Animal Environment and Pollution PDF

ANIMAL ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION Chapter opener 02 Definition Ecology Study of the relationship of organisms to their environment Environment: It is the space in which a living organism lives in all its material and non-material aspects and from which it obtains the ne...

ANIMAL ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION Chapter opener 02 Definition Ecology Study of the relationship of organisms to their environment Environment: It is the space in which a living organism lives in all its material and non-material aspects and from which it obtains the necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter, and in which it performs its various activities. Ecology is linked to all other branches of life science. 2-3  Ecology Necessary to understand the physiological and behavioral mechanisms of organisms to understand their ecological relationships Animals in nature coexist with others of the same species as reproductive units are called populations – Population has properties that cannot be discovered by studying individuals alone Populations of many species live together in complex communities The number of different species present in a community is measured as species diversity 2-4  Ecology Many species interact with each other such as predation, parasitism, competition Predators obtain energy and nutrients by killing and eating prey Parasites drive similar benefits but do not kill the host Parasitoid is a parasite that kills its host organism Competition occurs when resources become limited Mutualism occurs when both members of a pair of species benefit from their interactions, usually avoiding negative interactions with other species Larger units or ecosystems allow study of the community and the physical environment Biosphere is the land, water, and atmosphere that envelops the planet and supports all life on earth 2-5  Ecology Environment and the Niche Abiotic factors (nonliving) – Space, energy forms including sunlight, heat, wind and water currents, and the soil, air, water and chemicals Biotic factors (living) – Include other organisms as food, or competitors, predators, hosts or parasites Resources – Environmental factors that an animal uses directly 2-6  Ecology Some resources are expendable – Food, once eaten, is no longer available and must be continuously replenished Space is not consumed by being used and is therefore nonexpendable Habitat – Physical space where an animal lives and is defined by the animal’s normal activity 2-7  Ecology Niche – The life requirements of an organism define its niche – A niche includes the animal’s limits of temperature, moisture, food, and other factors – Addition of important factors such as salinity or pH describes a complex multidimensional niche – The niche of a species undergoes evolutionary changes over successive generations 2-8  Ecology Some animals are generalists – Wide niches – Can tolerate a wide range of salinity or eat a wide range of foods Other animals are specialists – Have narrow dietary requirements or limited tolerance to temperature changes, etc. Fundamental niche – Describes animal’s potential role to live within a wider range of conditions Realized niche – The narrower subset of suitable environments that an animal actually experiences 2-9  Ecology Extrinsic Limits to Growth – Density-independent Factors Abiotic factors reduce populations by floods, fires, storms and severe climate fluctuations These agents kill young or other members of a population regardless of the size of population Cannot truly regulate population growth because they are unrelated to population size 2-10  Ecology – Density-dependent Factors Biotic factors that respond to density of the population – Include predators and parasites As a population increases in number and individuals live closer together – Effects of parasites and disease are more severe Competition between species for a common limiting resource – Lowers the effective carrying capacity for each species 2-11  Community Ecology Interactions Among Populations in Communities In a community, populations of different species interact The number of species that share a habitat – Known as species diversity Species interactions may benefit or harm the species involved In a predator-prey interaction – Predator benefits and the prey is harmed Parasitism benefits the parasite and harms the host Herbivory benefits the animal and harms the plant 2-12 2-13  Community Ecology In commensalism – One species benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed Some mutualistic relationships become obligatory mutualism – Neither can survive without the other Competition between two species – Reduces the fitness of both – Asymmetric competition (amensalism) affects one species less than the other 2-14  Community Ecology Competition and Character Displacement Competition occurs when two or more species share a limiting resource If resource is not in short supply – Sharing the resource does not