This document discusses biodiversity and its importance. It defines biodiversity as the variety of lifeforms within an ecosystem, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity hotspots are identified as areas with high concentrations of endemic and endangered species. Understanding ecology reveals the richness of life and ecological interactions that determine species distributions and abundances. Tropical rainforests are highlighted as biodiversity hotspots, containing over half the world's species. Coral reefs are also described as exceptionally diverse ecosystems and keystone habitats. The greatest threat to global biodiversity is determined to be human impact.
This document discusses biodiversity and its importance. It defines biodiversity as the variety of lifeforms within an ecosystem, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity hotspots are identified as areas with high concentrations of endemic and endangered species. Understanding ecology reveals the richness of life and ecological interactions that determine species distributions and abundances. Tropical rainforests are highlighted as biodiversity hotspots, containing over half the world's species. Coral reefs are also described as exceptionally diverse ecosystems and keystone habitats. The greatest threat to global biodiversity is determined to be human impact.
This document discusses biodiversity and its importance. It defines biodiversity as the variety of lifeforms within an ecosystem, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity hotspots are identified as areas with high concentrations of endemic and endangered species. Understanding ecology reveals the richness of life and ecological interactions that determine species distributions and abundances. Tropical rainforests are highlighted as biodiversity hotspots, containing over half the world's species. Coral reefs are also described as exceptionally diverse ecosystems and keystone habitats. The greatest threat to global biodiversity is determined to be human impact.
This document discusses biodiversity and its importance. It defines biodiversity as the variety of lifeforms within an ecosystem, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity hotspots are identified as areas with high concentrations of endemic and endangered species. Understanding ecology reveals the richness of life and ecological interactions that determine species distributions and abundances. Tropical rainforests are highlighted as biodiversity hotspots, containing over half the world's species. Coral reefs are also described as exceptionally diverse ecosystems and keystone habitats. The greatest threat to global biodiversity is determined to be human impact.
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Biodiversity,
Human Impact, and Conservation
Lecture 1: Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variation of lifeforms
within a given ecosystem.
Genetic Diversity: individual genetic variation
within a population and the genetic variation between populations Species Diversity: the variety of species in an ecosystem Ecosystem Diversity: the variety of the biospheres ecosystems
An Ecosystem is the sum of all the
organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact. A Biodiversity Hotspot is a relatively small area with an exceptional concentration of endemic species and a large number of endangered or threatened species.
Understanding Ecology Studying ecology will reveal the richness of the biosphere. Ecological interactions can determine both the distribution of organisms and their abundance. With this understanding, one will be able to help conserve and sustain biodiversity.
Determining Species Distribution and Abundance 1) Environmental 1) Environmental Factors
Temperature Seasonality
2)Amount and Variability of Precipitation Dispersal contributes to this global distribution of species.
Above: Biogeographic realms indicating distribution patterns due to continental drift and topographic land barriers
Flowchart of Factors Limiting Geographic Distribution Understanding the Flow Chart:
Behavior Limits: refer to habitat
selection
Biotic Factors: mainly refer to
predation and the presence or absence of food resources but may also include parasitism, disease, or competition
Abiotic Factors: include temperature,
water, sunlight, wind, and climate conditions
Climate mainly determines
the Distribution and Structure of Ecosystems
Temperature and precipitation in addition with physical geographic features determine the structure of terrestrial Biomes
Introduction to The Tropics
Tropics are the location of many
biodiversity hotspots because of their unique structure and history that resulted in species diversity. 50% of the worlds species are found in the tropical rainforests.
Tropical Rainforests as Hotspots
There are 3 main
regions of tropical rainforests
1)The Americas 2)Africa 3)Australasia
The Conservation International has established global hotspots. An interactive map can be found here: http://www.biodiversityhot spots.org/Pages/default.as px
Biodiversity is not limited to animal species but plant species as well.
Tropical Rainforests are
comprised of 100-300+ species of trees pre hectare. And few trees are common, while many are rare
The Tropical Rainforests
have increased faunal diversity and density
Effects of Faunal Groups
Direct contribution to species richness
Indirect effects on plant and animal diversity Contribute substantially to total biodiversity of Rainforests Contribute irreplaceable services such as seed dispersal, seed predation, and seed pollination In summary, the faunal composition effects how ecosystems function
Like faunal groups effect
Tropical Rainforests, marine ecosystems are affected by Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs are among
the most Diverse Ecosystem Coral Reefs are the richest in species of any marine environment Coral Reefs are the keystone species of the marine environment Note a keystone species is a species whose presence has a disproportionate effect on the ecosystem and contributes to the diversity of the ecosystem. Without this species, there is a direct correlation to extinction in other species
Coral Reefs, The Hotspot
Coral Reefs only comprise
0.2% of the Earths Ocean Surface and they almost exclusively occur within the Tropics Abundance and Distribution is strongly affected by temperature The Current Distribution of Coral Reefs is shown to the right. -Caribbean -Coast of Central America -Indo-Pacific Waters -East Coast of Australia
Biodiversity is Effected by Several Biotic and Abiotic Factors, but the Greatest Threat to Biodiversity is Human Impact
