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Lecture 5 Environmental Science

lecture 5 environmental science faculty of science Alexandria university

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ebrahim.ahmed.fayez
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36 views22 pages

Lecture 5 Environmental Science

lecture 5 environmental science faculty of science Alexandria university

Uploaded by

ebrahim.ahmed.fayez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Which do you like better?

A A

B
B
B

B
biodiversity

What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species, and
ecosystems in a region. It is considered as the spectrum
of life on Earth in terms of variation in:
▪ genes,
▪ species,
▪ ecosystems,
▪ interactions among them.

1. The B
biodiversity

Biodiversity can be divided into three hierarchical


categories:
genes, species, and ecosystems
that describe quite different aspects of living
systems and that scientists measure in different
ways.
1. The B
biodiversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within species.

► This covers distinct populations of the same species; for example the
thousands of traditional rice varieties of Indian rice.

► Until recently, measurements of genetic diversity were applied


mainly to domesticated species and populations held in zoos or
botanic gardens, but now the techniques are being applied to wild
species.
biodiversity

► Species diversity refers to the variety of species within a


region.
► Such diversity can be measured in many ways, and scientists have not
settled on a single best method.
► For example, an island with two species of birds and one species of
lizard has greater diversity than an island with three species of birds
but no lizards.
How much biodiversity??
1.7—2.0 million species (some estimates go up to 100 million)
biodiversity

Ecosystem diversity is harder to measure than species or genetic diversity


because the “boundaries” of communities – associations of species – and
ecosystems are not very clear.

Nevertheless, as long as a consistent set of criteria is used to define


communities and ecosystems, their number and distribution can be
measured.
biodiversity

➢Could also be considered part of biodiversity. Like genetic or species


diversity, some attributes of human cultures (say, nomadism or
shifting cultivation) represent “solutions” to the problems of survival
in particular environments.

➢And, like other aspects of biodiversity, cultural diversity helps


people adapt to changing conditions.
➢ Cultural diversity: is manifested by diversity in language, religious
beliefs, land-management practices, and any number of other
attributes of human society.
biodiversity
Value of biodiversity
➢ Biodiversity affects the ecosystem’s ability to:
1. absorb pollution,
2. maintain soil fertility and micro-climates
3. cleanse water
4. and many other significant ecosystem services

Benefits to humanity
-Goods: food, fuel, medicines, etc.
-Services:
-Regulating (climate, disturbance, water)
-Cultural/Aesthetic/Recreation/Education
biodiversity

The genetic diversity found in agriculture is also of


tremendous value.
➢Genetic diversity provides a safety net in the constant
evolutionary battle between crops and livestock and the pests and
diseases that prey on them.

➢ Breeders and farmers also draw on the genetic diversity of crops


and livestock to increase yields and to respond to changing
environmental conditions.

➢The opportunities provided by genetic engineering – which allows


the transfer of genes among species – will further increase the
opportunities the genetic diversity provides for enhancing
agricultural productivity.
biodiversity

The components of biodiversity are also important to


human health.
➢Once, nearly all medicines came from plants and animals, and
even today they remain vital.
➢Traditional medicine forms the basis of primary health care for
about 80% of people in developing countries.
biodiversity

Biotic resources also serve recreation


biodiversity

Losses of biodiversity and their causes


➢ Biological diversity is being eroded as fast today as at any time
since the dinosaurs died out some 65 million years. The highest level
of extinction is believed to be in tropical forests.
➢ Around 10 million species live on earth, according to the best
estimates, and tropical forests house between 50 and 90% of this
total.
➢About 17 million hectares of tropical forests-an area four times the
size of Switzerland-are now being cleared.

➢Some scientists believe that about more than 240,000 plant


species, and perhaps even higher proportions of vertebrate and
insect species, could face extinction over the next coming decades
unless deforestation is slowed immediately.
biodiversity
Causes of biodiversity loss
I- Direct causes
➢Habitat loss and fragmentation
➢Introduced and invasive species
➢Overexploitation of plant and animal species
➢Pollution of soil, water, and atmosphere
➢Global climate change
➢Industrial agriculture and forestry
biodiversity
biodiversity

Introduction of sea lamprey is Introduction of water Hyacinth causes


Dangerous to fish devastating impacts in aquatic environment
biodiversity

Overfishing is an
example of
overexploitation
biodiversity

Air, soil
and water
pollution
biodiversity

http://www.ourworldfoundation.org.uk/polar.jpg

Impact of climate change on


biodiversity
biodiversity
II-Indirect causes

➢High rate of human population growth and natural resource


consumption

➢Economic systems and policies that fail to value the environment


and its resources

➢Deficiencies in knowledge and its application

➢Legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable


exploitation

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