demonstrate competition Niche overlap – Portion of the niche’s resources that are shared by two or more species 2-15  Community Ecology Competitive exclusion – Principle that no two species will occupy the same niche for a long time – Eventually one will exclude the other To coexist, two species can specialize by partitioning a shared resource Specialization involves character displacement – Differences in organismal morphology or behavior related to exploitation of a resource – They do not compete with each other directly 2-16 2-17  Community Ecology Where two species coexisted – Competition between them led to evolutionary displacement to diminish the competition When two or more species reduce niche overlap to share the same general resources, they form a guild 2-18 2-19  Community Ecology Predators and Parasites Many animals and plants are in co-evolutionary relationships – Each in a race with the other If a predator relies primarily on a single prey species – Populations tend to fluctuate cyclically with each other Predator-prey relationship – Led to development of mimicry Harmless species mimic models that have toxins or stings 2-20 2-21  Ecosystems Trophic Levels Primary producers – green plants or algae, fix and store energy from sunlight Herbivores – First level of consumers that eat plants Carnivores – Feed on herbivores or other carnivores Decomposers – Mainly bacteria and fungi – Break dead organic matter into mineral components for reuse by plants to start the cycle over again 2-22  Ecosystems Energy Flow and Productivity Every organism has an energy budget and must obtain enough energy to grow, reproduce, etc. Gross productivity (Pg) – Total energy assimilated or taken in – Some used to maintain metabolism Net productivity (Pn) – Energy stored in the animal’s tissue as biomass – Available for growth of the animal and for reproduction 2-23  Ecosystems Energy is limited and can be represented as Pn = Pg - R where R is respiration Energy budget of every animal is finite Much energy is lost when it is transferred between trophic levels in food webs More than 90% of the energy in an animal’s food is lost as heat Less than 10% is stored as biomass Each trophic level contains only 10% of the energy of trophic level below it 2-24  Ecosystems Nutrient Cycles Decomposers feed on remains of animals and plants and on fecal material and return substances to the ecosystem Biogeochemical cycles involve exchanges between living organisms, rocks, air and water Continuous input of energy from sun keeps nutrients flowing and the ecosystem functioning Synthetic compounds challenge nature’s nutrient cycling 2-25 2-26  Food chain and food Webs Ecological Pyramids Energy flows through an ecosystem when one group of individuals feeds on another group. A food chain is defined as any organism that eats another or a group of producing and consuming organisms.The food chain begins with the green plant, which is the productive organism because it is an autotroph, meaning it is the only one capable of making organic matter. Natural ecosystems have several food chains that intertwine to form a complex food web. Or in other words, a food web is an interconnected food relationship in the same environmental environment that forms a group of food chains.* The flow of energy is referred to by another name that indicates trophic levels, where products constitute the first nutritional level. The primary consumers represent the second nutritional level, while the secondary consumers represent the third nutritional level, and so on. 2-27 2-28  Ecosystems Ecological Pyramids – Eltonian pyramid Based on numbers of organisms at each trophic level Does not indicate mass of organisms at each level – Pyramid of biomass Total bulk or “standing crop” of organisms at each trophic level Energy pyramids – Depicts rate of energy flow between levels – Never inverted Amount of energy transferred from each level is less than what entered it – Gives best overall picture of community structure because it is based on production 2-29  Ecological Pyramids The trophic level in an ecosystem can be simplified in the form of an ecological pyramid, where the base of the pyramid represents the productive trophic level, while the top of the pyramid represents the highest consumable trophic level, and the other consumption levels are between the two mentioned levels. There are three types of pyramids in ecosystems: A - Pyramid of numbers B - Pyramid of biomass C - Pyramid of energy 2-30 2-31  Trophic levels Each group of living organisms in any ecosystem occupies a specific place in this system that expresses its role in providing food for members of other groups.When we consider the role of each group in the food chain, we find that there are three divisions of living organisms in most ecosystems: Producers Consumers Decomposers 2-32  Producers They are autotrophs that make their own organic food through photosynthesis, and by that we mean plants and some animals that have the ability to do so.The process of photosynthesis in plants means the use of carbon dioxide, water, and some inorganic substances in the presence of light. The result of this reaction is oxygen, water, and energy stored in the plant, which represents a source of food for herbivores. Some bacteria are also considered productive organisms in that they may practice photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, and in the process of chemosynthesis, bacteria can use certain chemical compounds to make their food without the need for light. 