Ecosystems.pdf

Ecosystems and Biodiversity 071024 Bibliotheca Alexandrina Compiled by Shaymaa Ali 2 What is … … Biological Diversity (Biodiversity)? The variety of different species in an ecosystem, genetic variation within a population of a species, and variety of kinds of ecosystems. … A Species? A group of related and similar living organisms that can interbreed among their own species and produce fertile offspring. … Species Diversity? The different types of living organisms within a region or ecosystem (plants, animals, and other life forms). … An Ecosystem? All the living organisms and all the non-living components of a given area interacting as a whole functional unit. … Ecosystem Diversity? The variety of different habitats in a particular area (i.e., wetland, woodland, grassland; coral reef, tide pool, mangrove). Introduction Greater biodiversity makes species and systems more resilient, while loss of biodiversity weakens them, making them more vulnerable to extinction. If a large proportion of the biosphere is invested in only a small number of species (such as humans and their associated domesticated/cultivated species), this will result in an inherently unstable system. The biodiversity, interactions, and functions within ecosystems have developed and evolved over countless years. Changes that have occurred ever so slowly over time have allowed for adaptation of species and ecosystem survival. But, catastrophic and rapid changes can have a disastrous effect on ecosystems and biodiversity of species. Among these are natural events such as volcanic eruptions, floods, tsun