How does diversity contribute to species survival?

Biodiversity – topic 1

Examining Diversity• A species is a particular group of organisms that

have the same structure and can reproduce with each other.

• Scientists estimate there are between 30 - 100 million kinds of living things living today

• Identified species• 1.5 million species of animals • 350 000 species of plants that have been identified by

biologists. • About 1/5 of species are insects

All living things …

• are made up of cells• need energy• grow and develop• reproduce • have adaptations which suit them to the

specific habitat in which they live.

Biological Diversity

• Refers to all the different types of organisms on Earth.

• There are so many living things, that scientists need to examine them in smaller groups

With your table group, discuss:‘Why do so many different types of organisms

exist on Earth today?Be ready to share!

Measuring BiodiversityMeasuring Biodiversity

• Biological diversity is the number and variety of organisms in an area

• Biologists use the Diversity index to measure biological diversity

• Diversity Index = number of runs / total number of plants Z

How do we classify living things?

• The two-name Latin naming system for all living things was developed by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century, enabling scientists, around the world, to refer to the same species, by the same name.

• This classification system was much more reliable than previous systems, because he used structure, rather than habitat.

• Two words identify each organism. • The 1st represents the organisms genus and the

2nd represents the organisms particular species.

There are so many types of organisms, weclassify them into 5 large groups or Kingdoms.

Animal, Plant, Fungi Kingdoms

• The 5 kingdom classification system can be further subdivided, with each sub-division having its own name.

• Kingdom = Animal• phylum = chordata• class = mamalia• order = carnivora• family = canidae• genus = canis• species = familiaris

Diversity between Ecosystems• Ecosystem: The living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors

in an environment.

What are some biotic and abiotic factors in our school yard?

• There are many different ecosystems on Earth (ex. Boreal forest, prairie, mountains, grasslands, etc.)

• Each ecosystem is very different, and these differences affect the number and type of species that can live there.

Diversity within Ecosystems

• In each ecosystem, there is a wide variety of different living things.

• Living things that share an area and the same resources form a population.

• Different populations of different species live together in communities.

Diversity within Species• Even within the same species, there is a great deal of diversity

Look around you, is everyone in the class the same? Why do you think this is?!

• There are subtle variations between individual members of a population. This is known as genetic diversity.

• These variations between individuals may or may not be visible (ie. Colour, shape, size, blood type, etc)

Variation within speciesZebras have individual stripes and markings.

Some insects have different forms t do different jobs - Polymorphism

• te

Termite queen and soldier

Worker bees and queen

Metamorphism

Some organisms have huge variation between males and females – Sexual DimorphismVariation within SpeciesCardinal

How are species distributed?• There are areas of our planet that have a high number of

different species, and some areas that have very few?• Why do you think this might be?• Where do you think the greatest diversity might be? Lowest?

Niches

• A niche is the role of an organism within a particular ecosystem.

• An organism's niche includes:• What it eats • What eats it • Its habitat • Nesting site, range and habits • What effect it has on the other populations • What effect it has on the environment

Broad and Narrow Niche• In northern Canada there are large populations

of those species found there, but there are not many different plant and animal species.

• Canis lupus, Ursus maritimus

,

• Organisms living in this ecosystem have a broad niche with adaptations that enable them to survive the extreme changes occurring there. These species are considered to be

generalists – able to spread over large areas.

Broad and Narrow Niche

• In contrast, hundreds of thousands of species (in small populations) can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Narrow niche – specialists. Generalists- wide area Generalists- wide area low numbers. low numbers. Specialists- well adapted to specific Specialists- well adapted to specific environmentsenvironments

Do humans have an effect on diversity?

• Do the activity ‘ Exploring Wolf Population Trends’ and answer the questions.

No species can survive by itself

Symbiosis• is a close relationship

between two or more different species

• Sym = together• Bios = life

3 Types of Symbiotic Relationships:

1. Mutualism2. Commensalism3. Parasitism

Mutualism (+, +)

1. When both species in the relationship benefit, it is called mutualism. 1. The honey bee and the flower.

The honeybee obtains nectar and the flower becomes pollinated.

