Ch. 7.1- Our Planet of Life
Biodiversity
 Biodiversity:
o Includes the following
 Genetic diversity
 Species diversity
 Ecosystem diversity
Species Diversity
 Remember
o members of the same species share certain characteristics, including ____________________________,
and can breed with one another to __________________________________________
 Species Diversity
o The number or variety of species in a particular region
o _______________________________ generates new species
 _________________________________ species diversity
o _______________________________ removes species
 _________________________________ species diversity
Classification below the species level
 Remember
o Organisms are classified using _____________________________________________________
 a two part name
 Used to distinguish between species
 Classification below species level
o Organisms can be classified into ______________________________
 A subspecies is a population of organisms that has…

Includes a ____________________________ to the name
 Examples
o Panthera tigris altaica a sub species of tiger
o Homo sapien sapien a sub species of hominid
Genetic Diversity
 Scientists designate subspecies when they recognize major, ___________________________________________
among individuals of the same species but _________________________________________
o Genetic diversity:


Provides organisms the ability to _________________________________________
Populations with more genetic diversity are more capable of _____________________________
_________________________________________
 The higher the biodiversity of an ecosystem, the ________________________________
___________________________________________
Ecosystem Diversity
 Ecosystem diversity:
o The number and variety of ecosystems within a given area
o Example
o
 A rocky shoreline and sandy coastline has more biodiversity than a farmland
Sometimes scientists look at the diversity not just of ecosystems, but of __________________________
_____________ and ___________________________________ within the ecosystem
Measuring Biodiversity
 Species are __________________________________________ among taxonomic groups
o Example
 Although most insects are small, there are many
 In a section of 19 trees in a rainforest in Central America, there are 1200 species of beetle
 163 species live only on a specific species of tree
o There are approximately _____________________________________________
 Scientists believe we still have not identified _________________ of the existing organisms
Analysis Question
 Why don’t scientists know exactly how many species there are on Earth?
Patterns of Biodiversity
 Living things are ____________________________________ across the planet
o There is a general ______________________________________________________________________
 pattern varies with latitude known as ______________________________________________
 Can also vary with habitat type
 Rule of Thumb: For any given geographic area, species diversity tends to ____________________________ with
_________________________________________________________ because each habitat supports a
somewhat different community of organisms
Apply Concepts
 Do the location and general biodiversity of tropical rain forests and Taiga(Boreal Forest) agree with what you
would predict according to the latitudinal gradient pattern?
Benefits of Biodiversity
 Intact ecosystems provide valuable processes
o Known as __________________________________________
o Examples
 Purification of water
 ________________________________________________________
 Decomposition of wastes
 Provides _________________________________________________
o Estimated value
 Nature (a science journal) estimated that Earth’s ecosystems provide at least
____________________________ worth of ecosystem services
Biodiversity and ecosystem function
 High levels of biodiversity tend to ______________________________________ of communities and
ecosystems
o An ecosystem is considered stable if….
 It is _______________________________________
 Environmental change can be resisted without losing function
 It is _______________________________________
 Ecosystems are affected by change, but can bounce back and regain function
 Conclusion
o A loss of biodiversity at any level could _____________________________________________________
_________________________ and ____________________________________________ to our society
Biodiversity and Agriculture
 Biodiversity, especially ____________________________________________, benefits agriculture.
o Scenario
 Wild strains of plants can be cross-bred with other crops
 _________________________________________________ like pest resistance
o Example
 A type of maize species in Mexico
 highly resistant to disease
 Grows back year after year without being replanted
 Can cross breed with other plant species to make disease resistant, perennial hybrids
Biodiversity and medicine
 Every species that goes extinct represents a _______________________________________________________
o Example
 Rosy Periwinkle
 Produces compounds that treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a deadly form of leukemia
o Of the 150 most often prescribed drugs in the United States, 118 originate from nature
Apply the Concept
 How can the extinction of a single species affect how an ecosystem functions?
Biodiversity, Tourism, and Recreation
 Ecotourism describes _______________________________________________________________________ to
protected natural areas for the purpose of appreciating nature, promoting conservation, and providing
economic benefits to local people
o Emphasizes ______________________________________, ____________________________________,
_____________________________________, and ___________________________________________
o Can be a vital source of income for nations like Costa Rica, Australia, Belize, and Tanzania
Form an Opinion
 You are trying to convince a friend about the importance of protecting biodiversity. Which one of the economic
benefits discussed makes the strongest argument? Why?
Analysis Question
 Scientists are worried about the future of some species that have experienced extreme decreases in both
population size and genetic diversity, including cheetahs, bison, and elephant seals. Using the concept of
genetic diversity, explain why these animals may be in trouble even if their population sizes have increased in
recent years.