Measuring Biodiversity

Measuring Biodiversity

BiodiversityBiodiversity

• The number and variety of life forms found within a specific region.

• In order for biodiversity to remain high, diverse ecosystems need to remain sustainable.

• Preserving and protecting species and the ecosystems they inhabit are important to maintaining biodiversity on Earth.

• The number and variety of life forms found within a specific region.

• In order for biodiversity to remain high, diverse ecosystems need to remain sustainable.

• Preserving and protecting species and the ecosystems they inhabit are important to maintaining biodiversity on Earth.

Measuring BiodiversityMeasuring Biodiversity

• Canopy fogging• Quadrat sampling• Transect sampling• Netting

• Canopy fogging• Quadrat sampling• Transect sampling• Netting

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity Hotspots

• Places where there are exceptionally large numbers of species in relatively small areas.

• Some in Ontario: Carolinian Canada, Leitrim Wetlands (Ottawa) and Georgian Bay Biosphere

• Many more in tropical areas of South America, Africa and Asia

• Places where there are exceptionally large numbers of species in relatively small areas.

• Some in Ontario: Carolinian Canada, Leitrim Wetlands (Ottawa) and Georgian Bay Biosphere

• Many more in tropical areas of South America, Africa and Asia

CommunitiesCommunities• Community: is all the populations of the different

species that interact in a specific area or ecosystem.• Dominant species: are so abundant that they have

the most biomass of any community member (usually a producer).

• Keystone species: a species that can greatly affect population numbers and the health of an ecosystem. Not usually abundant, can be plants or animals.

• Ecosystem Engineers: are a species that cause dramatic changes to landscapes and it creates a new ecosystem.

• Succession: the series of changes in an ecosystem that happens over time after a disturbance.

• Community: is all the populations of the different species that interact in a specific area or ecosystem.

• Dominant species: are so abundant that they have the most biomass of any community member (usually a producer).

• Keystone species: a species that can greatly affect population numbers and the health of an ecosystem. Not usually abundant, can be plants or animals.

• Ecosystem Engineers: are a species that cause dramatic changes to landscapes and it creates a new ecosystem.

• Succession: the series of changes in an ecosystem that happens over time after a disturbance.