BiodiversityBiodiversity

• Bio = LifeBio = Life• Diverse = consisting of Diverse = consisting of

different thingsdifferent things

Refers to the variety of species Refers to the variety of species and ecosystems on earth and and ecosystems on earth and the ecological processes of the ecological processes of which they are a part of.which they are a part of.

Or… describes the variety of and Or… describes the variety of and relationships between all liferelationships between all life

Types of diversity include:Types of diversity include:

1) 1) Genetic DiversityGenetic Diversity – differences at – differences at the genetic level within species the genetic level within species and individual plants and animals and individual plants and animals

2) 2) Species DiversitySpecies Diversity – the – the abundance of differences among abundance of differences among species (plants, amphibians, fish, species (plants, amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals)reptiles, birds, mammals)

3) 3) Ecosystem DiversityEcosystem Diversity – the – the abundance of differences among abundance of differences among ecosystems (rivers, forests, ecosystems (rivers, forests, wetlands, deserts, coral reefs)wetlands, deserts, coral reefs)

• All types of diversity All types of diversity are very important for are very important for healthy environmentshealthy environments

• There are 12-118 million There are 12-118 million species on Earth, but species on Earth, but only ~1.9 million have only ~1.9 million have been identifiedbeen identified

• Canada has ~ 71 000 Canada has ~ 71 000 species but there could species but there could be > 130 000be > 130 000

So how many are So how many are there?there?

• Invertebrates – 1 357 000Invertebrates – 1 357 000• Plants – 310 000Plants – 310 000• Fungi – 99 000Fungi – 99 000• Viruses and Bacteria – 66 000Viruses and Bacteria – 66 000• Vertebrates :Vertebrates :– Fish – 31 153Fish – 31 153 - Reptiles – 8 734- Reptiles – 8 734– Birds – 9 990Birds – 9 990 - Amphibians – 6 - Amphibians – 6

515515– Mammals – 5 487Mammals – 5 487 - Other – 2 909- Other – 2 909

((The Future of Life)The Future of Life)

Most of the world’s biodiversity Most of the world’s biodiversity is located in tropical regions is located in tropical regions near the equatornear the equator

Tropical rainforests only cover ~6% of the Earth’s surface but Tropical rainforests only cover ~6% of the Earth’s surface but they Are home to ~ 50% of all known species of organismsthey Are home to ~ 50% of all known species of organisms

• Most of Canada’s biodiversity Most of Canada’s biodiversity is located in lower latitudes is located in lower latitudes and in large tracts of forest and in large tracts of forest and riparian zones (near and riparian zones (near water)water)

Why should people care Why should people care about biodiversity?about biodiversity?

Biodiversity Healthy Biodiversity Healthy Ecosystem Ecosystem

Healthy PeopleHealthy People

A large amount of species A large amount of species contribute toward life-contribute toward life-sustaining planetary process:sustaining planetary process:

- providing oxygen providing oxygen - Filtering and purifying waterFiltering and purifying water- Breaking down wastes and toxinsBreaking down wastes and toxins- Pollinating plants Pollinating plants - Creating productive soilsCreating productive soils- Medicine (70% of pharmaceuticals Medicine (70% of pharmaceuticals

used come from or are derived used come from or are derived from natural products)from natural products)

• 3000 antibiotics come from 3000 antibiotics come from microorganismsmicroorganisms

• Canada’s 138 native tree Canada’s 138 native tree species have at least 40 species have at least 40 medicinal usesmedicinal uses

• Aesthetics Aesthetics • SpiritualSpiritual• culturalcultural

In 1997 an international team of In 1997 an international team of economists and environmental economists and environmental scientists and geographers put scientists and geographers put a dollar amount on all the a dollar amount on all the ecosystem services provided ecosystem services provided to humanity for free by the to humanity for free by the living natural environmentliving natural environment::

> $33 trillion> $33 trillion

ThreatsThreats

• Unfortunately there are many Unfortunately there are many threats to biodiversity both threats to biodiversity both globally, regionally and locallyglobally, regionally and locally

• Life in any form needs a home Life in any form needs a home (habitat) which includes biotic (habitat) which includes biotic (food, mates, vegetation) and (food, mates, vegetation) and abiotic components (water, soil, abiotic components (water, soil, shelter)shelter)

• When we lose habitat or When we lose habitat or quality of habitat is degraded quality of habitat is degraded species become at riskspecies become at risk

• Human activity is causing Human activity is causing rapid deterioration in rapid deterioration in biodiversitybiodiversity

The loss of critical wildlife habitat:The loss of critical wildlife habitat:

Loss of Habitat

Agriculture Expanding human settlement

mining

forestry

DamsIrrigation

Invasivespecies

pollution

HIPPOHIPPO

HH – Habitat destruction – Habitat destruction

II – invasive species – invasive species

P P – pollution– pollution

PP – population – population

OO – overharvesting – overharvesting

Examples of what Examples of what Biodiversity does for us:Biodiversity does for us:

• NYCNYC • AtlantaAtlanta

p. 440-447

1) What is the intrinsic value of biodiversity?2) Using the map on p. 440, What areas of

Canada is biodiversity most at risk? Suggest 2 reasons for this.

3) What is fragmentation? How is it a threat to biodiversity?