Module 8 - Intro to Biodiversity
8-1 How does biodiversity exist at different scales?
SMALLEST TO LARGEST
Genetic Diversity
A measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population. Genetic diversity can
lead to new species/types (ex. dog breeds) Large populations have a high amount of
variation, small populations have a low amount of variation.
Species Diversity
The number of species in a region or in a particular ecosystem. Taiga has low sd, Tropical
rainforest has high sd.
Habitat Diversity
The variety of habitats that exist in a given ecosystem. A region that has farmland, grasses
and running freshwater provides 3 diverse habitats.
Ecosystem Diversity
The variety of ecosystems in a given region. In China we can find mixes of temperate forest
ecosystems, river ecosystems. More diversity = more species richness.
8-2 How does biodiversity affect responses to environmental stressors?
Consequences of Genetic Diversity
High genetic diversity allows for better response to environmental change compared to low.
Ex. Fish has high genetic diversity for a disease, some may develop genes that resist it. Low
gene diversity results in no resistance development.
Consequences of Habitat Diversity for Species + Genetic
Loss of a habitat leads to loss of specialist species because they need specific conditions to
survive. Loss of more habitats lead to loss of generalist species as they lose options to reside
in.
Consequences of Species Diversity
Higher species diversity results in more productive ecosystems (greater GPP) can recover
better from disasters.
8-3 How can we calculate biodiversity?
Species richness - the number of different species in a given area of an ecosystem. Can give
an approximate sense of the biodiversity. Higher species richness = higher biodiversity.
8-1 How does biodiversity exist at different scales?
SMALLEST TO LARGEST
Genetic Diversity
A measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population. Genetic diversity can
lead to new species/types (ex. dog breeds) Large populations have a high amount of
variation, small populations have a low amount of variation.
Species Diversity
The number of species in a region or in a particular ecosystem. Taiga has low sd, Tropical
rainforest has high sd.
Habitat Diversity
The variety of habitats that exist in a given ecosystem. A region that has farmland, grasses
and running freshwater provides 3 diverse habitats.
Ecosystem Diversity
The variety of ecosystems in a given region. In China we can find mixes of temperate forest
ecosystems, river ecosystems. More diversity = more species richness.
8-2 How does biodiversity affect responses to environmental stressors?
Consequences of Genetic Diversity
High genetic diversity allows for better response to environmental change compared to low.
Ex. Fish has high genetic diversity for a disease, some may develop genes that resist it. Low
gene diversity results in no resistance development.
Consequences of Habitat Diversity for Species + Genetic
Loss of a habitat leads to loss of specialist species because they need specific conditions to
survive. Loss of more habitats lead to loss of generalist species as they lose options to reside
in.
Consequences of Species Diversity
Higher species diversity results in more productive ecosystems (greater GPP) can recover
better from disasters.
8-3 How can we calculate biodiversity?
Species richness - the number of different species in a given area of an ecosystem. Can give
an approximate sense of the biodiversity. Higher species richness = higher biodiversity.
