Biodiversity

Biodiversity
What is all
about?

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atch?v=GK_vRtHJZu4
 The Philippines is considered as one of the
world’s biodiversity hot spots. Based on a
study conducted in 2010 by Conservation
International, only about 7% of our
original forests remains. In the recently
released Red List of Threatened and
Extinct Species by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
many of our plant and animal species are
classified as endangered or critically
endangered.
 Our country houses an astounding
multitudes of species. Most of these
species are endemic or native to our
country.
 Our country ranks as fourth highest in
terms of the number of threatened
species in South and Southeast Asia
(IUCN Red List of 2012) after Malaysia
(ranked highest), Indonesia, and India.

 Why are species disappearing? Why is it

happening to the Philippines, a country
known for its rich biodiversity?
Biodiversity
 A measure of the biological richness of an
area taking into account the number of
species, community complexity and genetic
variation within populations

 The amount of biological or living diversity

per unit area. It includes the concepts of
species diversity, habitat diversity and
genetic diversity

 It is a measure of the species richness. This

is a product of the number of different
species and their relative abundance
Biodiversity
 According to World Wide Fund (WWF) for
Nature an international non-
governmental organization dedicated to
protecting the environment, “Biological
diversity” is the resource upon which
families, communities, nations, and
future generations depend. It is a “web
of life.”
 The International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN), considered as the
world’s oldest and largest global
environmental organization, defines it as
the “Foundation of life on Earth.”
Each Species and Process…
 Is key to the overall function of earth
 In general Diversity = Stability
 Biodiversity is
 Nature’s insurance policy against change
 The source of all natural capital for human
use
 The way chemical materials are cycled and
purified
 The end result of millions of years of
evolution and irreplaceable
Biodiversity
It comes from the Greek word
bios (life) and the Latin word
diversitas (variety). The term
biodiversity was originally
derived from the terms biological
diversity. It was coined by
Raymond F. Dasmann in 1985
and was introduced to the science
communities by Thomas E.
Lovejoy.
Species Diversity

 Isthe number
of species or
organisms per
unit area
found in
different
habitats of
the planet.
Species Diversity
 Species is a
set of
individuals
that have the
same distinct
characteristics
and able to
breed and
produce viable
offspring
under normal
conditions
Species Diversity

 To date,
taxonomists have
formally named
and classified as
close to about 2
million species
 Many more
unknown
 10 million
species or more
Biodiversity of Species
 Species Diversity

 Simpson’s diversity index

is a good indicator
 A diversity index is a
mathematical measure of
species diversity in a
community. Diversity
indices provide more
information about
community composition
than simply species
richness (i.e., the number
of species present); they
also take the relative
abundances of different
species into account
Species Diversity
 Diversity indices
provide important
information about rarity
and commonness of
species in a
community. The ability
to quantify diversity in
this way is an
important tool for
biologists trying to
understand community
structure
 .Simpson's diversity
index (D) is a simple
mathematical measure
that characterizes
species diversity in a
community
Species Diversity

 The spread of
individuals
between
species is more
important than
the total
number of
individuals in a
habitat.
Species diversity

 Product of two
variables:
 Species richness
(number of
species)
 Species evenness
(relative
proportions)
Diversity includes

 High values of “D” suggests a stable

and ancient site
 A low value of “D” could suggest
pollution, recent colonization, or
agricultural management
 Index normally used in studies of
vegetation but can be applied to
comparisons of diversity of any
species
Genetic Diversity

 Is the total number of genetic

characteristics of a specific species
within a population.
Genetic Diversity
 It refers to the sum total of genetic
information contained in the genes of
organisms
 larger population = greater genetic
diversity
Genetic Diversity
 Also referred to as genetic
variability
How does diversity exist?
 Natural Selection = survival of the
fittest
 Fitness = a measure of reproductive
success
 If all individuals are variable
 And populations produce large
numbers of offspring without
increase in population size
 And resources are limited
 And traits are heritable
Genetic Diversity
 Low genetic
diversity and
resulting poor
sperm quality
has made
breeding and
survivorship
difficult for
cheetahs.
Moreover, only
about 5% of
cheetahs survive
to adulthood
 Habitat Diversity
 It refers to the measure of the number of
different kinds of ecosystems in an area
or
 Range of different habitat per unit are in
an ecosystem or biome
 (niches per unit area).