2-33  For example, some types of bacteria oxidize ammonia to nitrite, and other types oxidize ferrous ions to ferric acid, and these oxidative reactions produce energy. Photosynthesis is the main source of life, as it represents the productive capacity of all ecosystems containing green plants, and it is also the means by which light energy is converted into chemical energy. 2-34  This photosynthesis does not occur simply, but rather includes an integrated series of chemical reactions that require enzymes and many complex intermediate compounds. As a result, hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to lead to a chemical union of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which goes through many reactions until it gives glucose. Glucose is the basic building block for building more complex organic compounds such as disaccharides, starches, fats, proteins, and vitamins 2-35  Consumers These organisms obtain their food by consuming other organisms. That is, they are organisms that depend on autotrophs (plants) to provide their organic food, directly or indirectly.Herbivores are consumers because they feed on plants directly, and carnivores are also consumers, but indirectly, and detritus eaters are also consumers. There are three levels of consumables: (1) Herbivore level. (2) Level of carnivores. (3) Level of herbivory and meat eating 2-36  Herbivorous:Consumer organisms that feed on plants, such as livestock, types of rodents, deer, seed-eating birds, and insects. There are some aquatic organisms that feed on phytoplankton (algae), and all of them are considered primary consumers. Carnivores:Consumer organisms that feed on meat. The nutritional level of carnivores varies, as they may be considered a second or third consumer depending on their nutritional role in the food chain. For example, the aquatic scorpion feeds on crustaceans and may be eaten by a frog. This may be eaten by a small fish that is preyed upon by a larger fish. Finally, the eagle feeds on this fish. 2-37  Herbivores and carnivores: Consumer organisms that feed on plants and animals together are called omnivores, and thus they can be first, second, and third consumers at the same time, including humans. A person who eats vegetables is called a first consumer, and he who eats the meat of the first consumers is considered a second consumer, and he may be a third consumer when he feeds on the meat of the second consumers, such as fish, as well as other living organisms. 2-38  Decomposers: It includes fungi, many bacteria, and other organisms that have the ability to decompose substances. These organisms use dead plants and animals and what they excrete as a source of food. Decomposition bacteria secrete their digestive enzymes into dead materials outside their bodies and then absorb the ready-made food particles. This is called external digestion. 2-39  They are classified into three types according to oxygen requirements: Aerobic microorganisms: These decomposing organisms need sufficient oxygen to continue their life and activity. Anaerobic microorganisms: To continue its life and activity, it needs a medium in which oxygen is not available, such as methane bacteria, which decompose organic materials and carbonates into methane gas when there is no oxygen Facultative microorganisms: They are those that can adapt themselves according to the environment in which they live. If oxygen is available, it is aerobic, and if it is not available, it becomes anaerobic, like soil bacteria. 2-40 The density of organisms and the ways of calculating density 2-41  The density of organisms Density: The number of individuals represents the basic measure of the group. The absolute population density represents the total number of individuals inhabiting a specific area within the habitat for a specific period of time, and it is important both for the distribution and the overall size of the population. Density depends on the nature of the environmental habitat and the spread of individuals from other habitats to it. For example, large islands support larger numbers compared to small islands. As for temperate forests, they support large numbers of living organisms compared to tropical forests. 2-42  Method for estimating group density: The term means the group of all individuals of only one species in a given ecosystem. Since it is difficult to take observations and conduct experiments on every member of the group, researchers often conduct their experiments on a specific number of group members, called a sample. Then the researcher generalizes the results he obtains from the sample to the large group that includes all the individuals. Therefore, the sample must be a good representative of the group from which it was taken, otherwise the sample will be biased. In order to avoid bias, the sample is taken randomly. 