BIODIVERSITY LOSS STUDENT´S GUIDE

Author: Teresa Salido Ramírez

Máster Universitario en Profesorado de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanza de Idiomas

Informática para centros TIC 2012-2013

What is a Species?

Organisms that can mate with one another to produce fertile offspring.

Estimate the Number of Species?

Extrapolating from groups of well-known organisms to those that are not well known.

well-known

applying this same ratio 2:1

not well-known

Total number of insects specie = 3.000.000

Why is There Greater Diversity in the Tropics?

The tropics are home to a greater number of species per acre than the higher latitudes, because:

- smaller range of climatic conditions - physical geography - age of the tropics - greater competition - greater productivity

Tropics are also much more susceptible to species extinction than forests at higher latitudes since they are very narrowly adapted to their habitats, thereby populating a much smaller range.

How Are Humans and Other Organisms dependent on Earth´s Great Biodiversity?

Biodiversity provides people with

Human Health

Food

Agriculture

Economic, Social and Political Stability

Spiritual and Cultural Benefits

How is the Earth´s Biodiversity Impacted by Human Behaviors?

A countless number of species have become extinct through the actions of humans.

What Are the Present Threats to Earth´s Biodiversity?

The main threats to Earth’s biodiversity are:

(1) habitat loss and degradation

(3) non-native species

(4) global environmental change

(5) pollution

(2) overharvesting

Take Care of Them!!!