Environmental Science 7-1 Our Planet of Life

Chapter 7-1: Our Planet of Life

Lesson Objectives

• Differentiate between the components of Biodiversity

• Explain two ways in which biodiversity varies across groups or geography

• Describe the economic benefits of Biodiversity

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity: The variety of life across all levels of ecological organization

  • Genetic Diversity: Differences in the Population's DNA

    • Provides resilience for a population

  • Ecosystem Diversity: The variety of habitats

Species Diversity

• Species Diversity: The number or variety of species in a particular region

  • Encyclopedia of Life: an online database of all species known to exist

• Taxonomists are scientists that classify organisms into group

  • use both physical appearance and genetic makeup

Taxonomy

• Taxonomy: The science of organizing, classifying and naming living things

• Taxonomists are scientists who classify organisms into a group

  • use both physical appearance and genetic makeup to put together groups that show evolutionary relationships

    • Kingdom

    • Phylum

    • Class

    • Order

    • Family

    • Genus

    • Species

Sorting helps us determine the differences between species that may have similar traits

Multiple Choice

True or false: An ecosystem with high genetic diversity is healthier than an ecosystem with low genetic diversity.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the science of organizing, classifying and naming living things?

• taxification

• taxadermy

• taxonomy

• toxicology

Multiple Choice

Define genetic diversity

• variation of genes within a species or population in a given area

• variety of ecosystems in a given area

• system made up of all the living and nonliving things in a given area

• disturbance in the environment conditions that cause genetic changes to occur in organisms

Multiple Choice

Define ecosystem diversity

• variety of ecosystems in a given area

• variation of genes within a species or population in a given area

• variety of life in Earth's land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems

• changes to an ecosystem that affect how the parts of it interact

Kingdom

• There are anywhere between 5-7 Kingdoms on Earth

  • The exact number is changing based on DNA Analysis

    • Archaebacteria

    • Eubacteria

    • Protista

    • Chromista

    • Fungi

    • Plantae

    • Animalia

Phylum

• Phylum are determined by considering the general body plan of a group

  • 36 animal phyla

    • Chordata: Has a spine

    • Mollusca: Mollusks

    • Arthropoda

    • Cnidaria: Jellyfish

Class

• Gets even more specific than Phylum

• Based on the complexity of structures in organisms and life patterns

• Examples in Phylum Chordata

  • Mammalia

  • Aves

Order

• Composed of species that share specific traits, and characteristics

  • Not just Physical Shape

• Example for Class Mammal

  • Chiroptera: Bats

  • Primates

  • Carnivora

  • Cetacea

Family

• All share one common trait inherited from a recent common ancestor

Genus & Species

• Genus: More specific on shared characteristics

• Species: The exact individual organism

  • can contain sub species that can still interbreed, but have very distinct differences

Scientific Names

• Binomial Nomenclature: The scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts written in Latin

  • The animal's Genus is the first part of a scientific name

    • Capitalized

  • The animal's Species is the second part of a scientific name

    • not capitalized

Multiple Choice

Organisms that belong to the same _________ share the MOST DNA.

• family
• kingdom
• genus
• species

Multiple Choice

What is binomial nomenclature (naming)?

• A two headed turtle

• A two name naming system

• A two grouped system to classify

• A microscope with two lenses.

Multiple Choice

In a properly written scientific name, which part is written entirely in lowercase?

• species

• genus

• phylum

• family

Multiple Choice

What taxa are in a scientific name?

• Genus and Kingdom
• Species and Family 
• Species and Class
• Genus and Species

Multiple Choice

Which binomial nomenclature is written correctly?

• Marmota Monax

• Marmota monax

• marmota monax

• marmota Monax

• none of the answers are correct

Biodiversity Distribution

• There are likely between 5 and 30 million species on Earth.

• Biodiversity is often measured by the number of species

• Species not evenly distributed along taxonomic groups

  • Insects are the largest group

    • 40% are beetles

Biodiversity Distribution

• Species can be difficult to find and identify.

• Species are not evenly distributed globally, among taxonomic groups, or within a given geographic area.

  • Latitudinal gradient: More biodiversity is found closer to the equator

• In General: Species Diversity increases with the number of habitats

Stable Ecosystems

• Stable ecosystems are resistant and resilient.

  • Resistant: Resist environmental change without losing function

  • Resilient: Affected by change, but bounce back and regain function

Ecosystem Services

• Intact environments provide ecosystem services,

  • water purification

  • pest control

• High biodiversity increases the stability of communities and ecosystems, enabling them to perform services.

Other Benefits of Biodiversity

• Agriculture: Wild strains are cross-bred with related crops to transfer beneficial traits.

  • Wild plants can be bred with crops to increase productivity or resistance to pets

• Ecotourism:

  • Environmentally responsible tourism is a source of income for many nations.

    • A vital source of income for countries like Costa Rica, Australia, Belize, and Kenya

    • Too many visitors can cause damage

Other Benefits of Biodiversity

• Medicine:

  • Organisms contain compounds that are useful for treating disease

    • Rosey periwinkle used to treat cancer

  • Higher biodiversity has a dilution effect on disease

    • Lyme disease

Multiple Choice

In general, as you move from the poles to the equator, biodiversity...

• Increases

• Decreases

• Remains the same

Multiple Choice

Why is biodiversity in an ecosystem so important?

• Because it can help humans where to determine good places to develop farm land.

• Because places that have a healthy biodiversity are unaffected by major disturbances.

• Because having a high biodiversity allows ecosystems to withstand major changes.

• Because having a high biodiversity allows for fewer opportunities of competition for similar resources.

Multiple Choice

What term describes the positive benefits that wildlife or ecosystems provides to people?

• ecosystem services
• ecosystem
• biodiversity