Introduction To Biodiversity
What is Biodiversity???
Biological diversity
 Simply means the
diversity, or variety, of
plants and animals and
other living things in a
particular area or region
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Also means the number, or
abundance of different
species living within a
particular region
Okay, So Why Is It Important?
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Everything that lives in an ecosystem is part of the web
of life, including humans
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Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place
on the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life
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Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend
upon one another for what each offers, such as food,
shelter, oxygen, and soil enrichment
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"It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be
diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity
itself." -Edward O. Wilson (Father of Biodiversity)
Early Classification
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To study the diversity of life, biologists use a classification system to
name organisms and group them in a logical manner.
The field of Biology that deals with classifying organisms is called
Taxonomy.
Carolus Linnaeus is the father of Modern Taxonomy (1700’s)
•Linnaeus is considered the
founder of the binomial system of
nomenclature and the originator
of modern scientific classification
of plants and animals
Linneaus’ Findings:
 Millions
of animals and plants
 How did we keep them in order?
 Binomial Nomenclature
Hierarchy
System Of Classification
Hierarchy
Ranking System
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Binomial Nomenclature
Identifying organisms by their genus and species’ names
 2 words
 First letter of FIRST word is capital, First letter of
SECOND word is lowercase.
 The word needs to be in italic or underlined
 Latin Form of the word.
 Ex: Homo sapiens, Acer rubrum, Canus lupus
 Humans, Red Maple, Wolf
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Binomial Nomenclature
Used because the common name can sometimes be
misleading.
 Common names can be different in various parts of the
world (for example the British, North American and
Australian “Robins”)
 Latin is a universal “dead” language
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How do Scientist
Classify organisms?
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You will probably need to add this slide to your notes
Characteristics that appear in recent parts of a lineage but not in
its older members are called derived characters.
Derived Characters can be used to construct a Cladogram, a
diagram that shows the evolutionary relationship among a group
of organism
This concept was derived from Darwin.
http://ccl.northwestern.edu/simevolution/obonu/cladograms/Op
en-This-File.swf
How do Scientist
Classify organisms?
Early systems of classification grouped organisms
together bases on visible similarities.
 That can quickly lead to troubles….
 Biologist now group organisms into categories that
represent lines of evolutionary descent, or phylogeny,
not just physical similarities.
 Characteristics that appear in recent parts of a lineage but
not in its older members are called derived characters.
 This concept was derived from Darwin.

How do Scientist
Classify organisms?
Similarities at the DNA level in the genes of organisms
can be used to help determine classification.
 Comparisons of DNA can also be used to mark the
passage of evolutionary time. A model known as a
molecular clock uses DNA comparisons to estimate the
length of time that two species have been evolving
independently.
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A dichotomous key is a
series of yes/no questions
that state the rules for
placing items into
categories within a system
of classification
 Ex: Plants, Insects, Trees,
People (We could make
one for our class!!)
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Now, it’s your turn to Practice
We will work in groups of 2
 Pick someone that is dressed most like
you today
 Move beside them QUIETLY
 I will hand out lab materials and questions
and go over the lab
 You will have 15 minutes to work on this
lab and to finish the questions
 Go back to your seats and begin on
System of Classification Notes

