Post on 18-Jan-2016
7Biodiversity
An introduction to the basic concepts
Scientific namesCaretta caretta
Calendula officinalis var. prolifera
Panthera tigris sumatrae
scientific name
specific epithetgenus
specific epithetgenus variety
specific epithet
genus subspecies
Notice that the first part of the name (genus) is always capitalized while the second part of the name (specific epithet) is always lower case. Scientific names are italicized.
Species names are in Latin and are italicized. The scientifi c names of some North American species are listed below:
Black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus
White-tailed prairie dog Cynomys leucurus
Wild strawberry Fragaria virginianus
Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida
Grey-headed coneflower Ratibida pinnata
Grey wolf Canis lupus
Coyote Canis latrans
Dog Canis lupus familiaris
ClassificationWhere does species fit in the
overall classification scheme?
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/evo_04
3 domainsArchaeaBacteriaEukaryota
6 Kingdoms
Eubacteria—”normal” bacteria
Archaebacteria—the extreme bacteria
Protista—algae, single-celled critters, seaweeds
Fungi—mushrooms, molds, yeast, &c.
Plantae—the plants
Animalia—the animals
Number of Species on Earth????
About 2.0 million identified & named
10-100+ million estimated
Number of Species on Earth?
Group # of Species identified
Bacteria 5000Fungi 47,000Algae 27,000Mosses & liverworts 17,000Conifers 750Flowering plants 250,000Protozoans 31,000Sponges 5000Corals & jellyfish 9000Roundworms & earthworms 24,000Crustaceans 40,000Insects 755,000Other Arths & minor inverts 135,000Mollusks 50,000Starfish 6100Fish 20,000Amphibians 4200Reptiles 6300Birds 10,000Mammals 4200
Source: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu
bacteriafungiprotists
plants
an-imal
s
bacteria
fungi
protists
plants
animals
Species by Kingdom
# of known species
Bacteria
Fungi
Algae
Mosses & liverworts
Conifers
Flowering plants
Protozoans
Sponges
Corals & jellyfishRoundworms & earthworms
Crustaceans
Insects
Other Arths & minor inverts
Mollusks
StarfishFish
AmphibiansReptiles
Birds Mammals # of Species identifiedBacteria
Fungi
Algae
Mosses & liverworts
Conifers
Flowering plants
Protozoans
Sponges
Corals & jellyfish
Roundworms & earthworms
Crustaceans
Insects
Other Arths & minor inverts
Mollusks
Starfish
Fish
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
spongescorals & jellyfish round & earthworms
arthropods
mol-lusks
starfish
vertebrates
sponges
corals & jellyfish
round & earthworms
arthropods
mollusks
starfish
vertebrates
The Animal Kingdom
Question #1
What is Biodiversity?
Question #2
What factors determine the biodiversity of an area?
Biodiversity
bio = life
diversity = range of different kinds; variation
Biodiversity
But…biodiversity is NOT just a list of the different species of living things in a habitat.
Biodiversity is the interactions of all of the living things in a habitat. It is the relationships—feeding, competition, cooperation, parasitism, commensalism, etc.
Biodiversity Why is biodiversity important?
Stability & resiliency of the ecosystem
Ecosystem services! “The conditions and
processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life.” (Daily, 1997)
What ARE ecosystem services???
Ecosystem services Filtration of air & water
Control of flooding/water levels
Absorption of wastes
Maintenance of soil fertility
Maintenance of livable climates
Pollination of crops & other vegetation
Control of potential pests
Provision of genetic resources
Production of food & fiber
Cycling of nutrients
Aesthetics http://www.ecosystemservicesproject.org/html/publications/docs/Internet_forum_Nature_and_Society.pdf