2-43  Determine the density of plant species: The number of plants in the sample frame is calculated, and the frame area of ​the sample depends on the type of plant to be measured. Small herbs are sufficient to measure with a small frame, while desert plants that are far apart require a larger frame. It can be said that this method is directly affected by the area of ​the sample frame and the difficulty of identifying the individual plant. 2-44  For example: A researcher wanted to know the density of a type of plant that grows with grass in a public square with dimensions of 30 x 50 metres. The researcher used a 1 m2 square frame made of reinforced wire. The researcher placed the frame on an area in the field that was chosen randomly, then counted all the individuals of that type of plant that grows with the grass inside the frame. The researcher repeated this process nine times in different regions, then recorded the data he obtained in the following table 2-45 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Frame number 2 4 3 1 1 6 3 5 2 Number of individuals Average density of individuals of that type of plant = total number of individuals ÷ number of squares 27 ÷9 = 3/m2 The total number of individuals of that type of plant in the field Field area in square meters x 3 30 x 50 x 3= approximately 4500 plants 2-46  Determine the density of moving groups: The density of moving groups, such as groups of insects and birds, is determined by taking a random sample from the group that is captured using suitable traps. Then each individual is marked or marked with a distinctive mark, and then the marked sample is released to mix with the members of its original group. A new sample is then taken from the group that contains the marked and unmarked individuals, and then the group density (the total number of group members) is calculated. 2-47  Density distribution: Although the numbers that express density are valuable in that they give knowledge of the size of a population, these numbers do not give a clear picture of the distribution patterns or distribution models of population density within the environment. When resources are available in certain environmental areas, individuals are distributed throughout the Earth in proportions according to the suitability of the environment. Density is affected by several factors, the most important of which are:Birth rate, death rate, in-migration, and out- migration. In general, the density of any group of organisms is the result of these four factors 2-48  There are many factors that increase the death rate in individuals, including:Predation, disease, famine, natural disasters and other factors. For example, crowding in groups causes a scarcity of availability of nutrients and habitats, in addition to increasing the opportunity for predators and the spread of diseases, the effect of which is more pronounced in crowded groups (high density) than in dispersed groups (low density). 2-49  Some ecological laws Minimum law This law was drawn up by Liebig in 1840 AD and states: The existence and flourishing of an organism in a particular situation requires basic materials necessary for growth and reproduction. These basic requirements vary according to species and need. In this case, the basic substance that is present in quantities close to the critical minimum necessary for growth constitutes the limiting factor. 2-50  Based on this law, the population density increases depending on the availability of the food source and the suitability of other environmental conditions, and vice versa. The principle of the minimum law applies to sources that have a direct impact on female consumers. In many cases, one or more nutrient sources interact with each other to determine the growth rate and density of the consumer population. 2-51  For Example: Plant growth requires both the assimilation of inorganic carbon in the photosynthesis process as an energy source, as well as carbohydrates, nitrogen, and phosphorus to make proteins and amino acids. This explains the importance of phosphorus and nitrogen, even in the presence of light, to determine the normal growth of plants, because light alone is not enough, and vice versa. Also, if nitrogen and potassium are available, but phosphorus is low below the minimum, the plant will not grow 2-52  The law of endurance This law was introduced by Shelford in 1913 AD and stipulates the following:Any variable that falls below the minimum or exceeds the maximum critical limit pushes some organisms outside the tolerance gradient or ideal situation. That is, if there is an exceedance of the tolerance limits of a particular species, it is not allowed to be distributed, but rather the place is restricted if the absence