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BIODIVERSITY
Term first used in 1988 by Edward
O. Wilson
 Bio= life
 Diversity= difference or variety
 Biodiversity= variety of life

Types of Biodiversity
Diversity of ecosystems in biosphere
- Deserts, rainforests, prairies, etc.
- On land, biodiversity decreases as
you approach the poles
 Diversity of species in ecosystems
- plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
protists and archaebacteria
 Diversity of genes within a species
- eye color in humans, coat color in
wolves

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
SPECIES BIODIVERSITY
15 species
5 species
More species =
more
biodiversity.
More species in
an ecosystem
means more
pathways for
energy to flow
through the
ecosystem. This
makes the
ecosystem
strong. Fewer
pathways for
energy flow
make the
ecosystem
vulnerable.
HOW SPECIES RICHNESS AFFECTS ECOSYSTEM STABILITY
DIVERSE FOOD WEB
SIMPLE FOOD WEB
GENETIC BIODIVERSITY
Each individual
within a population
has a unique
genetic make-up
 Variation in traits
helps to ensure at
least part of the
population will
survive


Loss of genetic
diversity can leave
a population
vulnerable to
environmental
changes
HUMAN IMPACT ON
BIODIVERSITY
 Environmental
impacts
◦ Pollution, desertification, etc.
 Habitat loss
◦ But we NEED another Starbucks store!
 Artificial
selection and genetic
engineering
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Reduce what you consume
 Reuse when possible
 Recycle when necessary
 Preserve habitats
 Protect diversity!
