3.1 MEASURING

BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity in Canada p.87

3.1 Measuring Biodiversity p.89

3.1 Measuring Biodiversity p.89

Biodiversity: number and variety of

organisms found within a specific region.

identified ~ 2 million species of organisms

Estimate a total of 5 to100 million species

To maintain Earth’s biodiversity, species must

be protected.

endangered or threatened

legally guarded to ensure their survival.

How Do Scientists Measure

Biodiversity? P.90

How Do Scientists Measure

Biodiversity? P.90

How Do Scientists Measure

Biodiversity? P.90

Canopy fogging

For insects

use low dose of insecticide

collect with a large funnel-shaped screen

Quadrat sampling

A square area (1-20 m2)

Count species and their numbers

repeat in different places

How Do Scientists Measure

Biodiversity? P.90

Transect sampling

Transect line (rope or measuring tape)

count species and numbers at set interval

Netting

For birds/bats/fish/marine animals

captured organisms analyzed and released

Documenting Biodiversity and Its

Distribution p.91

Documenting Biodiversity and Its

Distribution p.91

helpful for land-use planners

Biological collections housed in museums

Computer databases

Canada’s biodiversity p.91

Canada’s biodiversity p.91

Canada

a large country

many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

home to thousands of species

Plants, insects, fungi, and small invertebrates are far

more diverse than larger animals.

Canadians have a special responsibility to protect

organisms found only in Canadian ecosystems (eg.

Peary caribou)

Hotspots of Biodiversity p.92

Hotspots of Biodiversity p.92

biodiversity hotspot:

a relatively small area with an exceptionally large

number of species

In Canada:

1. Carolinian Canada

2. The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve

1% of Canada’s landmass

highest number of species of any Canadian

ecosystems.

Biodiversity in the Tropics p.93

Biodiversity in the Tropics p.93

Most of the biodiversity hotspots are in the

tropics

near the equator

in developing nations

less likely to have environmental planners

Developed nations (eg. Canada) often help

protect key ecosystems in these regions

The Biodiversity Index

number of species in an area ÷ total number

of organisms in the ecosystem

Closer to 1 higher biodiversity

The Biodiversity Index