1. Eubacteria- (Bacteria)
 2. Archaebacteria(Bacteria)
 2. Protists- (Amoeba)
 3. Fungi- (Mushrooms)
 4. Plants- (Trees)
 5. Animal- (Mammals)
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2 Kingdoms or 1?
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Our book lists 6 kingdoms,
Eubacteria and Archaebacteria
Prior to 1990 most books listed
only 5 kingdoms, Eubacteria
and Archaebacteria were
grouped together Monera
Either is correct..(I still refer to
Monera on my quizzes and
test. )
The Three-Domain System
 Molecular
analyses have given rise to a new
taxonomic category that is now recognized
by many scientist.
 The domain is more inclusive category than
any other—larger than a kingdom.
 Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya.
Assignment
 Copy
the chart on page 459 in its entirety.
 Plain white paper
 Due the day of the test!
Eubacteria
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Single Celled, Prokaryotic, Autotrophic
and Hetrotrophic
Most bacteria are in the EUBACTERIA
kingdom.
Cell walls with peptidoglycan.
Some produce vitamins and foods like
yogurt.
Ex: Streptococcus, Escherichia coli
Bacteria…ecological diverse
Free living soil organisms to deadly
parasites
Some need oxygen some do not need
oxygen.
Archaebacteria
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Single Celled
Prokaryotic
Autotrophic and Heterotrophic
Cell walls do NOT contain
peptidogllycan
Ex: Methanogens, halophiles
These bacteria live in volcanic hot
springs, brine pools, and black organic
mud.
Most survive in the absence of oxygen
Protists
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Mostly unicellular
Eukaryotic
Autotrophic/Heterotrophic
Members have great variety
Ex: Amoeba (bottom) and
Paramecium (top)
You need to be familiar with
BOTH of these little
guys…they will be on your
quiz/test.
Fungi
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Mostly multicellular but some unicellular.
Has a cell wall but does NOT make its own food.
Heterotrophic
Change dead organic matter into usable nutrients… Decomposers
Ex: Bread mold, mildew, yeast, and mushrooms.
Plant Kingdom
Green- contain
chlorophyll
 Make food by
photosynthesis
 Ex: Algae. Moss,
Vascular Plants, Trees,
Flower, Etc
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Animal Kingdom
Multi-Cellular
 Cannot make their own
food
 Most animals move
(sponge is sessile)
 Vertebrates: (Backbone)
Ex: Fish, Frogs, Birds,
Snakes, and US!!
 Invertebrates: (No
backbone) Ex: Sponges,
Jellyfish, Earthworm
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A Mysterious Organism-Virus
Not sure which
classification to
put viruses
under
 No cell parts
 Chromosomelike structures
 Do not grow as
living things
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A Mysterious Organism-Virus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A virus is an infectious organism that reproduces within the cells of an infected
host.
A virus is not alive until it enters the cells of a living plant or animal
.
A virus contains genetic information wrapped in a protein coat.
Viruses can be useful as well as harmful.
A virus that mutates ensures its own survival by making itself unrecognizable to
immune systems and vaccines.
Even viruses engineered for useful purposes can be harmful if unchecked
Body Symmetry- The
arrangement of body parts.
 Radial Symmetry- Has
body parts radiating from
a central point. Ex:
Starfish, Hydra
 Bilateral Symmetry- An
animal with body parts
arranged in pairs on either
sides of a central axis. Ex:
Humans
 Asymmetry- Irregular
body shape

Body Symmetry
Body Symmetry
Parts of the Body
Dorsal- Top of
animal (Back
Surface)
 Ventral- Bottom
of animal (Belly)
 Anterior- Front
of animal
 Posterior- End
of animal
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Metamorphosis
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A series of changes during which
young insects develop into adults
Complete Metamorphosis
Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
 The larva looks
completely different than
the adult
 Ex: Butterflies, Beetles,
Flies
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Incomplete Metamorphosis
Egg, Nymph,
Adult
 A nymph is like a
much smaller
version of the
adult
 Ex: Grasshopper,
Cockroaches
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Biomes
Large areas
(ecosystems) with the
same type of climax
community
 Biomes located on land
are called terrestrial
 Those located in oceans,
lakes, streams, or ponds
are called aquatic
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Biomes
Terrestrial biomes include
(out of your book)
Tundra, Taiga, Desert,
Grassland, Deciduous
Forest, and Tropical Rain
Forest
 Other Biomes Savannah,
Chaparral, Mountain
Zones, etc
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Biomes
 Aquatic
Biomes
include ….
 Marine, estuary, and
freshwater.
Biomes
Tundra
Treeless land.
 Short soggy summers;
long, cold, dark winters
 Strong winds
 Temperature never rises
above freezing for long.
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Tundra
Tundra
Permafrost- Permanently
frozen subsoil
 Only topmost layer of soil
thaws during the summer
 Poorly developed soil
 Grasses, shallow-rooted
plants
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Tundra
Tundra
 Mosses,
lichens,
sedges, bearberry,
and short grasses
 Waterfowl,
musk ox,
arctic foxes, caribou,
lemmings
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Bearberry is a common
plant that can be found in
the Tundra.
 This is in the warm
season.
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Taiga
Circles the North Pole
 Land of mixed pine, fir,
hemlock, and spruce trees
 Warmer and wetter than
Tundra
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Bears, elk, deer, beavers,
owls, bobcats
Taiga
 Mild
temperatures
 Abundant
precipitation during
fall winter and spring
 Relatively cool dry
summer
 Rocky
 Acidic soils
Taiga
Taiga
Taiga
Taiga
Desert
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Arid region with sparse plant
life
Occupy about 1/5 of the
Earth’s surface.
Little and unpredictable
rainfall..usually 50 cm of
rain or less annually
Cold and hot deserts exist
Ex: Desert Tortoise,
Diamondback Rattlesnake,
Cactus, Aloe
Desert
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Deserts may be found throughout the world…Sahara of
North Africa, southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Australia as
well as in the basin and range area of Utah and Nevada
and in parts of western Asia.
Desert
Desert
Temperate
Grasslands
Between 25 and 75 cm of
precipitation annually
 Large communities
covered with grasses and
similar small plants
 Occupies more area than
any other biome
 Ex:

Temperate Grasslands
 Warm
to hot summers’ and cold winters
 Moderate seasonal precipitation
 Fertile soils
 Dominant plants: perennial grasses and herbs
and sunflowers, oats, rye, wheat
 Dominant wildlife: coyotes badgers, deer, and
rabbits
Temperate
Grasslands
Temperate Grasslands
Temperate Grassland
Savanna
Grassland with scattered
trees.
 Frequent fires, large
mammals.
 Many small animals are
dormant during dry
period.
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Savanna
Savanna
3
distinct seasons:
 cool
and dry
 hot and dry
 warm and wet.
 Soils
are poor.
Savanna
Chaparral
 Scrubland,
regions of
dense shrubs along
coasts.
 Between 30 and 40
degrees latitude.
Chaparral
 Rainy
winters, long
dry summers.
 Maintained by
periodic fires.
 Deer, birds, rodents,
snakes, etc.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Precipitation ranges from
70 to 150 cm annually;
 Rains year round
 Cold to moderate winters
with hot summers
 Fertile soils
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Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Broad-leaved hardwood
trees that loose their
foliage
 Ex: Deer, Bears, Oaks,
Maples, Salamanders
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Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Tropical Rain
Forests
Most biologically diverse
 Found near the equator
 Warm, wet weather
dominated by lush plant
growth
 Receives at least 200 cm
of precipitation annually
 Dense, tangled vegetation

Tropical Rain Forest
 Competition
for light.
 Soil is usually poor due
to rapid nutrient
recycling.
 Animals are often tree
dwellers.
 Ex. Sloths, Monkeys,
Bamboo
Tropical Rain Forest
Tropical
Rain Forest
AQUATIC BIOMES
 75%
of Earth is covered in water.
 Divided into two categories freshwater and
marine
 Marine Biomes: The water is salt water.
Oceans, sea, and some inland lakes contain
salt water.
 Freshwater is confined to rivers, streams,
ponds and most lakes.
Marine
Oceans contain the largest
amount of biomass, or
living material, of any
biome on earth.
 Many living organisms are
small they cannot even be
seen.
 Ecologist study marine
biomes by separating them
into different zones.
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Freshwater
Ponds, lake, rivers, etc are
also full of life but more
so around the shoreline
and in shallow areas.
 Water temperature and
sunlight penetration are
factors that limits life in
freshwater biomes.
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Freshwater
In the shallow waters you
will find plants such as
cattails and sedges.
 These plants serve as food
and homes for tadpoles,
aquatic insects, worms,
crayfish, dragonflies
 Minnows, bluegill, and
carp also live here.
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Estuary
An estuary is a coastal
body of water, partially
surrounded by land, in
which freshwater and
saltwater mix.
 It may extend many miles
inland.
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Estuary
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Wide range of organisms live here.