of the species from that area does not lead to it (the intolerance zone) as long as this condition exists, and therefore this factor is called the limiting factor (Limiting factor). In other words, if an organism takes more materials or conditions than it needs or less than it needs, it will not be able to grow and reproduce well. 2-53  For example Thermal vacuole bacteria can withstand 300 degrees Celsius, blue-green bacteria and algae can withstand 90 degrees Celsius in mineral hot springs, and animal vesicles and plant seeds can withstand 100 degrees Celsius and extreme drought. Tolerance results from several adaptations that may be genetic, behavioral, physiological, or structural 2-54  The law of tolerance includes some general principles in the environment: 1- Every living organism has its own tolerance range for various environmental conditions that affect its distribution. This range may be narrow or broad. 2- An organism may have a broad tolerance for certain environmental factors or a limited tolerance for other environmental factors. 2-55  3- Living organisms that are highly tolerant, that is, those that can tolerate a number of ideal surrounding conditions, are widespread and thus their environmental range increases, and vice versa. 4- Living organisms rarely live in the natural (ideal) state of tolerance, as a result of environmental factors interfering with each other in nature. 5- The reproductive stage in living organisms is the only critical stage that requires environmental conditions close to ideal limits. Thus, reproduction only takes place during certain periods of the year in seasons designated for reproduction. 2-56 Types of ecosystems 2-57  Main types of ecosystemsEcosystems can be divided into: 1- Aquatic Ecosystems 2- Terrestrial Ecosystems Aquatic ecosystems are of two types: A- Freshwater ecosystems: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries (the area where river water meets sea water), and swamps. B- Marine ecosystems: seas and oceans. 2-58  First: freshwater ecosystems The largest lakes are found in Asia, Africa, and North America, and the Soviet Lake Baikal constitutes the largest pool of fresh water, which is about 20% of the lake water on Earth. It is divided into two main sections:Running water environment and stagnant water environment 2-59  A - Lotic running water It includes the water of rivers and streams. Usually the source of the river is in an elevated area and begins to gradually decline. * The water velocity is high at the front of the river and begins to decrease as the height of the plains decreases and the volume of water begins to increase and spread until the stream becomes stagnant or semi-stagnant. * When moving from fast to slow water, the temperature increases and the amount of oxygen decreases. In addition, the river bottom becomes sandy or muddy after it was rocky and slippery. The animal communities that live in the fast and slow regions are very different, and each region is considered a special environmental system. 2-60  The depth of the water is important in regulating the distribution of fish, even though they are mobile and able to spread. Fish differ in their preference for the type of bottom, so there are different distinct species along the river. Small, juvenile fish are usually found in shallow, almost clear water, and many slow-water fish go to fast water to lay eggs. In fast waters, the primary product consists of diatom and gelatinous algae, which form a sliding community on the rocks. In slow or stagnant water, the primary producer consists of plants that have roots at the bottom, in addition to some slippery communities 2-61  The primary consumer in fast waters consists of insect larvae that are abundant and have tolerance and adaptation to the speed of the water with their streamlined, flattened bodies or the presence of suckers and hooks that enable them to attach to rocks and plants. The primary consumers in slow water consist of borer worms and insect larvae 2-62  B - Lentic stagnant water It includes lakes, ponds and swamps. The standing water environment can be divided into three sections: 1 - Littoral shore line This range is located on the edge of the lake or pond and extends from the shoreline to the end of the plant communities that have roots at the bottom. This area contains vertebrates such as frogs and snakes 2-63  2 - Limnetic open water It is the area across the width of the lake that light penetrates and contains productive organisms such as diatom and green and blue-green algae. The first consumer is animal plankton. 3 - Dark open water It is located under the luminous range. This part may be small in ponds, but it constitutes a large part in large and deep lakes. This range is considered a corridor for detritus from the upper range and contains decomposer communities on its muddy bottom and Many species of fish are also found in this range. 