Biodiversity.pptx for scuence technology and society

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1. Science, Technology and Society Dr. Portugal A. Carbonel BIODIVERSITY

2. Brief Facts and History FACTS: It was used to replace the terms “Species Diversity and Species Richness.” Short term from the word “Biological Diversity” It is the result of 3.5 Billion Years of evolution. A mass extinction ( 5 major time and minor events recorded) of all living things occurred about 251 million years ago and it took 30 million years before it was able to recover. Humans greatly affect the biodiversity of a region. Biodiversity helps in the evolution of humanity.

3. History Was first used in 1916 by J. Arthur Harris in his book “The Variable Desert,” Scientific American. Raymond F. Dasmann used the term in reference to the richness of living nature (1967) “Natural Diversity” was introduced by John Terborgh (1974) Was introduced by Thomas Lovejoy in 1980 to the scientific community. In 1985, Edward O. Wilson, coined the contracted form “biodiversity” to Dr. Walter G. Rosen a representative of NRC/ NAS project where he introduced the term biodiversity. At the same year the term was also published in an article , “ A New Plan to Conserve the Earths Biota” by Laura Tangley . In 1988 the term “Biodiversity” first appeared in publications.

4. What is biodiversity? Refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystem that compasses to the evolutionary, ecological and cultural processes that sustain life. It is also the variety of all living things and their interactions. It was also defined as to the variety of all living species on one particular region or ecosystem including plants, animals, bacteria and fungi. Biodiversity is the variation among living organism from different sources including terrestrial, marine and desert ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part. Another definition of the term is that it is the measurement of variations of genetic (Genetic Variability), species (Species Diversity) and the ecosystem (Ecosystem Diversity). It is the totality of genes, species and ecosystem of a region. And lastly, Biodiversity describes the richness and variety of life on earth. It is the most complex and important feature of our planet. Without biodiversity, life would not sustain.

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6. Role of biodiversity Biodiversity is essential to the processes that support all life on Earth. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. Humans greatly depends on the natural processes that happen within the ecosystem. E ven bugs and bacteria that we can’t see or may not like the look of it, it is still essential key to the survival of humans. Pollinators such as birds, bees and other insects are estimated to be responsible for a third of the world’s crop production. Without pollinators we would not have apples, cherries, blueberries, almonds and many other foods we eat. Biodiversity is also responsible in helping in the Agriculture sector as it is reliant to the occurrences of invertebrates- they help to maintain the health of the soil crops grow in.  Soil is teeming with microbes that are vital for liberating nutrients that plants need to grow, which are then also passed to us when we eat them. Life from the oceans provides the main source of animal protein for many people. It acts as a natural defense to the harshness brought about by natural phenom and human actions. An example of this are t rees, bushes, wetlands and wild grasslands which naturally slows down water and help soil to absorb rainfall. When they are removed it can increase flooding. Trees and other plants clean the air we breathe and help us tackle the global challenge of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide. Coral reefs and mangrove forests act as natural defenses protecting coastlines from waves and storms.  Many of our medicines, along with other complex chemicals that we use in our daily lives such as latex and rubber, also originate from plants. Spending time in nature is increasingly understood to lead to improvements in people’s physical and mental health. Simply having green spaces and trees in cities has been shown to decrease hospital admissions, reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

7. Types of Biodiversity Examples: a. Animal breeds b. Humans c. Orchids d. Aglaonema Plant e. Fungi or Bacteria Genetic Variability or Genetic Diversity It refers to the variations among the genetic resources of the organism. Every individual of a particular species differs from each other in their genetic constitution. That is why every human looks different from each other. Similarly, there are different varieties in the same species.

8. Importance of genetic diversity Genetic diversity gives rise to different physical attributes to the individual and capacity to adapt to stress, diseases and unfavorable environmental conditions. Environmental changes that are natural or due to human intervention, lead to the natural selection and survival of the fittest. Hence, due to genetic diversity, the varieties that are susceptible, die and the ones who can adapt to changes will survive. Genetic diversity is important for a healthy population by maintaining different varieties of genes that might be resistant to pests, diseases or other conditions. New varieties of plants can be grown by cross-breeding different genetic variants and produce plants with desirable traits like disease resistance, increased tolerance to stress. Genetic diversity reduces the recurrence of undesirable inherited traits. Genetic diversity ensures that at least there are some survivors of a species left.

