biodiversity: who cares? adapted from a presentation from the university of florida

Biodiversity: Biodiversity:

Who cares?Who cares?Adapted from a presentation from the University of FloridaAdapted from a presentation from the University of Florida

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

A B

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

A B

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

A B

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

A B

A B

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

A B

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

A B

Which do you like better?Which do you like better?

What do you think biodiversity What do you think biodiversity means?means?

Bio =

BioBiodiversitydiversity

What does “Bio” mean?

BioBiodiversitydiversity

Diversity = Variety

What does “Diversity” mean?

BiodiversityBiodiversity is the is the variety of lifevariety of life on on EarthEarth and the and the essential essential

interdependence of all living thingsinterdependence 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 There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity

1.1. Diversity of genesDiversity of genesChihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but

they're not the same because their they're not the same because their genes are differentgenes are different..

ChihuahuaChihuahua BeagleBeagle

RottweilersRottweilers

2. Diversity of species2. Diversity of speciesFor example, squirrels, spiders, and For example, squirrels, spiders, and dandelions are all dandelions are all different speciesdifferent species. .

Squirrels Spider Dandelion

There are 3 components of There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity

Variety of ecosystemsVariety of ecosystemsThe tundra, rain forest and wetland are examples of The tundra, rain forest and wetland are examples of ecosystems. Each one is different, with its ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of own set of speciesspecies living in it. living in it.

Labrador tundra

BC Rain Forest

Manitoba wetland

There are 3 components of There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity

Canada’s biodiversityCanada’s biodiversityThere are many different ecosystems in There are many different ecosystems in

Canada – that fit into what are called Canada – that fit into what are called ecozonesecozones

Ecozones are just big areas that are often Ecozones are just big areas that are often divided by mountains, big lakes or very divided by mountains, big lakes or very different vegetationdifferent vegetation

Ecozones stretch from the arctic in the North Ecozones stretch from the arctic in the North to the mixed wood plains in Southern to the mixed wood plains in Southern Ontario.Ontario.

And from the Pacific Maritime ecozone to And from the Pacific Maritime ecozone to the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.

Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?

A B

Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?

A B

Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?

A B

A B

Which is more diverse?Which is more diverse?

A B

Which has more cultural Which has more cultural diversity?diversity?

Which has more biodiversity?Which has more biodiversity?

A B

Which has more biodiversity?Which has more biodiversity?

A B

So why care about biodiversity?

Well? It has value.

What value?

The value of biodiversityThe value of biodiversity

1. Value just for being there – value in itself.1. Value just for being there – value in itself.

2. Value for something else – to produce goods (e.g. forests), services (clean water). 2. Value for something else – to produce goods (e.g. forests), services (clean water).

What do we get from What do we get from biodiversity?biodiversity?

OxygenOxygen

FoodFood

Clean WaterClean Water

MedicineMedicine

AestheticsAesthetics

IdeasIdeas

Should we be concerned about Should we be concerned about biodiversity?biodiversity?

What we know:What we know: The Earth is The Earth is losing species losing species at an alarming rateat an alarming rate

Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur

each year.each year. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many when species of plants and animals go extinct, many

other species are affectedother species are affected. .

Threats to biodiversityThreats to biodiversity

Habitat destructionHabitat destruction

PollutionPollution

Species IntroductionsSpecies Introductions

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

ExploitationExploitation

Ecosystem Species Richness

Species losses from different biomes

BiodiversityBiodiversity

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

MonocultureMonoculture

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

The Risk of a MonoculturesThe Risk of a Monocultures

Monocultures are very vulnerable to Monocultures are very vulnerable to ecological ecological collapsecollapse: when all living things in an : when all living things in an ecosystem die.ecosystem die.

ResilienceResilience

An ecosystem with An ecosystem with highhigh biodiversity is biodiversity is resilientresilient: : it can recover from changes.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.