BiodiversityBiodiversity

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Evolution has provided Evolution has provided a great diversity of life a great diversity of life on Earthon Earth

Ecosystems are Ecosystems are populated by many populated by many species with their own species with their own nichesniches

What is biodiversity?What is biodiversity?

A measurement of the A measurement of the degree to which degree to which species vary in an species vary in an ecosystemecosystem

More biodiversity More biodiversity usually means more usually means more stabilitystability

Ecosystem StabilityEcosystem Stability

In an established In an established ecosystem, population ecosystem, population sizes tend to increase sizes tend to increase and decrease in and decrease in predictablypredictably

Over time they remain Over time they remain stablestable

Species interact and Species interact and depend on each other depend on each other

Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity

Upsets stabilityUpsets stability Loss of a population Loss of a population

that fills a nichethat fills a niche May be catastrophic to May be catastrophic to

the ecosystemthe ecosystem

Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity

May take many years May take many years for the environment to for the environment to return to its former selfreturn to its former self

Interactions between Interactions between some species may some species may have been so great have been so great that they may never that they may never returnreturn

For exampleFor example

Kaibab Deer: No Predators Kaibab Deer: No Predators Population Population Explosion Explosion Food Supply Shortage Food Supply Shortage Starvation Starvation

But this had other effects on the environmentBut this had other effects on the environment

FarmingFarming

Biodiversity and HumansBiodiversity and Humans

Variety of genetic Variety of genetic material that may material that may prove valuable. prove valuable.

May provide medicines May provide medicines and insecticidesand insecticides

When biodiversity is When biodiversity is lost, sometimes it is lost, sometimes it is lost for good. lost for good.