Name: biodiversity across genes, species, and ecosystems
Uploaded: 2019-03-11T09:21:43.000Z
Duration: 1 min 19 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

north-carolina-k-12-science-standard-course-of-study

NC K-12 Science Standard Course of Study

9-12

Biology

ecosystems-interactions-energy-and-dynamics

Ecosystems- Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

LS.Bio.5.2

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is multidimensional and represents not only the number of species, but also the abundance and ecological function of each species.

For example, this lake is composed of a very diverse variety of fish, including four different known species inhabiting four different ecological niches: surface plankton eaters, fish predators, algae scrapers, and scavenging bottom feeders.

Other important indices of biodiversity include both genetic and ecosystem diversity. On an organismic and population level, the future success of the entire species depends on the amount of genetic variation present in individual genomes within the population.

On a higher level, ecosystems can support many different species. An ecosystem loss can result in a drastic decline in biodiversity. For instance, in a marine ecosystem, loss of coral species due to climate change results in the loss of the numerous fish, invertebrate, and plant species that inhabit reef ecosystems.

what is biodiversity?

Biodiversity describes the variety of living things at multiple organizational levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity includes all branches of the evolutionary tree from single-celled prokaryotic organisms, bacteria, and archaea, to the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants; animals; fungi; and protists. To date, there have been about 1.75 million species identified, and new species are discovered every week.

Biodiversity also includes the interactions that connect organisms to each other and to the environment in which they live. Organisms have evolved together to create the intricate webs of life that involve both cooperative (symbiotic) relationships and predator-prey relationships. Biodiversity is, therefore, a much broader concept than the simple collection of species to which it is often reduced.

All living things depend on the existence and activities of other living things. Groups of populations of different species interacting with one another and with their physical environment constitute an ecosystem. Ecosystems themselves are very diverse: for example forests, ponds, deserts, coral reefs, and even the human intestinal flora. Scientists who study biodiversity are not only interested in the number of different species in an ecosystem, but also in how many individuals of each species is present. Studying biodiversity indicates in which ways organisms are interacting with one another and how local human activities or global climate change are affecting the system in question.

The health of a species and its ability to survive in the face of changing environmental conditions is dependent on biodiversity at the genetic level. Small changes in the genetic makeup of specific individuals within a population can allow them to succeed where others may fail. In sexually reproducing species, genetic biodiversity is essential for maintaining the health of the species so that mating can occur between genetically dissimilar individuals. It is well established that inbreeding results in the expression of unfavorable traits, decreasing the fitness of the species. For this reason, maintaining the genetic biodiversity of a species is essential before it reaches a level of critical endangerment.

Biodiversity describes the variety of living things at multiple organizational levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity ...

Education

JoVE Core

Ecology

Biodiversity and Conservation

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

biodiversity across genes, species, and ecosystems

Biodiversity is the variety of living things at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. It includes not only how many kinds of organisms exist, but also how they are related and how they interact with the world around them.

Species diversity spans the full evolutionary tree. It includes single-celled prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea, as well as the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants, animals, fungi, and protists. About 1.75 million species have been identified so far, and scientists discover new species every week.

Biodiversity also includes the links between organisms and their environment. Living things form cooperative symbiotic relationships and predator-prey relationships, and these interactions create the web of life. Groups of different populations interacting with one another and with the physical environment form an ecosystem.

Ecosystems can be very different from one another. Forests, ponds, deserts, coral reefs, and even the human intestinal flora are all examples. Scientists study not only how many species are present, but also how many individuals of each species live in a place. This helps show how organisms interact and how human activity or global climate change may affect the system.

Genetic diversity is another important part of biodiversity. Small differences in the genetic makeup of individuals can help some survive when others cannot. In sexually reproducing species, genetic diversity helps keep the species healthy because mating can occur between genetically dissimilar individuals. Inbreeding can lead to unfavorable traits and lower fitness, so preserving genetic diversity is important before a species reaches critical endangerment.

Biodiversity Across Genes, Species, and Ecosystems

biodiversity-across-genes-species-and-ecosystems

what is weather?

How Sunlight Shapes Daily Weather

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global climate change

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Biodiversity is the variety of living things at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. It includes not only how many kinds of organisms exist, but also how they are related and how they interact with the world around them. Species diversity spans the full evolutionary tree. It includes single-celled prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea, as well as the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants, animals, fungi, and protists. About 1.75 million species have been identified so far, and scientists...

threats to biodiversity

How Humans Change Biodiversity

Human activity is changing biodiversity and pushing Earth toward a sixth extinction event. Earlier mass extinctions ended many species, and then new species spread into the changed environment. Today, the Holocene epoch is seeing a mass extinction linked to human actions, and it is often called the Anthropocene. Human numbers and human biomass show how large this impact has become. In 2019, the human population reached 7.7 billion and is projected to rise to 10 billion by 2060. By biomass,...

conservation of declining populations

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biodiversity and human values

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what is conservation biology?