2-64  Second: Marine ecosystems The oceans cover 361 million km, or about 71% of the Earth’s surface. The salinity rate is about 3%, but it varies with depth and geographical location. For example, the evaporation rate is high around the equator, causing a higher rate of salinity than in temperate regions. About 90% of food making and oxygen formation occurs in water, so most life on Earth lives in water The difference in temperature in the sea is small compared to land, so sea environments are more stable. The depth temperature is about 3. 2-65  One of the features of the oceans is the presence of waves due to differences in temperature from one place to another and due to the movement of winds over the seas. The existence of organisms capable of carrying out the process of photosynthesis is limited to areas whose depth does not exceed 200-300 meters because light does not penetrate beyond that distance. Organisms that live below that depth depend on organic waste that falls from organisms that live in the upper regions of the sea 2-66  Marine ecosystems are of three types: Shallow waters system Most shallow marine waters are located on the shores of seas and oceans, and they are small in relation to the volume of ocean water. The organisms that live in this area are much more than those that live in other parts of the oceans. Most fishing sites are located in coastal waters where there are plenty of nutrients coming from the soil. 2-67  Open sea-waters system In these waters, there are various microscopic biological communities found at a depth ranging between 100-200 meters from the sea surface, called planktons, which are composed of algae and bacteria. Various types of fish swim in these waters, which feed on these insects. 2-68  Deep – sea waters system Little light reaches these waters, which lie about 300 meters below sea level. The number of organisms that live in these waters is very small. Many of these organisms have a property called bioluminescence that helps them communicate or attract prey. 2-69 Terrestrial Ecosystems 2-70  There are six types of Terrestrial Ecosystems: A- Tundra It is a treeless ecological region located in the far north of the Earth in the polar region. It is characterized by harsh winters and is covered with snow, so it is known as the frozen desert. The presence of animals is rare, especially in the winter, as the animals remain hidden in their burrows 2-71  A- Tundra During the short summer, the tundra becomes highly productive for both animal and plant life, with long hours of light and warm temperatures. Plants flower and insects hatch in the millions, which in turn form lunch for birds that arrive in large numbers during the short summer breeding season 2-72  B- Coniferous forests These forests are located in the northern hemisphere, but they contain evergreen plants with needle leaves (pine plants). It occupies major parts of Alaska, Canada and Siberia. The plant community is characterized by the dominance of spruce and pine trees. The climate of this region is cold and most of the precipitation falls in the form of snow. It has a variety of animals such as rabbit, snow clog, lynx, squirrels, ibex, black bear and moose. 2-73  C- Deciduous forests It is located in one hemisphere. The climate is humid and moderate, and therefore the plants and animals are diverse. Invertebrates such as beetles, snails, spiders, and ants, as well as snakes and lizards, spread on the forest floor in high density, and there are mice, ground squirrels, and foxes. Large mammals include deer, wild boars, and bears. There are birds that inhabit the forest throughout the year, such as goldfinches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, owls, crows and roosters. 2-74  D- Tropical forests These forests are located almost on the equator and have a suitable climate throughout the year Therefore, the productivity of this ecosystem is very high compared to other ecosystems. Animals and plants are also very diverse, and this is a result of the diversity of food and the availability of suitable housing and environment. There are butterflies, parrots, monkeys, snakes, and many insects, frogs, and lizards 2-75  E - Savannah (grasses of tropical regions) Summers in this region are long and dry Savannas are found in eastern Africa, Australia, and South America, and they are one of the most important grazing areas in the world, as grasses represent the dominant vegetation. There are many animals such as antelope, deer, giraffes, lions, leopards, elephants, ostriches, locusts, zebras and American buffalo. 2-76  F- the desert It is a vast, dry area with little rainfall and high temperature. Therefore, there are few plants and animals, except for a few that can resist these harsh conditions. Therefore, some animals resort to some behaviors, including going out at night to search for food, and some of them cover their bodies with scales. Among the most famous desert animals, we find rodents, reptiles, insects, spiders, hares, and wolves. Desert plants include acacia, baobab, and cactus. 