7Biodiversity

An introduction to the basic concepts

Scientific namesCaretta caretta

Calendula officinalis var. prolifera

Panthera tigris sumatrae

scientific name

specific epithetgenus

specific epithetgenus variety

specific epithet

genus subspecies

Notice that the first part of the name (genus) is always capitalized while the second part of the name (specific epithet) is always lower case. Scientific names are italicized.

Species names are in Latin and are italicized. The scientifi c names of some North American species are listed below:

Black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus

White-tailed prairie dog Cynomys leucurus

Wild strawberry Fragaria virginianus

Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea

Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida

Grey-headed coneflower Ratibida pinnata

Grey wolf Canis lupus

Coyote Canis latrans

Dog Canis lupus familiaris

ClassificationWhere does species fit in the

overall classification scheme?

Domain

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/evo_04

3 domainsArchaeaBacteriaEukaryota

6 Kingdoms

Eubacteria—”normal” bacteria

Archaebacteria—the extreme bacteria

Protista—algae, single-celled critters, seaweeds

Fungi—mushrooms, molds, yeast, &c.

Plantae—the plants

Animalia—the animals

Number of Species on Earth????

About 2.0 million identified & named

10-100+ million estimated

Number of Species on Earth?

Group # of Species identified

Bacteria 5000Fungi 47,000Algae 27,000Mosses & liverworts 17,000Conifers 750Flowering plants 250,000Protozoans 31,000Sponges 5000Corals & jellyfish 9000Roundworms & earthworms 24,000Crustaceans 40,000Insects 755,000Other Arths & minor inverts 135,000Mollusks 50,000Starfish 6100Fish 20,000Amphibians 4200Reptiles 6300Birds 10,000Mammals 4200

Source: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu

bacteriafungiprotists

plants

an-imal

s

bacteria

fungi

protists

plants

animals

Species by Kingdom

# of known species

Bacteria

Fungi

Algae

Mosses & liverworts

Conifers

Flowering plants

Protozoans

Sponges

Corals & jellyfishRoundworms & earthworms

Crustaceans

Insects

Other Arths & minor inverts

Mollusks

StarfishFish

AmphibiansReptiles

Birds Mammals # of Species identifiedBacteria

Fungi

Algae

Mosses & liverworts

Conifers

Flowering plants

Protozoans

Sponges

Corals & jellyfish

Roundworms & earthworms

Crustaceans

Insects

Other Arths & minor inverts

Mollusks

Starfish

Fish

Amphibians

Reptiles

Birds

Mammals

spongescorals & jellyfish round & earthworms

arthropods

mol-lusks

starfish

vertebrates

sponges

corals & jellyfish

round & earthworms

arthropods

mollusks

starfish

vertebrates

The Animal Kingdom

Question #1

What is Biodiversity?

Question #2

What factors determine the biodiversity of an area?

Biodiversity

bio = life

diversity = range of different kinds; variation

Biodiversity

But…biodiversity is NOT just a list of the different species of living things in a habitat.

Biodiversity is the interactions of all of the living things in a habitat. It is the relationships—feeding, competition, cooperation, parasitism, commensalism, etc.

Biodiversity Why is biodiversity important?

Stability & resiliency of the ecosystem

Ecosystem services! “The conditions and

processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life.” (Daily, 1997)

What ARE ecosystem services???

Ecosystem services Filtration of air & water

Control of flooding/water levels

Absorption of wastes

Maintenance of soil fertility

Maintenance of livable climates

Pollination of crops & other vegetation

Control of potential pests

Provision of genetic resources

Production of food & fiber

Cycling of nutrients

Aesthetics http://www.ecosystemservicesproject.org/html/publications/docs/Internet_forum_Nature_and_Society.pdf