Biodiversity
The term “biodiversity” is a contraction of the phrase
“biological diversity”.
Biodiversity means the richness and variety of life - of
genes, species and ecosystems.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the
essential interdependence of all living things
 Biodiversity maintains the health of the earth
and its people.
• It provides us with food and medicine and
contributes to our economy.
• It tells us a lot about the health of the
biosphere.
• The greater the variety of species, the healthier
the biosphere.
There are 3 components of biodiversity:
1. Diversity of genes
Chihuahuas, Beagles, and Rottweilers are all the
same species which are dogs —but they're not
the same because there is variety in their genes.
2. Diversity of number of species
For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and
meadow beauties are all different species.
3. Variety of ecosystems
Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers are all Freshwater
Ecosystems.
Rocky coast, Sand Dune, Estuary, Salt Marsh,
Coral Reef are all Marine Ecosystems
ECOSYSTEM
“A self-contained community of microorganisms,
animals and plants, that interact with each other and
with their physical environment.”
Within an ecosystem there can be many HABITATS
• This is the physical and chemical description of
where a creature lives...
HABITATS might describe:
• The NAME of the place where the creature
lives.
Ex. Arctic Canada is the habitat of the polar
bear Ursa maritima.
• The DOMINANT VEGETATION of the place
where the creature lives.
Ex. Heather moorland is the habitat of the
grouse.
• The TYPE of place where the creature lives.
Ex. Species of fish like Pike (Esox lucius) are
found in freshwater lakes and ponds.
A SPECIES is:
1. A group of morphologically similar creatures
which can:
• Interbreed to produce fertile offspring
• Are ‘reproductively isolated’.
• Extinct creatures - ex T. rex
• Creatures who breed asexually - ex bacteria
• Creatures who can’t be tested ethically - ex
Man x Chimp
2. Creatures who are related through PHYLOGENY:
• Similar DNA
• Similar proteins ex. in blood
• Similar biochemistry
• Similar embryology
Sustainability
The ability to maintain ecological processes over long
periods of time.
• Sustainability of an ecosystem is the ability of
that ecosystem to maintain its structure and
function over time in the face of external stress.
• Is strongly linked to ecosystem health.
• The more sustainable an ecosystem is, the
healthier it is because it is able to “deal” with
external stress better (i.e. limiting factors).
Biodiversity and Sustainability
• The biodiversity of an ecosystem contributes to
the sustainability of that ecosystem.
• Higher/more biodiversity = more sustainable.
• Lower/less biodiversity = less sustainable.
• High biodiversity in an ecosystem means that
there is a great variety of genes and species in
that ecosystem.
 • A great variety of genes and species means that
the ecosystem is better able to carry out natural
processes in the face of external stress.
• Thus, the ecosystem is more sustainable.

• The more sustainable an ecosystem is, the

better it is for the environment and for people.
• People use ecosystems as sources of food,
medicine and economy.
• Thus, it is in everyone’s best interest to increase
the sustainability of ecosystems.

Example:
• The greater the variety of genes and species of
fish, plants and animals in the Lake Winnipeg
ecosystem, the more biodiversity.
• Higher biodiversity will increase the
ecosystem’s sustainability
• Why is this important?

We rely on Lake Winnipeg’s ecosystem for many things:

– fish for food and commercial use (revenue).
– land and plants for food and revenue (agriculture).
– nutrients from biogeochemical cycles.
– water and landscape for tourism (beaches, etc.).