How is Biodiversity Distributed? -...
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How is Biodiversity Distributed? Brook Milligan Department of Biology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 [email protected] Fall 2009 Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Transcript of How is Biodiversity Distributed? -...
How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Brook Milligan
Department of BiologyNew Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico [email protected]
Fall 2009
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Goal: Understanding Distribution of Biodiversity
If biodiversity can be quantified, . . .
How many known species are there on Earth?
How many actual species are there on Earth?
How are the species distributed across taxa?
How is biodiversity distributed across the Earth?
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Known Species on Earth
Total: 1.5–2× 106 species
Insecta: 751× 103 species
Planta: 250,000 species
Aves: 9,000 species
Mammalia: 4,000 species
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Known Species on Earth
Total: 1.5–2× 106 species
Insecta: 751× 103 species
Planta: 250,000 species
Aves: 9,000 species
Mammalia: 4,000 species
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Known Species on Earth
Total: 1.5–2× 106 species
Insecta: 751× 103 species
Planta: 250,000 species
Aves: 9,000 species
Mammalia: 4,000 species
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Species Scape
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
So, how many species are there on Earth?
Highly uncertain, especially in some taxonomic groups
How can we find out?
Requirements for effective estimation
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Regions of High Diversity
Tropical diversity
tropical rain forestscoral reefslarge tropical lakesdeep sea
Temperate diversityPlant diversity: Mediterranean climate regions
Mediterranean BasinCaliforniacentral ChileCape region of South Africa
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
Factors Influencing Diversity
Climate and the environment
Topography, geological age, habitat size
Latitude
Taxon
Brook Milligan How is Biodiversity Distributed?
