Biodiversity Notes Short for Biological Diversity What does this mean? Biological = Living organisms (plants and animals) Diversity = variety Species diversity • number of species in a given area. – An island with 2 bird species and 1 lizard species is more diverse than an island with 3 bird species. – It’s numbers of species as well as categories of organisms. Lower Species Diversity http://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/photo/for/mng t/pine_plantation2.jpg http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/themes/human/images/Vegetation_Cuba.jpg Higher Species Diversity http://www.sagarprabhu.com/gif/rice5.gif Genetic diversity • Variations of genes within a species. – Lots of distinct populations within a species (lots of varieties of rice in India--all from same species) – Genetic Variation within the population as a whole (high in Indian rhinos, low in cheetahs) A few of the hundreds of rice varieties found in India. Some genetic diversity in potatoes … http://www.potatoperspective.org/about_files/DSCN7746.jpg • Variety of ecosystems within an area. Coniferous Forest meeting a meadow http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/ba ckissues/02-01/living_color/beach.jpg http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/HJA_mo/images/ Lookout_meadow_vs_forest.jpg Ecosystem diversity Ocean meeting a beach – Wisconsin has about 9 different ecosystems, other states only have about 3, some >14, etc. – Very hard to measure due to overlapping boundary areas also called ecotones. bacteria, algae, fungi, mites, millipedes and worms help cycle nutrients • Maintains air quality: plants purify the air and filter harmful particles out of the air • Maintains water quality: variety of vegetation reduces erosion and purifies water by removing (using or absorbing) nutrients and pollution http://www.tropicalisland.de/KCH%20Sarawak %20-%20Bako%20National%20Park%20%20Tropical%20rainforest2%201_b.jpg http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/ www/images/plants/fngcone1.jpg • Maintains soil quality: healthy http://www.pondsaway.com/images/wetlands1.jpg Importance of Biodiversity: Importance Continued … • Pest control: most crop pests Intercropping cocoa plants with coconut trees. become resistant to synthetic pesticides • Pollination and crop production: More than 1/3 of world’s crops rely on healthy pollinators • (Potential) Medicines: many current and possible future medications found in areas with high biodiversity http://images.jupiterimages.com/commo n/detail/75/81/22568175.jpg http://www.bugwise.net.au/images/25 0/pollination_002.jpg can be controlled by other organisms for a longer period of time – helpful because many pests 5 Threats of Biodiversity • Habitat destruction/fragmentation • Invasive species • Population growth • Pollution • Overconsumption Habitat Destruction •Changing a habitat to suit human needs…for housing, farming, etc. •This displaces animals/plants. As the human population grows, so does habitat destruction! Fragmentation • Breaking up large habitats into smaller habitats. • Creates an “edge” habitat where “inner” habitat used to be. Some plants and animals cannot adapt to these changes. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/i mages/ozark_frag.jpg Invasive Species Any organism that has been relocated somewhere other than its original habitat. Oftentimes,include: invasive species Synonyms out-compete native species resulting inspecies, disruption of the Introduced nonecosystem andexotic food chain. native species, Many native organisms are species and alien species… becoming endangered by this! Zebra Mussel Asian Beetle Population growth of Humans  Increasing population means greater demand for food, shelter, fuel and water.  This often leads to habitat loss, pollution, resource scarcity and overconsumption (in areas with enough money)  Humans are coming into greater (more frequent) contact with previously wild areas with high biodiversity http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/ 2222903/2/istockphoto_2222903_crowded_city.jpg http://www.chbr.noaa.gov/categories/stressors/image s/pollution_sm.jpg Population expected to reach 8 billion by 2020 Pollution o Pollution can alter the habitat to the point where some plants and animals will not be able to adapt. o Global Climate Change--many species are intolerant to changes in temperature--affects feeding relationships and breeding patterns. o Acid rain/Air pollution-these types of issues do not respect borders. US acid rain fell in Canada destroying sugar maple forests which upset the amount/quality of maple syrup produced. Overconsumption  Individuals consuming way more resources than needed to survive – sometimes more than is needed for a high standard of life  Industrialized nations make up 25% of the world’s population, but use 75% of its resources.  US makes up only 5% of world’s pop-causes 33% of world’s pollution!