BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITYBiodiversityBiodiversity or biological diversitybiological diversity is usually defined as:

Variation of life forms Variation of life forms (in time and space)(in time and space) in all main in all main organized levelsorganized levels

BiodiversityBiodiversity is necessary for keeping life on Earth and it necessary for keeping life on Earth and it has important meaning for existence and prosperity of has important meaning for existence and prosperity of

mankindmankind!!

- It has lasted for 4 billion years -- It has lasted for 4 billion years -

Distribution of biodiversity on Distribution of biodiversity on EarthEarth

ročně je nově objeveno ca 10 000 druhů organismů (hlavně hmyzu)

low high

The level of The level of biodiversity in biodiversity in countriescountries

Types of diversityTypes of diversity

geneticgenetic

speciesspecies

ecosystemecosystem

culturalcultural

Genetic diversityGenetic diversity

Genetic diversityGenetic diversity – diversity of organisms diversity of organisms within specieswithin species

BIODIVERZITABIODIVERZITA

Genetic diversity influences:Genetic diversity influences:

Species diversity and ecosystemSpecies diversity and ecosystem

diversitydiversity

Genetically modified organismsGenetically modified organisms

• genetically modified organisms genetically modified organisms (GMO)(GMO), e.g. soya, corn, tomato, rice; Atlantic salmon

manipulation with genetic diversity – thanks to artificial selection the people have risen the diversity during last 10 000 years

Species diversitySpecies diversity

Species richness

•  considering biodiversity all forms of life are considering biodiversity all forms of life are importantimportant, not only remarkable plant or animal species, but also less remarkable species of fungi, bacteria or algae which are usually not possible to see with naked eye

Ecosystems with the highest Ecosystems with the highest species diversityspecies diversity

Coral reefCoral reefTropical Tropical rainforestrainforest

Tropical Tropical rainforestrainforest (Puerto Rico)

Ecosystem diversityEcosystem diversity

On the contrary to genetic or species diversity it also includes non-biotic partsnon-biotic parts (geological basis, climate)

Changes of biodiversity in timeChanges of biodiversity in time

The loss of biodiversityThe loss of biodiversity is is eextremelyxtremely dangerous because it dangerous because it is irreversibleis irreversible → it represents → it represents grave grave global problem of global problem of mankindmankind!!

Main agents threatening Earth Main agents threatening Earth biodiversitybiodiversity

Exponentially growing human population and its Exponentially growing human population and its consumptionconsumption

Human activitiesHuman activities agriculture fishing industry urban development international trade

• the loss or degradation of biotopes

• environment pollution • changes in soil usage

• fragmentation of habitats

Excessive usage of natural resources

Introduction Introduction of invasive of invasive speciesspecies

••the loss of biological diversity the loss of biological diversity • extinction of species and populations • extinction of species and populations • degradation of ecosystems • degradation of ecosystems

• erosion of genetic • erosion of genetic diversity and evolutional potential diversity and evolutional potential

• • the loss of ecosystem servicesthe loss of ecosystem services

Cultural diversityCultural diversity

• Relationships among people and to the nature around (ways of using accessible sources)

•Knowledge and practices of original inhabitants have huge huge impact on knowing and keeping of biodiversity and impact on knowing and keeping of biodiversity and sustainable development of human societysustainable development of human society

•On the contrary, decrease of cultural diversitydecrease of cultural diversity (especially because of local community disappearance) is connected with the loss of precious knowledge about local biodiversity