Unit 2: Biodiversity

the number of diff. habitats available in a given area

the number of diff. species in an ecosystem and the balance or evenness of the pop. sizes of all species in the ecosystem

Richness (r) is just the total number of different species found in an ecosystem

how different the genes are of individuals within a population (group of the same species

Higher biodiversity = higher ecosystem/ population health

Evenness is a measure of how all of the individual organisms in an ecosystem are balanced between the different species

A group of organisms that is distinct form other groups in its morphology (body form and structure), behavior, or biochemical properties. Species must produce fertile offspring

The evolution of new species

The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term. Should be 1 species per million per year.

An env. disturbance (natural disaster/human hab. destruction) that drastically reduces pop. size & kills organisms regardless of their genome

higher

Restoration ecology The study and implementation of restoring damaged ecosystem

Goods taken directly from ecosystems or made from nat. resources (wood, paper, food)

Nat. ecosystems regulate climate/air quality, reducing storm damage & healthcare costs Trees in a forest sequester (store) CO2 through photosynthesis which reduces rate of climate change & lessens damage caused by rising sea level & reduces crop failure from drought ἽἽ ● Trees filter air by absorbing air pollutants which reduces health care costs for treating diseases like asthma and bronchitis ● Wetland plant roots filter pollutants, leading to cleaner groundwater that we don’t have to pay as much to purify with expensive water treatment plants

Services that support all of the other services. Habitat and genertic diversity Natural ecosystems support processes that support all the others. Providing living spaces for plants or animals and maintaining a diversity of plants and animals, are ‘supporting services’ and the basis of all ecosystems and their services. Examples ● Habitatats for species ἽἽ ● Maintenance of Genetic biodiversity ️

Money generate by recreation (parks, camping, tours) or scientific knowledge Examples ● Beautiful landscapes draw tourists who pay to enter parks, spend money at local stores/restaurants, or camping fees ἽἽ ● Fishermen pay for fishing licenses to catch fish in clean rivers Disrupted by deforestation, pollution, urbanization ἽἽ ● Scientists learn about plant compounds that can lead to creation of new medicines which are sold for profit

Goods that come from natural resources or services/functions that ecosystems carry out that have measurable economic/financial value to humans

Disrupted by overharvesting, water pollution, clearing land for ag/urbanization ἽἽ

disrupted by deforestation, pollution, urbanization ἽἽ

Study of ecological relationships & community structure on islands

The larger the island, the greater the ecosystem diversity ● Greater ecosystem diversity = more food & hab. resources ● More niches, or “roles” organisms can play in the ecosystem Islands closer to the “mainland” support more species Island Biogeography ● Easier for colonizing organisms to get to island from mainland ● More colonizing organisms = more genetic diversity in new pop.

Natural selection: organisms that are better adapted to their env. survive and reproduce more offspring

Selective pressure/force: the environmental condition that kills individuals without the adaptation Predation (hawk) = selective pressure

Range of conditions such as temperature, salinity, pH, or sunlight that an organism can endure before injury or death