Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Howard 2022

Students will be able to tell what the difference is between areas of high genetic diversity and areas of low genetic diversity when disruptions occur in ecosystems

Multiple Choice

We live in a desert. What type of biodiversity do we have here?

• High biodiversity

• Low biodiversity

Multiple Choice

How do you know we have low biodiversity?

• We have a lot of different types of plants and animals

• We have a low amount of different types of plants and animals

• We have a lot of people who live in Las Vegas

• Nothing grows here

Poll

Low biodiversity means our ecosystem is sick

• Yes

• No

Poll

What else could low biodiversity mean?

• The organisms that live here suffer

• Our ecosystem is healthy and can recover from disruption quickly

• A disruption to our ecosystem won't recover as quickly

• Disruptions happen all the time and can easily be fixed

• High biodiversity - Many plants and animals in an area.

• Low biodiversity - Low amount of plants and animals in an area​

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​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Biodiversity

​High - Many variations in DNA between members of the same species

Low - Few variations in DNA between members of the same species​

Genetic Diversity

​High - Many type of different species in the same area

Low - Few types of different species in the same area ​

Species Diversity

High - Many types of habitats for organisms to live

Low - Few types of habitats for organisms to live​

Ecosystem Diversity

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Multiple Choice

This is an example of

• High species diversity

• Low species diversity

• High genetic diversity

• High ecosystem diversity

What can genetic diversity protect against?

Genetic Diversity

The more variation in DNA between members in a species, the more protections they have from changes to their environment. ​

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​In this picture, the brown fish and the green fish has the highest genetic diversity. If water oxygen changes, they have the best chance at surviving.

​Different DNA means some organisms have the ability to fight disease better.

Disease

​As environments change, some organisms will be able to adapt to their new environment easier

Climate Change​

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​Different DNA means some organisms will be able to survive their predators better.

Predator Survivability

Before the industrial revolution, most moths were white and speckled black. Only some were black

1848

This white and black speckles gave them camoflauge on trees

​​1848

As the Britshed burned coal, their buildings and trees turned black and so did the moths.

​​1900

Why did the white ones start to disappear?

​​1900

​Black Peppered Moth

Multiple Choice

Why did the white ones start to disappear?

• The coal turned the white moths black

• They are actually different species and the white ones went extinct

• The white ones got a disease that the black ones didn't

• Predators ate the white ones at a higher rate.

​Because some of the moths had different DNA variations, their population was able to survive as their environment changed.

Genetic Diversity

• Only lives in Mt. Charleston

• Is "trapped" there by the desert

• Has a limited breeding pool

• Is endangered because of climate change​

• Low genetic diversity​

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Mt. Charleston Blue Butterfly

Does low genetic diversity mean it is unimportant?

Poll

Does low genetic diversity mean it is unimportant?

• Yes

• No

• A healthy ecosystem relies on all of its species to make it successful.

• The loss of one organism can breakdown the structure of our food webs. ​

​

Food Webs

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Multiple Choice

What else could low biodiversity mean?

• The organisms that live here suffer

• Our ecosystem is healthy and can recover from disruption quickly

• A disruption to our ecosystem won't recover as quickly

• Disruptions happen all the time and can easily be fixed