20 Questions
What happens if one species fails in an ecosystem?
Other species of similar roles will step in and prevent the ecosystem from collapsing
What is a characteristic of a stable ecosystem?
Species evenness, density, and population size remain relatively constant
Why do populations cycle through periods of high and low numbers?
Because of the natural fluctuations in population dynamics
What is an example of a stable ecosystem?
A rainforest ecosystem
What happens when one species goes extinct in a rainforest?
There is a high diversity of similar species to fill its ecological role
Why do rainforests have high levels of genetic diversity?
Because of the high numbers of individuals within populations
What is a threat to the stability of rainforests?
Habitat destruction and overuse of resources
What is a consequence of the global decline of rainforests?
The ecosystems will face extinction
Why are rainforests experiencing a global decline?
Because of habitat destruction and overuse of resources
What is necessary to prevent the extinction of rainforests?
Intervention to prevent habitat destruction and overuse of resources
What is an advantage of high ecological diversity in an ecosystem?
It allows for other species to fill in for a failed species.
What characterizes the population sizes in stable ecosystems?
They fluctuate around a relatively constant level.
Why are rainforests considered stable ecosystems?
They have high ecological diversity and a high degree of genetic diversity.
What is a key factor in maintaining ecological diversity in rainforests?
Large variation in canopy cover, moisture, and temperatures.
What is a major threat to the stability of rainforests?
Habitat destruction and overuse of resources.
What is a consequence of the overuse of resources in rainforests?
A decline in the overall health of the ecosystem.
Why are interventions necessary to prevent the extinction of rainforests?
Because habitat destruction and overuse of resources are occurring faster than rainforests can recover.
What is a characteristic of populations in stable ecosystems?
They cycle through periods of high and low numbers.
What is a benefit of having multiple species that can fill similar ecological roles?
It allows ecosystems to recover more quickly from the loss of a single species.
Why are rainforests considered resilient ecosystems?
Because they have a high degree of genetic diversity and ecological diversity.
Study Notes
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
- Environmental problems facing the planet include habitat loss and degradation, climate change, invasive species, pollution, overuse of natural resources, and deforestation, which all contribute to a decrease in biodiversity.
What is Biodiversity?
- Biodiversity is the measurement of diversity observed within living systems.
- It is an indicator of an ecosystem's health and stability.
- Ecosystems with high biodiversity can rebound faster from disturbances and are less impacted by extinction events.
Types of Biodiversity
- Biodiversity can be applied to many systems at multiple scales.
- It considers the diversity of an ecosystem at multiple levels, including:
- The number of species within an ecosystem
- The diversity of genes within a species or ecosystem
- The diversity of ecosystems within a landscape, continent, or planet
- The scale of biodiversity can range from incredibly small to incredibly large.
Species Biodiversity
- Species biodiversity is the most common type of biological diversity measurement.
- It considers the total number of species within a given area.
- Species diversity can be specified to a specific type of organism or at varying levels of the phylogeny.
- The total number of species on the planet is estimated to be between 3.5 million and over 100 million.
Genetic Biodiversity
- Genetic biodiversity considers the diversity of genomes within an ecosystem.
- It can be measured at different scales, including:
- Diversity of nucleotides between individuals of a single population and species
- Diversity of genome size between species in an ecosystem
- Low genetic diversity can make a population more susceptible to detrimental genetic mutations or disease.
Ecological Biodiversity
- Ecological biodiversity considers the number of different ecosystems.
- It is often concerned with large scales, such as the number of ecosystem types within a continent.
- Ecological biodiversity can be measured at small scales, including microclimates and niches.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
- Biodiversity is closely related to ecosystem stability.
- In ecosystems with few species, niches may be empty or have only one or two species, making them vulnerable to collapse.
- In ecosystems with high diversity, niches are full and have overlapping species, making them more stable.
- A stable ecosystem is one where species evenness, density, and population size remain relatively constant.
Learn about the impact of biodiversity on ecosystem stability and the major threats affecting our planet, including habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. Understand how these threats decrease ecosystem biodiversity. Get ready to test your knowledge!
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