Download - 4.1.1 Biodiversity
4.1.1 BIODIVERSITY
BIODIVERSITY
The amount of biological diversity per unit area.It includes: genetic, habitat and species diversity
GENETIC DIVERSITYIs the total number of genetic characteristics of a specific species.
HABITAT DIVERSITYVariety 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 Biodiversity1998–2018
Critical and endangered Threatened Stable or intactANTARCTICA
NORTHAMERICA
EUROPE
AFRICA
ASIA
SOUTHAMERICA AUSTRALIA
PacificOcean
Antarctic Circle
PacificOcean
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of CapricornIndianOcean
AtlanticOcean
150°90°60°E0°30°W90°120°150°0°
60°
30°N
30°S
60°
Arctic CircleArctic Circle
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 whetherthey 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, EuropeDigitalis for heart failure
Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia, Pacific NorthwestOvarian 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:
Existence Aesthetic Protect natural capital for future
generations
Nonutilitarian:
• Hunting, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, water skiing, . . . .
• Eco-tourism