BIODIVERSITY

What is BIODIVERSITY?

The number of different species in an area.

The Value of Biodiversity

Why is biodiversity important?

ECONOMIC VALUE

•Provide food

•Raw materials for clothing, medicine and other products

•Ecotourism is a source of jobs and money

The Value of BiodiversityWhy is biodiversity important?

ECOLOGICAL VALUE

•Species depend on each other for food and shelter.

•Nature is a delicate balance. The well-being of one species effects the well-being on many others. (KEYSTONE SPECIES)

Factors Affecting Biodiversity• AREA – Larger areas contain more species than

smaller areas.

• CLIMATE – The number of species increases from the poles toward the equator.

• NICHE DIVERSITY – An ecosystem that supports many different niches for organisms to live in will have more diversity than an ecosystem that has limited niche space.

Biodiversity “Hot Spots”

Coral Reefs

2nd Most Diverse ecosystem in the World.

Tropical Rain Forests

Most Diverse ecosystem in the World.

Gene Pool Diversity• Diversity within a species is just as important

as diversity within an ecosystem.

• The organisms in a healthy population have a diversity of traits in appearance and behavior.

• The organisms in one species share many genes but each organism also has some genes that differ from those of other individuals.

• Species with a rich “gene pool” are better adapted for survival.

Extinction of Species• EXTINCTION – Has

disappeared from Earth.

• ENDANGERED – Could become extinct in the near future.

• THREATENED – Could become endangered in the near future.

Causes of Extinction

NATURAL EVENTSearthquake or volcanic eruption

Causes of Extinction

HUMAN ACTIVITIEShabitat destruction, poaching

or pollution

Causes of Extinction

EXOTIC SPECIESintroduced, invasive or non-native

Protecting Biodiversity

CAPTIVE BREEDINGThe mating of animals in zoos or

wildlife preserves.

Protecting Biodiversity

LAWS AND TREATIESLaws protect individual species and treaties protect wildlife and land.

Protecting Biodiversity

HABITAT PRESERVATIONProtection of whole ecosystems.