1. BIODIVERSITY

2. ECOLOGY: The study of interactions among living and nonliving things
ABIOTIC FACTORS
Non-living factors
Soil, temp., precipitation
BIOTIC FACTORS
Living factors
Plants & animals

3. ORGANISM / SPECIES / INDIVIDUAL
A group of organisms so similar that they breed and produce fertile offspring

4. All members of a particular species that live in the same area
POPULATION
All members of a particular species that live in the same area

5. All the populations that live and interact in the same environment.
COMMUNITY
All the populations that live and interact in the same environment.

6. ECOSYSTEM
All the communities that live together with the abiotic factors in the same environment.

7. BIOSPHERE
The combined parts of the lithosphere, hydrosphere & atmosphere where life exists.

9. BIODIVERSITY
The variety of different species in an ecosystem. All of the variety of organisms in the biosphere.

10. Biodiversity
Included organisms as small as unicellular bacteria to the largest of the top consumers
The highest biodiversity is found in biomes that have warm temperatures and wet climates
Examples:
Tropical Rainforest
Temperate Rainforest

11. Different Adaptations for each biome
Tundra Animals have more insulation (fur and fat) and plants and shrubs are closer to the ground
Desert Animals are cold blooded; most organisms can survive with small amounts of water
Taiga(Boreal) Plants can survive colder weather (pine needles)and animals survive because they have more insulation
Grassland Animals are generally herbivores and plants are drier and lay closer to the ground
Temperate Deciduous Forest All animals and plants have seasonal changes and adapt to a variety of temperatures and climates
Tropical Rainforest Contains animals that are brightly colored and are insectivores (venus fly trap); plants have broad leaves and absorb water from the air.

12. BIODIVERSITY IS DEPENDANT ON…
Genetic Variation within Populations:
The difference that exist in a species’ genetic
makeup which makes one individual different
from one another individual.
Variations of populations with ecosystems
Genetic variation within three butterfly species. Three different butterfly species (top row) show distinct wing colors and patterns. When individuals from the same three species are born in a different season, they each show different wing color and pattern phenotypes (bottom row). This is a reflection of the variation that exists in the gene pool.

13. What causes Biodiversity (differences amongst the species)?
Why are we all so different?
Differences in our genetic code (genotype: differences on the inside; phenotype: differences we see on the outside)
This is called genetic variation
Mutations in the genetic code cause variation in genotype and phenotype
Genetic variation is found in all organisms and is believed to be the driving force behind evolution
The species with dominant genes expressed for the necessary adaptation in a particular environment will survive and generally pass those traits on to their offspring.

14. Importance of Biodiversity include:
Resource use:
Species can provide us with food, industrial products and medicines

15. Healthy/Stable Ecosystems:
Organisms are important to the flow of energy and matter through the food web.

16. Loss of Biodiversity
Every day 3-4 species become extinct. Because of this we are losing many resources that we may need in the future
Resources that are being lost
Cures for diseases
Food resources
Building resources
Chemicals for safer pesticides and fertilizers
We need to slow this loss or the next species that goes extinct may be one that could have saved the human race in the future

17. Reasons for Biodiversity Loss
Human Population Growth (Urban Sprawl)
We need space to live but we would rather use new land and spread out rather than build up and tear down old buildings
Plants and animals are “cleared” to make way for humans

18. Reasons for Biodiversity Loss
Habitat Alteration
Even if we do not clear the land completely, we can change the type of ecosystem that exist there
Forests are changed to farm lands
Deserts have more water placed in them to convert them in to farmlands

19. Reasons for Biodiversity Loss
Habitat Fragmentation
Organisms become separated into pockets
Examples:
Housing Developments
Logging (deforestation)
Highways
Many human activities

20. LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY DUE TO:
Loss of habitat
Demand for wildlife products

21. 3. Biomagnification of Pesticides
a. Bioaccumulation is the build up of certain pesticides in the tissues of organisms (Ex. DDT in fish)
b. Biomagnification is the increasing concentration as pesticides move up the food chain (Ex. DDT in bald eagles)

22. Pollution
Introduced species

23. Reasons for Biodiversity Loss
Invasive Species
A new, foreign species that is introduced into an ecosystem that can destroy their new ecosystem
Invasive species are always harmful to their new environment

24. Invasive Species of NC Wisteria wood climbing vines
that “choke” the trees they invade
Kudzu Vines Climbing vines that
can destroy life under the trees and
block out the sun; can also hide predators.

25. Invasive Species of NC
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid  These small insects eat hemlock trees and slowly destroy forests in the taiga
Fire Ants Their sting can cause anything from skin irritation to scars from infected bites

26. Reasons for Biodiversity Loss
Nonnative Species
A new species that is introduced to an ecosystem that does not harm their new environment
This new species will usually fit into the new ecosystem fairly well

27. Reasons for Biodiversity Loss
Overharvesting
When too many animals or plants are removed from their ecosystems, the chance for genetic mutation is decreased because the organism is not there to reproduce offspring carrying the genetic mutation
Examples:
Fishing (trout and salmon)
Deforestation

28. EXTINCTION Disappearance of a species from all or part of its range
Mass extinction: an extinction that has killed many species at one time
Ex) Dinosaurs
Species Extinction: one species disappears from the planet
Ex) Dodo bird, Tasmanian Tiger
Local extinction: A species disappears from location but may be found in another location

29. Today, we try to protect entire ecosystems AND single species.
CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Today, we try to protect entire ecosystems AND single species.
Seed Banking
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Land Allocation (preserves)
Captive Breeding: breed endangered species in confined environment like zoos and wildlife reserves

30. Effects of Biodiversity Loss:
1. Endangerment/Extinction of Species
a. Endangered species are at risk of
becoming extinct. Extinction refers to the loss of a particular species (image shows extinct Carolina Parakeet)
b. The Endangered Species Act provides
protection for species recognized and
listed by the government. This Act does
not, however, provide adequate protection of the habitat.
2. Loss of valuable medicinal or crop plants, and
other species that may be potentially useful to
humanity
3. Lack of genetic variety makes crops more
susceptible to disease, pests, and environmental
changes