2-77  The environment of Saudi Arabia The Kingdom’s environment includes two sections: (1) Aquatic environment It is the salty water in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf and the fresh water represented by the springs in the eastern and western regions, in addition to small flowing valleys and streams. 2-78  (2) Desert environment It includes most parts of the Kingdom, and perhaps the most important of these deserts are the Rub’ Al-Khali desert, Al-Nfuth, and Al- Dahna desert. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by different and diverse environmental conditions that have led to the diversity of animals on its surface. The Arabian Peninsula has undergone climatic changes that have led to the current form of the Kingdom’s environment. 2-79  If we look closely at the details of the environment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we find it to be a diverse and varied environment. It includes: Sandy deserts in the north and east. * Fertile valleys in the center and tall green mountains in the south and west. * Salt coasts on the Red Sea to the west and the same on the Arabian Gulf to the east. * In these diverse environments live dozens of different species of animals and plants, the likes of which may not be found in the world 2-80 BIODIVERSITY 2-81  BIODIVERSITY is defined as the diversity of all living organisms on Earth, and the interaction between them, starting with microorganisms that we can only see with a microscope, and ending with giant trees and huge whales. Biodiversity exists everywhere, in deserts, oceans, rivers, lakes and forests. It is difficult to know the number of species of living organisms on Earth. Estimates of these species ranged between 5 and 80 million or more, but the most likely number is 10 million species. 2-82  The tropical regions are considered among the richest regions in the world with various types of insects and mammals. Mediterranean countries also have rich collections of plants. Every wild spot in the world is considered a unique treasure with all kinds of living creatures it contains 2-83  Species diversity depends on three components: 1- Species Richness: This means the total number of species. 2- Species Evenness: This means the relative abundance of species. For example: When an environmental habitat contains similar numbers of individuals of all the different species present in that environmental habitat, this case is called isogenic species. 3- It means that a species is the most abundant in the habitat. : Species Dominance 2-84  First - in the economic field: Agricultural biodiversity is considered extremely important in the sustainability and development of agricultural work globally, and its direct contribution to achieving food security for local communities. Wild pastures constitute a major support for the gross national product in many countries of the world. Genetic improvements in Asia have greatly increased the production of wheat and rice from wild varieties 2-85  For Example:One gene from (Ethiopian barley) was used to protect the barley crop in America from the yellow dwarf virus. This generated a return of more than $160 million annually for farmers. The more genetic resources there are, the greater the opportunities available for growth and innovation in the field of agriculture. 2-86  Second - In agriculture and the environment: Every type of living organism is a genetic wealth (gene bank), with the genetic components it contains. Preserving biodiversity helps maintain these banks or environmental resources, including crops, breeds of animals and birds, and many other products 2-87  The development of scientific techniques, especially in the field of biotechnology, opens the way for the transfer of genetic traits not only between different species, but also between distant species, in order to genetically improve vegetable and fruit crops, to make them more resistant to many pests and more productive.Agricultural scientists are also looking to transfer genetic traits that make some plant species able to grow in salty lands or in dry or hot areas 2-88  Third - in ecotourism: Coastal areas, including coral reefs, in Western Asia and the Caribbean generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually in tourism income. The Arab Republic of Egypt generates millions of pounds annually for tourist areas in Sinai from diving to see the coral reefs in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. 2-89  Biodiversity is classified into four categories: 1- Gene diversityThis type includes everything related to the inheritance of the species. 2- Species diversityIt includes all species within a region, although there is variation among species within an ecosystem. 3- Ecosystems diversityThis type is considered the most difficult of all types in terms of measurement, and the reason for this is that there is a noticeable overlap between all the systems it includes, whether primary or secondary. 4- Human cultural diversity. 2-90 2-91 2-92 2-93 2-94 2-95 2-96 2-97 2-98 2-99 2-100 2-101 2-102 2-103 2-104 2-105 2-106 2-107 2-108 2-109 2-110 2-111 2-112 2-113 2-114 2-115