 What is it?  Why is it so important?  Species  Hot-Spots  Biodiversity presentation  Spain  Valencia  Examples of some extinction species in Valencia  Invasive species  Biodiversity in L’Horta- Paiporta  Medicinal utilities in L’Horta-Paiporta INDEX

WHAT IS IT?  Biodiversity is the variety of human beings that are on the planet adding ecosystems and biomes.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? We must respect Biodiversity. Thanks to it there is a big variety of raw materials and services:  Food, animals, vegetables, mushrooms,etc…  Genetics reserve; for hybridization and genetic engineering.  Medicines.  Materials;wood...  Green tourism.

SPECIES There are 2 million species in the world. INSECTS ARACHNIDS CRUSTACEANS MOLLUSCS NEMATODES VERTEBRATES PLANTS MUSHROOMS BACTERIA4.000

HOT-SPOTS  Areas that concentrate many species, with a high proportion of unique species.

BIODIVERSITY PRESENTATION

Several factors explain the high biodiversity in Spain:  Its geographical situation. We have a big variety of climates while Europe mainly has wet ones.  The mountain relief. The abundance of mountains increase the number of habitats and thanks to that we can find the high mountain climate. SPAIN:

 Canarian islands. Canarian flora and fauna is completely different from the peninsula because of the climate and the high number of endemic species.  The economic developmental delay. Due to that Spain could keep a lot of natural extensions in good conditions.

Spain has many endangered species(37% of vertebrates), and 15% of plants will likely disappear.

For example:

 Valencian community has many endemic species.  Javea in Alicante, it is the community area with the greatest diversity of flora. VALENCIA:

PARKS IN VALENCIAN CO.  Columbretes islands in Castellon

 El Montgó in Alicante.

 La albufera in Valencia.

THE EXTINCTION OF VALENCIAN SPECIES:

 Since 450 million years, there have been at least five mass extinctions.  CIESM is an organizacion that gives oceanographic knowledge of oceans and seas

AUTOCTON CRAB:  The auctocton crab was declared in danger of extinction in 2004  It was very common in our gastronomy before it began to be threatened.  30 years ago this crab lived in ravines,pools and rivers around our community.

SAMARUC:  It happens the same with the Samaruc, a fish that is also in danger of extinction.

INVASIVE SPECIES:  Invasive species are animals and plants which have been transported and then introduced by humans in places out of their own natural area. They result harmful because they endangered the native biodiversity.

For example in Spain:  American crab:  Killer seaweed:

 Asian clam:  Zebra mussel:  American mink:

 Tiger mosquito:  Red palm weevil:  Florida tortoise:

Biodiversity in L'Horta- Paiporta ● It is important to preserve and care for the richness of ecosystems and protected areas. ● Specially the importance of the environment in their habitats. ● Paiporta preserve many fields.We still have many orange and vegetables fields nowadays.

MEDICINAL UTILITIES IN L’HORTA-PAIPORTA ● There are wild plants like chamomile or aloe vera, thyme, peppermint, green tea which we use them for medicinal utilities, for cooking and other uses, and some of them are being domesticated.