9. 2. Species diversities Intraspecies Diversity: Also coined as “ intraspecific diversity” which refers to the genetic variation of individuals and populations of the same species. It is based on genetical heritable variation among populations or individuals such Humans having white or black skin, blond or brown hair, blue or green eyes is one of the many examples of intraspecific biodiversity. Interspecies Diversity: I nterspecific biodiversity refers to the diversity of living species among themselves: by their number, their nature, and their relative importance. the number and relative abundance of species found in a given biological organization (population, ecosystem, Earth). Species are the basic units of biological classification and hence, this is the measure most commonly associated with the term ' biodiversity'.We speak of species diversity to describe the diversity of living species. There are millions of living species on Earth. They’re all different and divided into groups depending on their specificities (insects, animals, plants, fungi …). Species diversity is often separated into two categories:

10. Importance of Species Diversity In a healthy ecosystem, diverse and balanced number of species exist to maintain the balance of an ecosystem. In an ecosystem, all the species depend on each other directly or indirectly. So to make a more efficient, productive and sustainable ecosystem, it is important to maintain high species diversity.

11. 3. Ecosystem Diversity Deals with the study of different  ecosystem  in a certain location and their overall effects on humans and the environment as a whole. Ecosystem diversity is defined as a form of diversity between ecosystems within a geographical location. An ecosystem is, in turn, defined as a system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) and the physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit.

12. Biotic and Abiotic Interactions Biotic factors are living things within an ecosystem; such as plants, animals, and bacteria, while abiotic are non-living components; such as water, soil and atmosphere. The way these components interact is critical in an ecosystem.

13. The biotic and the abiotic components interact with one another as a system and are linked to one another via nutrient cycles and energy flows. For instance, energy and nutrients enter the system via the photoautotroph- photosynthetic organisms. They are organisms that carry out photosynthesis, such as plants and green algae. Then, the heterotrophs- individuals, for example, animals, feed on the photoautotrophs. This makes the energy and the nutrients move through the system. The death of these organisms incites decomposition by the decomposers. This process releases the nutrients back to the environment to be re-used by the organisms. The biotic and abiotic components can also serve as environmental (ecological) factors that affect the ecosystem. The biotic components whose biological activity creates an impact in the ecosystem are referred to as the  biotic factors . The  abiotic factors , in turn, include the non-living things and the physical aspects of an ecosystem, such as climate, temperature, and pH. An example of a biotic factor is the extent of  predation  in an ecosystem. If there is an increase in the number of predators, predation activity would likely increase. This, in turn, could significantly lessen the  population density  of their prey. If their prey is a  key species , meaning another group of organisms depends on them for survival, then the decline (or worse, the extinction) of these key species could also lead to the decline (or worse, the extinction) of the organisms relying upon them. As for the abiotic factor, they can regulate the size or the density of a species population. For instance, acid rain, which is unusually acidic precipitation and has high levels of hydrogen ions, can produce detrimental effects to the soil (e.g. leaching) as well as to the plants and aquatic animals that are sensitive to low pH. Apart from pH, other abiotic factors are light, salinity, air, soil or substrate, and temperature. Interactions

14. Processes of the Ecosystem In an ecosystem, energy flows while materials are cycled. These two processes are linked and essential to the structure, function, and biodiversity of an ecosystem. Let’s take a look at the figure to understand them further.

15. Types of Ecosystems

16. 1. TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM -  is one that occurs on land. Examples of land-based ecosystems are forest ecosystems, grassland ecosystems, tundra ecosystems, and desert ecosystems. F orest ecosystem - is one that consists of various plants, particularly trees. Because of the abundance of plants that serve as producers, this ecosystem abounds in life. Not only plants but also animals are teeming in a forest. They are also a great source of fruits, wood, They also help maintain the earth’s temperature. They are also a major carbon sink. Grassland ecosystems - are typically found in tropical or temperate regions. They are dominated by grasses. As such, the animals commonly found in this type of ecosystem are grazing animals, such as cattle, goats, and deer. Tundra ecosystems - are characterized as being treeless and snow-covered. The snow melts briefly in spring and summer, producing shallow ponds. During this time, lichens and flowering plants typically grow. Because of the ice that covers the land in the tundra, this type of ecosystem is important in regulating the earth’s temperature. Desert ecosystems - are the ones occurring in desert habitats. Deserts are typically arid and windy. Some of them contain sand dunes, others, mostly rock. Organisms in the desert are not as diverse as those in forests but they possess adaptations that make them suited to their environment. Plants that are commonly found in the desert are  CAM plants , such as cacti. Desert animals include insects, reptiles, and birds.

