4.1.1 BIODIVERSITY

BIODIVERSITY

The amount of biological diversity per unit area.It includes: genetic, habitat and species diversity

GENETIC DIVERSITYIs the total number of genetic characteristics of a specific species.

HABITAT DIVERSITYVariety of forests, deserts, grasslands, lakes, oceans, coral reefs, wetlands, and other biological communities, (niches per unit area).

SPECIES DIVERSITY

Is the number of species or organisms per unit area found in different habitats of the planet.

State of US species.

Projected Status of Biodiversity1998–2018

Critical and endangered Threatened Stable or intactANTARCTICA

NORTHAMERICA

EUROPE

AFRICA

ASIA

SOUTHAMERICA AUSTRALIA

PacificOcean

Antarctic Circle

PacificOcean

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of CapricornIndianOcean

AtlanticOcean

150°90°60°E0°30°W90°120°150°0°

60°

30°N

30°S

60°

Arctic CircleArctic Circle

What are the relationships among ecosystem stability, diversity, succession and

habitat ?

• How does diversity change during succession?

• How does habitat diversity influence species diversity and genetic diversity?

• How does ecosystem complexity, with its variety of nutrient and energy pathways, provide stability?

• How do human activities (agriculture, mining, logging, etc.) modify succession?

• What are the potential positive and negative results of human activities that simplify ecosystems? (monocrop agriculture)

Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?

Instrumental value: usefulness to us.

Intrinsic value:because they exist, Regardless of whetherthey are useful to us or not.

Goods Food, fuel, ecosystems, species, fiber,

lumber, paper, … 90% of today’s food crops 40% of all medicines (85% of

antibiotics)Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea, EuropeDigitalis for heart failure

Pacific yew

Taxus brevifolia, Pacific NorthwestOvarian cancer

Ecological Services: Flow of materials, energy, and

information in the biosphere Photosynthesis Pollination Soil formation and maintenance Nutrient recycling Moderation of weather extremes Purification of air and water

Information: Genetic information: adaptation and

evolution Genetic information for genetic

engineering Educational and scientific information

Option:• People would be willing to pay in

advance to preserve the option of directly using a resource such as a tree, an elephant, a forest or a clean lake.

Recreation:

Existence Aesthetic Protect natural capital for future

generations

Nonutilitarian:

• Hunting, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, water skiing, . . . .

• Eco-tourism