Biodiversity

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What is biodiversity?

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetic variation, and ecosystem diversity.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

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What is primary succession?

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Primary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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What is secondary succession?

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Secondary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact, such as after a forest fire.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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What are supporting services in an ecosystem?

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Supporting services are the natural processes that maintain the conditions for life on Earth, such as soil formation, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

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What are cultural services in an ecosystem?

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Cultural services are the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, and spiritual enrichment.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

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What is species richness?

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Species richness is the number of different species represented in a given ecological community.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

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What is a keystone species?

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A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, often maintaining the structure of the ecosystem.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

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How does the removal of a keystone species affect an ecosystem?

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The removal of a keystone species can lead to a significant decrease in biodiversity and richness within the ecosystem.

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NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

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What is an ecosystem service?

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Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

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What is the difference between species richness and species evenness?

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Species richness refers to the number of different species in a community, while species evenness refers to how evenly the individuals are distributed among those species.