17. 2.   FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS - are the aquatic ecosystems that do not contain saltwater. They are home to algae, plankton, insects, amphibians, and fish. There are two major types:  lentic  and  lotic  ecosystems. L entic ecosystem - refers to ecosystems in still waters. Examples include the following: ponds, puddles, and lakes. Lakes, in particular, may form zonation. That is when it becomes very well established that different zones are formed. These zones are as follows: littoral, limnetic, and profundal. The  littoral zone  is the part that is near the shore. Here, light can penetrate up to the bottom. The  limnetic zone  is the zone in which light does not completely penetrate through. The part of the limnetic zone that is penetrated by light is the  photic zone  whereas the zone in which light cannot penetrate through, and therefore is dark, is the  benthic zone . The plants and animals vary in these zones. For instance, rooted plants are found in the littoral zone but not in the limnetic zone. Rather, freely-floating plants are the ones commonly seen on the surface of the limnetic zone. L otic ecosystem -  is an aquatic ecosystem characterized by a freshwater habitat that is freely flowing. That is as opposed to the lentic that is nearly stationary. Examples include rivers and streams. Many plants and animals in these ecosystems have adaptations to help them cope with the force and the different conditions that running water brings.

18. 3. MARINE ECOSYSTEM -  is an aquatic ecosystem that contains saltwater. Examples are the ecosystems in the seas and oceans. The  ocean ecosystems , in particular, are an important source of atmospheric oxygen due to the vast population of autotrophic algae that release oxygen through photosynthesis. Marine ecosystems are regarded as the most abundant type of ecosystem in the world.

19. 4. A RTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM-   is a man-made system, which can be further classified as terrestrial, freshwater, or marine. An example of an artificial ecosystem is a  terrarium . Many man-made ecosystems are built for conservation purposes, aesthetics, and studying biology and ecology.

20. Science and Technology Science - scientific research can provide insights into the ecological importance of various species and ecosystems, leading to conservation efforts that protect biodiversity. Technology - plays a pivotal role in combating biodiversity loss, offering tools like AI, machine learning, robotics, drones, and environmental DNA sequencing for tracking and protecting species. We also see promise for generative AI as a tool for research, analysis, monitoring and conservation . On the other hand, t echnology can also cause harm to biodiversity through activities such as deforestation, pollution, and overfishing

21. Biodiversity to Humans Biological diversity is the resource upon which families, communities, nations and future generations depend. It is the link between all organisms on earth, binding each into an interdependant ecosystem, in which all species have their role.  It is the web of life . The Earth’s natural assets are made up of plants, animals, land, water, the atmosphere AND humans! Together we all form part of the planet’s ecosystems, which means if there is a biodiversity crisis,  our health and livelihoods  are at risk too. But we are currently  using 25% more natural resources than the planet can sustain As a result species, habitats and local communities are under pressure or direct threats (for example from loss of access to fresh water). Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on all our lives. Put simply, reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is in irregular or short supply.

22. Humans to Biodiversity Positive side H uman impacts on the environment include reforestation, using clean energy, and protecting natural preserves and forests to maintain the natural biodiversity. Protection of habitats and even supporting protected growth of endangered species has allowed for some ecosystems to survive or prolong survival. Negative side Changes to how we use the land and waters. Both our lands and our seas contain many different ecosystems, and these are affected by business actions. Overexploitation and unsustainable use. We contribute to Climate change. Increased pollution. Invasive species

23. Preservations efforts We can  participate in biodiversity conservation  by increasing our knowledge of environmental issues, increasing our awareness of the impacts of biodiversity loss, and increasing support for government policies and actions that conserve our valuable ecosystems. We can become educators and role models as stewards of the environment by aiding in the recovery of species at risk and preventing other species from becoming at risk. Habitat stewardship consists of activities that range from enhancing the quality of soil, water, air and other natural resources to monitoring and conserving wildlife species and their habitat by  donating the property to a land trust.

24. Thank you for listening Presented to you by: RAYNER JOHN S. SANCHEZ JEFF RYAN SABLAON