Biodiversity
• Bio - Life
• Diversity - Variety
Biodiversity describes the variety of
biological organisms in a given habitat,
area, or ecosystem.
Levels of Biodiversity
• Ecosystem Diversity
• Species Diversity
• Genetic Diversity
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a community of living
organisms, such as plants and animals,
along with their environment, that is all
interrelated.
Specialist or
Generalist?
•
•
•
•
Bobcat
Pronghorn
Black-tailed jackrabbit
Painted turtle
Specialist or Generalist?
Species
A species is a group of organisms with a
unique set of characteristics, such as
shape or behavior, that distinguishes
them from all other organisms.
Insects
Higher Plants
Arthropods (noninsect)
Fungi and Algae
Sea Invertebrates
Protozoa and Bacteria
Worms
Birds
Fish
Reptiles
Mammals
Amphibians
Worldwide Biodiversity
Higher Plants
250000
Reptiles
6500
Birds
9800
Worms
36200
Sea Invertebrates
70100
Arthropods (non insect)
190000
Insects
1000000
Fungi and Algae
109000
Amphibians
4200
Fish
8500
Mammals
4327
Protozoa and Bacteria
44800
Birds
Higher Plants
Reptiles
Worms
Sea Invertebrates
Arthropods (non insect)
Fungi and Algae
Amphibians
Mammals
Protozoa and Bacteria
Fish
Insects
Biodiversity Hotspots
Species diversity
• To measure stability to determine if
an environment is degrading
• To compare two or more
environments
Species Richness
The
number
of species
in a
particular
place.
Species Evenness
The relative quantities or
proportions of individuals belonging to the different species.
• The number of species in the area (numerator)
• The total number of individuals in the area
(denominator )
4
= .33
12
Is the community comprised of mainly one species or is a mix of several DIVERSE species?
2
12
= .17
5
=1
5
Results closer to 1 are an indicator
of greater species evenness.
Simpson’s Index
• Many diversity indices
have been developed that
combine different
measures of biodiversity.
One is called the
Simpson’s Index.
• The Simpson’s Index
includes BOTH species
richness and species
evenness in a single
number.
How to Calculate
Simpson’s Index
• D is the Simpson’s Index
• n is the total number of
organisms of a particular
species
• N is the total number of
organisms of all species
• ∑ means “add up”!
∑ n(n - 1)
D=
N(N - 1)
Let’s Try an Example
• You have studied a
specific site, and have
counted the
individuals of five
different species.
• n is the total number
of organisms of a
particular species.
n
Species A
12
Species B
3
Species C
7
Species D
4
Species E
9
Simpson’s Index
n-1
n
D =
n(n - 1)
∑ n(n - 1)
N(N - 1)
∑ n(n - 1) = 264
Species A
Species B
12
3
11
2
132
6
Species C
Species D
Species E
7
4
9
6
3
8
42
12
72
∑ n(n - 1)
264
Simpson’s Index
264
D = ∑ n(n - 1) =
N(N - 1)
N(N - 1)
N = total number of all individuals = 35
N - 1 = 34 N(N - 1) = 1190
264
D=
= 0.22184
1190
This area would score 0.22184 on the Simpson’s
Index. The scale ranges from 0–1, with 1
representing the lowest biodiversity. Therefore, the
score for this area indicates a high level of
biodiversity.
Genetic Diversity
Variety of genes
within and
between different
species.
Cheetah
• About 10,000 years ago all but
one species of the cheetah.
Our Diversity
Loose
Attached
Widow’s Peak
Regular
Hitchhiker
Our Diversity
Trait
Frequency
Frequency
Gender
Female – 50%
Male – 50%
Earlobes
Unattached – 71%
Attached – 29%
Thumb extension
Straight – 64-75%
Hitchhikers – 25 – 36%
Tongue Rolling
Can roll - 65%
Can’t roll – 35%
Cheek Dimples
Dimples – 35%
None – 65%
Handedness
Right – 90%
Left – 10%
Hand clasping
Left over right – 55%
Right over left – 45%
Hair Curl
Curly – 65%
Straight – 35%
Hairline
Widow’s – 70%
Straight – 30%
Color Vision
Normal – females 100%,
Males 92%
Color blind – Males 8%
• (L) Loose
lobes
• (tt) Straight
hair
• (C) Can curl
• (mm) No hair
• (E) Dark eyes
• (ww) No peak
• (B) bent finger
• Number
Biodiversity:
The Spice of Life
Why Is Biodiversity Important?
1. For medical and
5. No generation has the
economic reasons.
right to destroy
resources that future
2. Biodiversity helps
generations will depend
maintain important
on.
ecological
processes that help 6. Is important for inspiring
support life on earth.
inventors and artists and
for spurring curiosity and
3. Our lives would not
imagination.
be as rich if we lost
species.
7. Is important for
recreational activities.
4. All species have a
right to exist.
8. Other?
Risks for Loss of
Biodiversity
• Habitat Loss
• Invasive Species
• Pollution
• Population Growth
• Overcomsumption
Extinct - Extirpated
A species is considered extinct if it has not
been seen in the wild for at least fifty years.
10,000 years ago
1681
Endangered
Species which are
at a high risk of
becoming extinct
in the near future,
if nothing is done
to improve their
situation.
Selkirk
Mountain
Caribou
Sockeye
salmon
Threatened Species
Species which are likely to become
endangered within the next 25 years, if
nothing is done to improve their
situation.
Grizzly Bear
Canada Lynx
Northern Idaho ground
squirrel
Candidate Species
Greater
Sage
Grouse
North American
wolverine
Sensitive Species
Species for which population
viability is a concern.
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Northern Leopard Frog
Townsend's Bigeared Bat
Pygmy
Rabbit
Canada Lynx
(Threatened)
The lynx requires
large areas of forest
to hunt, and those
areas are getting
smaller due to
development.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(Candidate)
Logging, cattle
grazing, dams,
water diversions,
water pumping and
pollution have
destroyed the
West's rivers and
riparian forests.
Ute’s Ladies Tresses
Perennial orchid.
Grows in moist
soils along
streams or
springs.
Threatened
Spiranthes diluvialis
Pygmy Rabbit
(Globally Imperiled)
• Pygmy Rabbits are sagebrush
obligates.
Greater Sage-Grouse
(Candidate)
• Throughout their lives, sage grouse are
found in or near sagebrush.
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat
(State sensitive)
• Habitat loss
• Sensitive to human
disturbance
• Pesticides and other
environmental
contaminants
destroy the prey
base.
Northern Leopard Frog
(Rangewide Impaired Species)
Water pollution (herbicide, fertilizer, and mosquito control),
bull frogs and predatory fish like bass (introduced), Red-leg
Disease
Meadow Frog
Review
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Biodivesity
Species
Ecosystem
HIPPO
Extinct
Extirpated
Threatened