Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics

BiodiversityWhy is biodiversity so important to the health of the Earth?

BIO DIVERSITY

Biodiversity within Ecosystems

Biodiversity of an ecosystem is the measurement of the number of species within that ecosystem.

There are presently over 8 million different species on Earth. Some people estimate that there are many more. They are discovering new species all the time.

Canada supports a remarkable diversity of tundra, forest, grassland, freshwater and ocean ecosystems

About: 40% of Canadais forests and

woodlands (10% of world’s total) 14% is wetlands (25% of world’s

total)

Biodiversity is important!

SURVIVAL! each species is adapted to a certain

set of environmental conditions. All species depend on each other to survive

What happens if one species becomes extinct?

Individual traits can allow some species to adapt to environmental changes,

but many species cannot adapt if their habitat and food chains are greatly altered.

Each member of an ecosystem is a valuable participant in the stability of that area.

All organisms have a niche, or role to play within that ecosystem.

Whether they are predators, prey, producers or decomposers, their position is valuable to the sustainability of the region.

Even now, biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that nearly 50% of all mammals and birds could become extinct within the next century

Biodiversity provides Canada with ecological resilienceAbility of an ecosystem to

maintain it’s normal patterns (nutrient and biomas production)

Ecological resilience is recognized as being essential if ecosystems are to be able to adapt to stresses (i.e. climate change, invasive species)

Question:

What are the consequences of being unconcerned with balance and biodiversity?

Biomes

How do we identify biomes?

Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate (weather, temperature) animals and plants.

They share similar biotic and abiotic factors

30N

Tropic ofCancer

Equator

Tropic ofCapricorn

30S

Key

Tropical forestSavannaDesert

ChaparralTemperate grassland

Temperate broadleaf forestConiferous forest

TundraHigh mountainsPolar ice

Regions of the earth that are similar in organism type although the particular species differ

Driven largely by climate – temp., water, seasonality

Other factors – soil, topography

Tundra• Short

growing season

• Cold and dark for most of the year

Taiga (Coniferous Forest)dominated by a few species of trees

found where there are short summers, and long, snowy/WET winters

Temperate Deciduous Forest Well-defined seasons.

Nutrient-rich soil.

Long growing season.

Tropical Rainforests

Abundance of rain and resources lead to extraordinary species diversity.

Savannas/ Grasslands

Deserts Found at about

30 degrees latitude (north and south of the equator).

Winds lack moisture, producing little rainfall.

Temperatures are extreme.

Question:

What is a key factor in determining biodiversity and Biomes?

Vocabulary

abiotic biodiversity biotic ecological footprint Biome ecosystems Ecological resilience overexploit Primary productivity resilience stability