds, those birds with large
beaks would be most likely to survive because
they would be able to make use of the food
source.
Future generations of large-beaked sparrows on
the island would likely be favored over smallbeaked birds.