Biodiversity: Who cares? Adapted from a presentation from the University of Florida

Which do you like better? A B

A B

A B

A B

A B

AB

AB

What do you think biodiversity means?

Bio = Bio diversity What does “ Bio ” mean?

Diversity = Variety What does “ Diversity ” mean?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things including microscopic species like bacteria, algae and mites.

There are 3 components of biodiversity 1. Diversity of genes Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but they're not the same because their genes are different. Chihuahua Beagle Rottweilers

2. Diversity of species For example, squirrels, spiders, and dandelions are all different species. Squirrels SpiderDandelion There are 3 components of biodiversity

Variety of ecosystems The tundra, rain forest and wetland are examples of ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of species living in it. Labrador tundra BC Rain Forest Manitoba wetland There are 3 components of biodiversity

Canada’s biodiversity There are many different ecosystems in Canada – that fit into what are called ecozones Ecozones are just big areas that are often divided by mountains, big lakes or very different vegetation

Ecozones stretch from the arctic in the North to the mixed wood plains in Southern Ontario. And from the Pacific Maritime ecozone to the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.

Which is more diverse? A B

A B

A B

A B

A B Which has more cultural diversity?

Which has more biodiversity? AB

AB

So why care about biodiversity? Well? It has value. What value?

The value of biodiversity 1. Value just for being there – value in itself. 2. Value for something else – to produce goods (e.g. forests), services (clean water).

What do we get from biodiversity? OxygenFood Clean Water MedicineAestheticsIdeas

Should we be concerned about biodiversity? What we know: The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each year. Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each year. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many other species are affected. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many other species are affected.

Threats to biodiversity Habitat destruction Pollution Species Introductions Global Climate Change Exploitation

Ecosystem Species Richness

Species losses from different biomes

Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an ecosystem.

Monoculture An environment with very low biodiversity (e.g. a cornfield) is a monoculture.

The Risk of a Monocultures Monocultures are very vulnerable to ecological collapse: when all living things in an ecosystem die.

Resilience An ecosystem with high biodiversity is resilient: it can recover from changes. If most of the squirrels are removed from the food web (e.g. by disease), the predators still have other prey and the producers still have other herbivores eating them.