Biodiversity Measurement and Importance

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary metric used to traditionally measure biodiversity?

The number of species and the number of individuals in each species (correct)

The number of habitats in an ecosystem

The genetic variation within a single species

The number of individuals in a single species

Why might the extinction of species like the passenger pigeon or the woolly mammoth seem unimportant?

These extinctions occurred recently and are still relevant

They are examples of prehistoric losses with little current impact on biodiversity (correct)

Extinction rates are thought to be decreasing over time

These species were not significant in terms of human interaction

What measurement enhances understanding of biodiversity beyond just counting species?

The geographical distribution of species

The number of ecosystems present

The relative abundance of species in a given area (correct)

The average lifespan of species

What is a likely consequence of biodiversity loss in tropical rainforests?

Increased costs for food production and ecosystem services Signup and view all the answers

How many species have scientists described and identified approximately?

Approximately 1.5 million species Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of modern drugs are estimated to contain at least one plant extract today?

10 percent Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key ecosystem service related to food production?

Water purification Signup and view all the answers

What has significantly affected honeybee populations in North America?

Colony collapse disorder Signup and view all the answers

What critical role do wild species related to domesticated crops have in agriculture?

They are the source of new gene variants. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about global fisheries since 1990 is accurate?

Production from global fisheries has declined. Signup and view all the answers

What is genetic diversity primarily associated with in terms of a species?

The potential for adaptation within a species Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of losing an ecosystem, even if some species survive?

The loss of distinct features of coadaptation and biological productivity Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as a reason for increased biodiversity closer to the equator?

More diverse habitat types available Signup and view all the answers

What role do secondary plant compounds play for plants and humans?

They help protect plants from herbivores and can provide medicinal benefits to humans Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true concerning endemic species?

They are restricted to one specific location, making them vulnerable to extinction Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biodiversity Measurement and Levels

Biodiversity is the variety of life at all levels of biological organization, from genes to ecosystems.
Traditionally, biodiversity is measured by species richness and abundance.
However, modern approaches also consider genetic diversity, population variation, and ecosystem diversity.

Importance of Biodiversity Loss

Species loss, even of species long extinct, has practical importance for human welfare.
Accelerated extinction rates mean the loss of many species, severely impacting various ecosystems.
Loss of species leads to ecosystem collapse and increased costs for maintaining resources (i.e., food, clean water, air).

Types of Biodiversity

Species diversity: The number of species in a given area (e.g., 2078 bird species in North/Central America).
More sophisticated measures account for the relative abundance of species. Diverse forests have more evenly distributed species, vs. forests where a single species dominates.
Approximately 1.5 million species have been identified; likely far more remain undiscovered.

Genetic and Chemical Diversity

Genetic diversity is the raw material for adaptation and evolution.
Chemical diversity refers to the different chemicals produced by different genetic make-ups (proteins, metabolic products); important for potential medicines (e.g., eptifibatide).

Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem diversity is the variety of ecosystems.
Loss of an ecosystem disrupts interactions between species, reduces unique co-adaptations, and lowers biological productivity.
Human activities have largely destroyed ecosystems (e.g., prairies in North America), with long term consequences for soil health.

Patterns of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is unevenly distributed globally.
Endemic species are found only in one location (e.g., Barton Springs salamander). Endemics are vulnerable to extinction.
Biodiversity (in most groups) increases near the equator. Several hypotheses suggest possible links to age and energy input from the sun, but this is not fully explained.

Importance of Biodiversity to Humans

Human health: Many medicines originate from natural compounds produced by diverse organisms (e.g., secondary plant compounds).
Example medicines: aspirin, codeine, digoxin, atropine, and vincristine; many come from plant extracts but now synthesized.
Antibiotics are largely fungi and bacteria derivatives.
Humans benefit from biodiversity psychologically, with a connection to natural environments.

Biodiversity and Agriculture

Crop diversity is crucial for agriculture, enabling adaptation to different conditions.
Wild relatives of crops have important genes for improvement.
Ecosystem services (pollination, pest control) are essential for crop production.
Pollination: Crucial for agriculture. Honeybees are a major contributor in the U.S ($1.6-6.7 Billion/year).
Pest control: Diverse ecosystems provide natural control, maintaining ecological balance.

Biodiversity and Wild Food Sources

Aquatic resources (fish) are vital for billions.
Overharvesting can cause ecosystem restructuring in fisheries and negatively impact local communities.

Threats to Biodiversity

Habitat loss: Primary threat, a result of population growth and resource demand.
Overharvesting: unsustainable use of resources, particularly in fisheries; the Tragedy of the Commons.
Invasive species: introduction of species to new environments, disrupting ecosystems, sometimes dramatically (e.g., zebra mussels, European green crab).
Climate change: anthropogenic warming threatening habitats and species through range shifts.

Preserving Biodiversity

Changing human behavior: legislation to regulate human activity, setting aside protected areas, restoring degraded habitats.
International treaties: (e.g., CITES) to protect endangered organisms from trading.
National and state laws: e.g., Endangered Species Act in U.S.
Conservation preserves: setting aside areas for wildlife protection; benefits include larger areas supporting more species and buffer zones.
Biodiversity hotspots: important regions to protect endemic species.

Extinction Throughout Time

Speciation and extinction are natural evolutionary processes.
Mass extinctions (five most significant) are sudden, significant losses in biodiversity.
Scientists agree that humanity is currently driving another mass extinction.

Recent and Current Extinction Rates

Extinction rates are difficult to precisely measure.
Current extinction rate is estimated to be much higher than the typical, or background rate. Estimates are likely an underestimate.

Conservation of Biodiversity (continued)

Zoos' role: captive breeding is usually inefficient compared to in-situ conservation (preserves), but education can raise awareness and support.
Habitat restoration: returning keystone species can dramatically improve ecosystem health (e.g., reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone).

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Description

Explore the key concepts of biodiversity measurement and its significance in maintaining ecological balance. This quiz covers various types of biodiversity, their measurements, and the consequences of biodiversity loss. Test your understanding of how species diversity affects ecosystems and human welfare.