List 10 words that come to mind when you see this image.
Where is life found?
How do living things interact with the Earth?
What is happening on Earth?
How does it affect me?
Atoms – Molecules – Cells – Tissues – Organs – Organ Systems – Organism – Population – Community – Ecosystem –
Biome~ Biosphere
Organism – an individual living thing Population
› Groups of individuals that belong to the same species that live in the same area
Species = organisms that are able to breed and produce fertile offspring
Communities› Several populations of different organisms
that inhabit the same general area.
Ecosystem› Living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic)
components of an environment. Biome
› Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities.
Biosphere› All portions of the planet where life exists
(includes land, water, atmosphere)
What is biodiversity?
The sum of all the different types of organisms living on earth.
Common characteristics of organisms› Habitat – where it lives (water, land, etc)› Digestive cavity› Paired appendages (2 arms, 2 legs)› How does it obtain oxygen (gills, lungs, skin)› Sense organs visible (feelers, hands, etc)› Locomotion (how does it move)
Observing› Use the 5 senses (sight, sound, taste,
touch, smell) Experiments
› To test a hypothesis regarding a certain topic.
Modeling› Mathematic formulas created based on
data collected through observation and experimentation.
Why is biodiversity important?
Endangered species!!!!!› We as a society want to protect all the
different types of organisms present in our ecosystem.
More North American Endangered Species
Bighorn Sheep - Bison - Black Bear - Dolphin - Gray Wolf - Grizzly Bear - Humpback Whale - Lynx - Manatee - Mountain Lions - Ocelot - Polar Bear - Pronghorn Antelope - Seal -
Extinct – the permanent disappearance of a species from Earth
What is causing animals to become endangered or even extinct?
Alteration of habitats› Human Population Growth
Pollution› SMOG is killing trees over a wide area of
southern California› CO2 Levels are increasing
Decrease in H2O Forest Fires
What is so important about Rainforest?
Tropical rainforests are the most diverse ecosystem in the world.
Home to 2/3 of the worlds species
What is so important about making sure animals don’t go extinct?
Erases genetic material – what if that extinct species had favorable traits.
Simpler ecosystems are unstable – the biosphere becomes smaller
Future Importance of that plant or animal – what if that extinct plant could have been used to cure cancer in 10 years
The “Domino Effect” Every organism is connected to all
other organisms If we remove one of this pieces then it
could effect everyone
The Story of the Sea Otter
Sea otters → Urchin → Kelp Because the kelp was depleted fish
that relied on the kelp for habitat were reduced in number
So what does this mean to us?
Keeping a balance is key Restoring balance can be difficult and
costly to Conservationists› Predictions are only a guess
Unbalanced ecosystems could be disastrous
End of 9.1
Top Related