Biodiversity

Biodiversity

1. Studying biodiversity

   • Biodiversity is the variety of organisms
     • Species - a group of similar organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring
     • Habitat - the area inhabited by a species. It includes the physical factors like temp and soil and the living factors like food or predetors
   • Can be considered at different levels
     • Habitat diversity is the number of different habitats in an area
     • Species diversity is the number and abundance of the number of different species in an area
     • Genetic diversity is the variation of alleles within a species
   • Sampling
     • Use a quadrat, sweepnet, pitfall trap or a net. The sample has to be random
   • Species richness and evenness
     • Simpsons Index of Diversity
       • Takes into account species richness and evenness. The value is always between 0-1. The higher the number the more diverse it is
     • Species richness is the number of different species in an area. The higher the number of species the greater the species richness.
       • Species evenness is a measure of the relative abundance of each species in an area. The more similar the population size of each species the greater the species evenness.

2. Global biodiversity

   • Current estimates of biodiversity vary
     • There are named species but different opinion about the classification of them
     • Unnamed species and some are undiscovered
     • Different scientists have different researching techniques
     • Biodiversity varies in part of the world i.e rainforests are largely unexplored
   • Climate affects biodiversity, spread of diseases and agricultural patterns
     • Most species need a certain temperature to live. An area may become uninhabitable.Species may migrate which decrease biodiversity in that area. Species may become extinct
     • Warmer and wetter condition increases fungal diseases. The ranges of some insects that carry diseases might become greater
     • Land that was too dry and become wet will increase crops to grow. Increase in temp may cause crop to die and disrupt food chains.

3. Importance of biodiverty

   • Economic
     • Food and drink, clothing, drugs, fuels, industrial materials (rubber, oil, paper....)
   • Ecological
     • Disruption of food chains and nutrient cycles, loss of habitats, affect climate
   • Ethical
     • Organisms have the right to live, moral responsibility to conserve biodiversity, religious and spirtiual reasons for conservation
   • Aesthetic
     • Attractive environment, there will be more visitors
   • Agriculture
     • Many species are a source of food. New varieties, protection against disasters, pest control and pollinators.