Download www.greatplanthunt.org

Biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
• Biodiversity is the word used to describe
the
variety of life around us.
• It reflects the number, variety and
variability of living organisms. It includes
diversity within species, between species
and among ecosystems.
• Biodiversity includes
all plants, animals,
fungi and even the
really small creatures
such as bacteria and
viruses.
• Ecosystems provide
the basic necessities
of life such as food,
air and clean water.
Why is biodiversity important?
• We all depend on biodiversity every day
for food, medicine, shelter and other
every-day things.
• It is very important that we look after the
biodiversity on earth.
Plants come Plants
in all shapes and sizes, from tiny little
things, to huge trees
Plants come in all shapes and sizes,
from tiny little things, to huge trees
plants
Here are some plants you might find
on a Thinking Walk
And here are some you might find in
a botanic garden!
Animals
Here are some animals you might find
on a Thinking Walk
And here are some you might find
abroad!
Fungi
fungi
Mushrooms are not a type of plant, but belong to a group
called fungi. There are thought to be millions of species of
fungi.
Mould that grows on gone-off food is fungi too!
Bacteria
You can’t see bacteria with your eyes alone – they are far
too small!
Biodiversity is really useful to us for:
decoration
building things
fuel
food
drink
clothes
medicine
paper
musical
instruments
• All animals and plants are connected.
– Some animals eat plants
– Some animals eat other animals
– Some animals use plants as shelter
– Plants can use animals to disperse seeds and pollen
• We do not understand all these
connections, and so do not know what
else we lose when one thing becomes
extinct.
Silver-washed fritillary- a story of interdependence
The Silver-washed Fritillary is a butterfly found in the UK
This butterfly is most-commonly found in woodland
where the food-plant of the larva (caterpillar) common
dog-violet, which grows on the woodland floor.
The adults (butterflies) feed on aphid honeydew and
the nectar of flowers such as bramble and thistle.
Egg-laying females fly over the woodland floor
searching for common dog-violet.
When the food is found, the female flies to a nearby
tree trunk and lays eggs on the tree bark covered in
moss. This keeps the larvae safe over winter.
When the caterpillars hatch in the spring, they do
not have far to go to find their food.
So for the silver washed fritillary to
survive it needs:
-Common dog violet
-Moss covered trees
-Aphids
-Brambles
-Thistles
• This is not to mention all the species that eat the silver
washed fritillary caterpillars and butterflies - Without this
butterfly, there would be one less food source for lots of
native birds.
• Can you think what might happen if any of these links
were removed?
• Losing one animal or plant from the planet
upsets the balance in nature, and we do not
fully understand the consequences.
Why is biodiversity under threat?
• Habitat loss
• Pollution
• Population increase
• Over use –
collecting from the wild
What can we do to help at school and at home?
• Create micro habitats, such as
log piles and mini ponds
• Seed a wild flower patch, or
even let a patch of ground just
grow
• Don’t pull up so many of the
‘weeds’ they are really good for
native biodiversity
• Plant a tree
• Put up a bird or bat box
What else can we do to help?
• Re-use, reduce,
recycle!
• Switch lights off when
you leave a room
• Use both sides of paper
• Do not drop litter