1. Ecosystem Structure and Biodiversity

2. Ecosystem Structure and Biodiversity
Objectives - You should be able to:
1. Explain the hierarchy of organisms
2. Define biodiversity
3. Explain how diversity affects the ecosystem

3. Ecosystem Structure and Biodiversity
Important Vocabulary
Biodiversity
Organism
Species
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Hot Spots
Endemic Species

4. Ecosystem Structure and Biodiversity
In most cases, diversity is a good thing.
Biodiversity is the amount of different
species of organisms that occupy an
area.

5. Ecosystem Structure and Biodiversity
The measure of the amount of different types of
organisms that can live in an area is a sign of the
biological complexity in that area.
It is generally thought that an area that contains a
lot of different types of organisms is better off
than an area that does not show the same amount
of diversity.

6. Coral Reefs Have High Biodiversity!

7. Ecological Organization
It is helpful in understanding Biodiversity to also understand ecological organization. Here is a helpful reminder of how organisms are grouped.
Organism - Population – Community – Ecosystem – Biome - Biosphere

8. Organism
The organism stage refers to the smallest units. Organism refers to the individual.

9. Species
Species are similar organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.

10. Populations are groupings of all the same type of species.

11. Community
Similar organisms make up a population. Several populations of different species make up a community.

12. Ecosystem
Several communities along with their abiotic components make up an ecosystem.

13. Biomes
Ecosystems with similar climate (temperature and precipitation) make up the world’s biomes.

14. Biosphere
The biosphere is all the biomes linked together and form the part of the Earth, including air, land, and water, within which life occurs.

15. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
An ecosystem is healthy and doing well if it has a lot of biodiversity. It means that there are a lot of different types of organisms living there and that there is plenty of food. That is good!
Unhealthy ecosystems do not have a good biodiversity.

16. MORE BIODIVERSITY MEANS A MORE STABLE ECOSYSTEM!
Examples
An example of an ecosystem with good biodiversity would be a forest that has been untouched for hundreds of years. There are a lot of different organisms there and there are lots of them.
MORE BIODIVERSITY MEANS A MORE STABLE ECOSYSTEM!

17. Biodiversity Hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots are geographic regions with a significant amount of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction.
Biodiversity hotspots contain many endemic species.
Endemic Species are those species native to a particular area. They are not naturally found elsewhere.

18. THE END!!!