Commensalism (+, 0)

2. One of the species benefit and the other does not, it is called commensalism.

•

Sea birds exhibiting commensalism with a humpback whale. As the whale feeds, it brings a number of small fish to the surface and stuns a number of these. This picture shows how the birds benefit from the whale's efforts without affecting the whale in any way

Parasitism (+, -)

3. A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other species is harmed is called parasitism.

• A tapeworm in a fish’s gut obtains the nutrients but may eventually kill the fish by depriving it of nutrients

Human Tapeworm

Life Cycle of the Tapeworm

Try This!• Barnacles are organisms that attach themselves

to whales to move throughout the different parts of the ocean. They benefit from their relationship with the whales, but the whales are not harmed, nor do they benefit. This type of symbiotic relationship is called … A. mutualism B. mycorrhizaeC. parasitism D. commensalism

What if no one benefits?• Interspecies competition happens when two or more species

need the same resource.• If this happens, for example 2 species compete for the same

food, there is less of it for each species• This can lead to more deaths due to starvation – limiting the

size of each population• This is why each organism needs a niche (remember, a niche is

an organisms role)• The niche of a population in one area might be different from

their niche in a different area due to food and competition• Sometimes, species can divide a resource up so they can all

use it – called resource partitioning

Resource partitioning

Do Now!

• Vocabulary• Symbiosis sheet

Variation Within Species• Individuals in a species can adapt to different situations• Behavioural adaptations are the behavioural changes of

a species that makes the species better able to reproduce and survive.

• Behavioural changes include: mating, migrating, and sleep patterns.

• Some adaptations are structural. Structural adaptations are physical features of an organism that make the species better able to reproduce and survive.

Tree Goats?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQev3UoGp2M

• Polar Bears have adapted their body parts to survive in the Arctic.

• For example, they have short ears and a short tail to reduce heat loss. They have black skin to absorb the maximum heat from the sun.

Variability and Survival

• A healthy ecosystem has a great deal of genetic diversity among the species that inhabit them.

• Variability is essential for species survival. If the environment changes the species with a great deal of variation is more likely to survive.

• Species that are different are more able to resist: disease, new predator, toxic substances, elimination of a food source.

Variation between species

• Lynx and Bobcat

Variation between species

• Eastern honey bee Western honey bee

Variation between species

Do Now!• Activity: Which Characteristics Are Most Common?

Natural Selection proposed by Charles Darwin(1809-1882) He Sailed around the world 1831-1836

Natural selection

1. Why did the two populations develop different traits? Identify specific factors the fish may have had to adapt to, such as food source.

2. If the water level of the lake rose once more allowing the two groups of fish to mix. What factors might prevent them from interbreeding?

3. In the new lake that contains both species of fish, identify the:• Population or populations - • Community or communities – • Niche (be specific) -

• Natural Selection: the environment “selects” which organisms will survive, reproduce and pass on the (“favored”/”selected”) genes.

• Kettlewell’s peppered moth experiment

Peppermoths.weebly.com

Case Study: Peppered Moth• Kettlewell’s peppered moth experiment

• http://www.techapps.net/interactives/pepperMoths.swf

What did Darwin’s Travels reveal

• The diversity of living species was far greater than anyone had previously known!!

• These observations led him to develop the theory of evolution!!

3.How did tortoises and birds differ among the islands of the Galapagos?

• Each island had its own type of tortoises and birds that were clearly different from other islands

Galapagos Turtles

Another Example of Natural Selection

• Dr. Charles Brown studied a colony of swallows for 17 years. During a cold spell 30,000 birds or about half of the colony died of starvation. He wondered why some birds died and others did not. He measured the beaks, wings, and legs of the dead birds and the surviving birds.

• He discovered that the surviving birds were larger (bigger beaks and legs) and the surviving birds were more symmetrical.

• Dr. Brown hypothesized that the bigger birds were selected for survival because they were larger allowing them to store more fat and their symmetry allowed them to forage with less energy loss.

Do Now!

• Activity: Beak of the Finch