Protecting Biodiversity in Conservation Biology

Conservation biology is the science of protecting biodiversity and keeping ecosystems healthy. It looks at how living things, habitats, and human needs are connected. The goal is to preserve biodiversity so ecosystems can continue to function well. Healthy ecosystems provide people with important natural resources. These include food, medicines, and building materials. Ecosystems also deliver key services, such as cleaning air and water. Evidence shows that these services depend on...

what is climate?

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Climate describes the usual weather conditions in a place over a long period of time. The idea is simple: climate is what you expect, while weather is what you get. Climate is shaped by geographic factors such as latitude, terrain, and how close an area is to bodies of water. Weather and climate are related, but they work on different time scales. Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place. Climate is the average pattern of weather over much longer periods. Because of...

sustainable development

Protecting Oceans for Sustainable Development

Sustainable development depends on protecting oceans while meeting human needs. As the human population grows and uses more resources, people must stay aware of the planet’s natural limits. The goal is to improve life now without taking away the resources future generations will need. Long-term sustainability depends on understanding how human actions affect ecological systems. Oceans are a major part of this balance. They provide food for people, produce much of the atmosphere’s oxygen, and...

conservation of small populations

Saving Small Populations with Genetic Diversity

Small populations can be hard to save because they often lose genetic diversity. When variation is low, a species has fewer traits that may help it adapt to climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. That makes extinction more likely. Large populations usually have a better chance of surviving new stresses. They are more likely to include individuals with genetic variants that are helpful in changing conditions. Small populations are much less likely to contain this kind...

habitat fragmentation

How Fragmented Habitats Affect Wildlife

Habitat fragmentation breaks one continuous habitat into smaller, separate patches. Human land conversion is a major cause of this change, and slower geological shifts in the physical environment can also fragment habitats. The process usually follows the same stages: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition. Perforation and dissection often begin during land development. Perforation happens when undeveloped land is cleared for something like a home, and dissection...

key terms and concepts

Explore biodiversity at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels, plus the interactions, ecosystems, and genetic diversity that help species survive.

Biodiversity Across Genes, Species, and Ecosystems | JoVE K12

JoVE Core series brings biology to life through over 300 concise and easy-to-understand animated video lessons that explain key concepts in biology, plus more than 150 scientist-in-action videos that show actual research experiments conducted in today’s laboratories.

biology

Earth and Environmental Science

Earth's Systems

ESS.EES.4.4

ESS.EES.4.5

Pennsylvania State Academic Standards

Life Science

interdependent-relationships-in-ecosystems

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

3.1.9-12.N

3.1.9-12.V

Louisiana Student Standards for Science

High School

Life Sciences

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy And Dynamics

HS-LS2-1

HS-LS2-7

Environmental Science

Environmental Awareness And Protection

HS-EVS2-1

Personal Responsibilities

HS-EVS3-1

Human Sustainability

HS-ESS3-3

ohios-learning-standards-and-model-curriculum

Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum

Diversity And Interdependence Of Life

Biodiversity

Ecosystems

Loss of diversity

Tennessee Academic Standards

Biological Change: Unity and Diversity

BIO1.LS4.3

Virginia  Standards of Learning

HIgh School

BIO.8

BIO.8.d

LS.7

LS.7.a

Minnesota Academic Standards in Science

Earth and Space Science

2.2.1 9E.2.2.1.3

2.1.1 9L.2.1.1.2

4.2.2 9L.4.2.2.1

Arizona Science Standards

HS.E1

HS.E1U3.14

HS+E.E1

HS+E.E1U3.11

new-jersey-student-learning-standards-for-science

New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

HS-LS2-2

Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

HS-LS4-6

Earth and Human Activity

HS-ESS3-1

HS-ESS3-4

HS.L2

HS.L2U3.18

HS+B.L4

HS+B.L4U1.2

HS.L4

HS.L4U1.27

Alabama Course of Study Science

Ecosystems: Interactions Energy and Dynamics

9-12.B.2.9

9-12.B.2.10

Unity and Diversity

9-12.EVS.2.3.a

Next Generation Science Standards

HS-LS2-5

HS-LS2-6

heredity-inheritance-and-variation-of-traits

Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Earth’s Systems

HS-ESS2-6

Florida Department of Education

SC.912.L.15

SC.912.L.15.3

SC.912.L.17

SC.912.L.17.8

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

BIO.13

BIO.13.D

south-carolina-college-and-career-ready-science-standards

South Carolina College and Career Ready Science Standards

B-LS2-2.

B-LS2-7.

B-LS4-6.

Earth and Space Science (ESS)

E-ESS3-1.

E-ESS3-2.

E-ESS3-3.

E-ESS3-4.

Georgia Standards of Excellence

SEV2.

SEV2.a

new-york-state-science-learning-standards

New York State Science Learning Standards

matter-and-energy-in-organisms-and-ecosystems

Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems

HS-LS2-5.

HS-LS2-2.

HS-LS2-7.

Earth and Space Sciences

HS-ESS2-7.

SEV5.

SEV5.c

Entomology

SEN5.

SEN5.a

Oceanography

SO7.

SO7.1

SEC1.

SEC1.c

SB5.a

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Biodiversity Across Genes, Species, and Ecosystems

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