Biodiversity and Ecosystems PDF

ASSIGNED SITES Group 1: Olango Marine Sanctuary Group 2: Osmeña Peak, Dalaguete Group 3: Alcoy Nug-as Forest Reserve Biodiversity and Ecosystems Elect Maj4 1st Sem AY 24-25 Group 4: Bojo River, Alonguisan...

ASSIGNED SITES Group 1: Olango Marine Sanctuary Group 2: Osmeña Peak, Dalaguete Group 3: Alcoy Nug-as Forest Reserve Biodiversity and Ecosystems Elect Maj4 1st Sem AY 24-25 Group 4: Bojo River, Alonguisan Instructor: Russel Christine Corcino Consultation Hours: WTh, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Outline Definition of Biodiversity Types / Levels of Biodiversity  Biodiversity variety of life in all its forms and levels of organization Species Ecosystem Genetic Functional Species Diversity Species Diversity Species: a group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations Species: a group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations Measures of Species Diversity: Measures of Species Diversity: Species richness Species richness (number of species) (number of species) Species evenness Species evenness (relative abundance) (relative abundance) Endemicity Endemicity (geographic restrictions) (geographic restrictions)  Species Diversity Species Diversity How many species are here on Earth? Why conserve species? Mora et al., 2011 (doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001127) Economic Values Ecological Values Scientific/Educational Values Spiritual Values Intrinsic Value ~86% awaits description……….. Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity Conservationists classify species based on their population and distribution. Ecosystem: a group of interacting organisms and the physical environment they live in Structure Function/Processes Interactions Change  Ecosystem Diversity Major World Ecosystems: Terrestrial Biomes Why conserve ecosystems? Ecosystem services: direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being Other reasons: Intrinsic Value Uniqueness Value Major World Ecosystems: Terrestrial Biomes Major World Ecosystems: Aquatic Systems (Freshwater) Lake Ecosystem River Ecosystem Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3.5 Major World Ecosystems: Land Meets Water Major World Ecosystems: Marine Ecosystems Estuary – junction of a river & ocean Mangrove Ecosystem – shallow estuaries & mudflats with salt-tolerant evergreen woody species Coral reefs Seagrass beds (plants) Kelp forest (algae) Pelagic Salt Marsh – found on (open ocean) sediments carried to shorelines by rivers Genetic Diversity Genetic Diversity Genes are the basic unit of hereditary information. Genes are the basic unit of hereditary information. Allele: A specific variation of a gene  Genetic Diversity Genetic Diversity Genes can vary within an individual, within a species, or across species Genes can vary within an individual, within a species, or across species 5p- syndrome: Cri-du-chat syndrome Trisomy-21 syndrome: Down syndrome Evolution and Adaptation Utilitarian values Genetic Diversity Functional Diversity Genetic diversity is highly dependent on MUTATIONS Diversity of interactions and ecological processes linking living organisms with each other, and with non-living elements Genetic Drift Inbreeding Diet Habitat Resource use Biotic interactions Breeding within close Population controls Shift of frequency of alleles in a population relatives (left) Bottleneck effect – @ population declines Decreases genetic div (right) Founder effect – @ newly colonized areas Creates deleterious alleles  Threats to Biodiversity 6th Mass Extinction: Threats to Biodiversity Ecosystem/ Habitat Degradation and Loss Over- exploitation Invasive Exotics Climate change Sixth Extinction - Guide Questions Sixth Extinction - Guide Questions What is the major difference between the sixth extinction and all the How do major natural catastrophes (volcanoes, meteorites) affected other mass extinction events in terms of: biodiversity? Agent of change? Rate of change? How do extinctions promote biodiversity? Remember how biodiversity changed after dinosaurs went extinct. In how many years is the sixth mass extinction expected to arrive? How does this differ with the other extinctions? From the video, how is biodiversity threatened by the growing How was the oxygen levels in the early years of the Earth? How did it human population? Can you give examples (either from the video or change, and how did it eventually affect biodiversity on Earth? from your own knowledge)? How do mutations affect biodiversity? What is natural selection?  Sixth Extinction - Guide Questions Sixth Extinction - Guide Questions What are the characteristics of the killer algae Caulerpa that makes it According to Lester Brown, what are the two factors on Earth that we an invasive species? How did it arrive in another area? must stabilize in order for conservation efforts to be most effective? How can you compare the characteristics of killer algae Caulerpa t to What do you think of Lester Brown’s statement, given your humans as living organisms? knowledge on Malthusian and Cornucopian concepts? Was the flooding in Yangtze River in China an “act of nature”? Which areas in the world are the priority sites for conservation? Why so? Sixth Extinction - Guide Questions Dr. Andrew Knoll mentioned that the trajectory of conservation work will depend on our actions in 5-10 years. The video you saw was released more than 10 years ago. What do you think is the current trajectory of conservation work at present? What are the progress and what are the challenges?