If habitat diversity is conserved than this usually leads

to the conservation of species and genetic diversity.
Habitat Diversity
 Variety of forests, deserts, grasslands,
lakes, oceans, coral reefs, wetlands, and
other biological communities,
 (niches per unit area).
Habitat Diversity

 Most important range of niches

 High genetic diversity
 More diverse species more genetic
variation
Biodiversity Loss
 1.Extinction of Species
 Extinction means that the last individual
belonging to a particular species is gone
forever.
 Natural extinction –if the species of
organisms is lost every 1,000 years.
 higher than natural extinction rate. It is
caused by human activities. Scientists
have estimated that by the year 2050
about 60,000 plants species and
between 660,000 and 1,860,000 animal
species will be threatened or extinct as
Biodiversity Loss
consequence of the impacts of human
activities.
 2. Loss of Specific Habitats
 3. Loss of Genetic Variations Within Species
Genetic variation plays an important role in
the survival and ability of the species to
adapt to changing environments. The higher
the genetic variation, the greater the chance
of the species to survive. Species with less
genetic variations are at a greater risk of
being eliminated because of their inability to
cope with the changing environment.
Causes of Extinction

 Natural Causes of Extinction

 Climate change refers to seasonal changes
over a long period of time
 Changes in landscape like melting of the
snow and glaciers, diastrophic movements
(uplifts landmasses and expose water
dwelling species into the surface) can
change the conditions of the species’
habitats.
Cont. Natural Causes of
Extinction

Acid precipitation
Diseases/Epidemic
Meteoric Impact/Cosmic Radiation
Spread of Invasive Species
Cont. Causes of Extinction
 Anthropogenic/Man-made Causes of
Extinction
 Habitat Destruction
 Pollution
 Introduction of Invasive Species
 Commercial Hunting/Harvesting and
Hunting for Sports
Cont. Causes of Extinction

 Other Causes
 Superstition
 Pet trade
 Government policies that encourage
forestry and agriculture
 Value of biodiversity is ignored
 Global trading system
continuation
 Local extinction or extirpation-a species
may be extinct in a particular area but
continues to exist elsewhere.
 Extant species are species that are not
extinct. Extant species that are
threatened by extinction or near
extinction are called threatened or
endangered species
 Functionally extinct species are those
preserved and maintained only in zoos and
other artificial habitats because they are
no longer found in the wild.
Why is biodiversity important?
 Ecological Value
 Biodiversityfunctions as buffer against
climatic events. It functions as the
carbon dioxide sink and helps maintain
the normal carbon dioxide concentration
of the atmosphere
 Species absorb and process waste
materials to make them non-toxic. They
also help filter waterborne and airborne
pollutants.
 Speciespollinate flowers, which are
important in fruit and crop production
Cont. Why is biodiversity
important?
 Ecological Value
 Species fill specific niches and habitats
to make ecosystems stable and
functioning.
 Interactionsof different soil organisms
contribute to soil formation and soil
fertility.
 Coral reefs and mangroves that protect
coastlines from strong tropical storms.
Cont. Why is biodiversity
important?

 Economic Value
Food Sources
Source of Pharmaceutical Products
About 1,200 plants species have
pest-controlling property so they
are being commercially developed.
Cont. Why is biodiversity
important?
 Ethical and Aesthetic Value
The landscapes and seascapes
provide enjoyment to people
Species add richness and beauty to
the landscape and enable people to
enjoy nature
Each species is unique and has the
right to exist
People are nature’s steward.
Biodiversity: Why should we
care?
 Diverse ecosystems are more stable and
more healthy
 More resistant to damage from factors
like climate change and spread of disease
 Provides important ecological services to
humans
 Biodiversity is useful to us as humans
 Recreation

 Food

 Goods
 Medicine
Ecological Services of
Biodiversity
 Flow of material, energy in the
biosphere
 Photosynthesis

 Pollination

 Soil
formation and
maintenance
 Nutrient cycling
 Moderation of weather
extremes
 Purification of air and water
 Important “stuff” From biodiversity
 Food, fuel, ecosystems, species, fiber, lumber, paper….
 90% of all food crops
 40% of all medicines and 85% of all antibiotics

Willow Tree - Aspirin

Pacific Yew – Taxol

(cancer drug)
Hot spots

 Biodiversity hotspot – a region with

a high level of biodiversity that is
under threat from human activities.
The 19 Most Biodiverse countries in
the world.
What is the Problem with this?
Biodiversity Hotspots need special
consideration
HOTSPOTS:
 These areas need emergency conservation
attention
 Especially rich in endemic plant and animal
species (found nowhere else in the world)
 They cover on 1.4% of world land area
 Mostly tropical forests
 Contain 60% of identified terrestrial
biodiversity
 55% of all primates, 22% of all carnivores
 1.1 billion people living in poverty near
these sites
 $500 million annually would go far to ensure
their preservation
 Projected Status of Biodiversity
1998–2018
Arctic Circle

60° EUROPE
NORTH
ASIA
AMERICA
30°N

Tropic of Cancer Atlantic AFRICA Pacific

Pacific Ocean Ocean
Ocean
0° 150° 120° 90° 30°W 0° 60°E 90° 150°
SOUTH Indian
Tropic of Capricorn AMERICA Ocean AUSTRALIA

30°S

60° Antarctic Circle

ANTARCTICA
Critical and endangered Threatened Stable or intact
Solutions to Destruction of
Biodiversity
 Protecting the species
 Preserving and Protecting the Ecosystems
 Laws and Treaties- Example R.A. #9147
Wildlife Resources Conservation and
Protection Act- an important measure to
ensure environmental sustainability.
Example of Treaty is the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) is a comprehensive conservation
treaty that regulates and monitors the
commercial trade of species that are at risk
of becoming endangered.
Thank You!!!