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Ecosystems and Biodiversity Definitions: Define ecosystem: Define biodiversity:

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

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Ecosystems and Biodiversity. Definitions: Define ecosystem: Define biodiversity:. Ecosystems and Biodiversity. Definitions: Define ecosystem: a biological community of interacting organisms (biotic) and their physical environment (abiotic) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Definitions:

Define ecosystem:

Define biodiversity:

Page 2: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Definitions:

Define ecosystem: a biological community of interacting organisms (biotic) and their physical environment (abiotic)

Define biodiversity: the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem

Page 3: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Definitions:

Define ecosystem: a biological community of interacting organisms (biotic) and their physical environment (abiotic)

Define biodiversity: the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem

Not necessarily just number of types, but evenness of those types as well!

Page 4: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:Leading Questions

How might ecosystems vary in abiotic (non-living) properties or conditions?

How can abiotic conditions affect biodiversity?

How can abiotic conditions be altered?

Page 5: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:Leading Questions

How might ecosystems vary in abiotic (non-living) properties or conditions?

How can abiotic conditions affect biodiversity?

How can abiotic conditions be altered?

Water availability, windiness,

soil types, temperature,

precipitation patterns

Page 6: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:Leading Questions

How might ecosystems vary in abiotic (non-living) properties or conditions?

How can abiotic conditions affect biodiversity?

How can abiotic conditions be altered?

Water availability, windiness,

soil types, temperature,

precipitation patterns, etc…Nutrient limitation for some

organisms, harsh weather

conditions affect some

populations, etc…

Page 7: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:Leading Questions

How might ecosystems vary in abiotic (non-living) properties or conditions?

How can abiotic conditions affect biodiversity?

How can abiotic conditions be altered?

Water availability, windiness,

soil types, temperature,

precipitation patterns, etc…Nutrient limitation for some

organisms, harsh weather

conditions affect some

populations, etc…

Deforestation,

severe weather

events, carbon

emissions, etc…

Page 8: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:Leading Questions

Why might biodiversity be important?

Page 9: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:Leading Questions

Why might biodiversity be important?• Ecosystem functions

– food, fiber, energy– Air and water purification– Pollination and seed dispersal– Ecotourism and recreation

• The “insurance hypothesis”– With more species or groups, ecosystems are more likely to maintain

function even if some fail due to disturbance, disease, invasion, etc…– Resilience to change– Stability

Page 10: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Making this a classroom activityUse the habitat types (“ecosystems”) surrounding your own schools to sample for biodiversity of invertebrates, and specifically insects. The BEST plots can also work here!

Page 11: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Making this a classroom activity

• Modify number of different habitat types and sampling methods to your choosing

• Incorporate concepts of randomization, replication, etc…

Page 12: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Sampling for Biodiversity• Use different habitat or ecosystem types near

your school to sample for biodiversity• Potential habitat types: forests (primary vs.

successional), yard, parking lot, wetland, grassland or prairie

• Encourage students to make hypotheses beforehand– Which habitat type do you expect to see the most

insects overall?– In which habitat type do you expects to see the

greatest number of orders?

Page 13: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Sampling Method: Sticky Traps

• Refer to BEST plot protocols• http://kbsgk12project.kbs.msu.edu/blog/2011

/09/14/biomass-and-biodiversity-protocols/

Page 14: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Sampling Method: Pit Traps

• Refer to BEST plot protocols• http://kbsgk12project.kbs.msu.edu/blog/2011

/09/14/biomass-and-biodiversity-protocols/

Page 15: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Sampling Method: Sweepnetting

• Refer to optional BEST plot protocols• http://kbsgk12project.kbs.msu.edu/blog/2011

/09/14/biomass-and-biodiversity-protocols/

Page 16: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Sampling Method: Pan traps (pollinator cups)

• Meant to simulate the colors of flowers• Paint bowls or cups different colors to encourage

pollinators to visit– Red, yellow, blue, white

• Fills bowls or cups with soapy water to trap insects• Set out (randomly) in habitat patch• Collect after one day

Page 17: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Sampling Method: Berlese Funnels

• Useful for sampling insects from litter (leaves) and top layer or soil

• Use a hand trowel to remove litter and top ½ inch of soil from a predefined area (5 in x 5 in, for example, but adjust to fit funnels)

• Place into a modified Berlese funnel (leaves first) and shine light directly over leaves to drive insects into container of ethanol

Page 18: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Invertebrate ID Resources• “What Bug Is That?” poster• KBS GK-12 “Invertebrate Guide”

powerpoint– Click here

• Bugguide.net• Dichotomous Key for Winged Insects– Click here

• Dichotomous Key for Wingless (or Tiny-Winged) Insects– Click here

Image from bugguide.net

Page 19: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Working with the data

• Shannon-Weaver diversity index– Takes counts and relative abundance into

consideration– Can be done by hand – Excel sheet can be used to calculate Shannon-

Weaver diversity index using student-generated data

Page 20: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Working with the data

• Shannon-Weaver diversity index– Takes counts and relative abundance into

consideration– Can be done by hand – Excel sheet can be used to calculate Shannon-

Weaver diversity index using student-generated data

Page 21: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Working with the data

• Graphing Activities– Students can choose to graph an interesting

pattern of their choosing– Examples:• Graph abundance of one order across multiple habitat

types• Graph abundances of various orders within one habitat

type• Graph Shannon-Weaver diversity index across habitat

types

Page 22: Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Follow-up Questions1. Human activities can deliberately or inadvertently alter the equilibrium in

ecosystems. How did human activity affect the different ecosystems that we measured?

2. Your data shows a difference in carrying capacities for the differing ecosystems. Describe the factors that affect carrying capacity in each of the habitats that you measured insect diversity in.

3. In general, what are the benefits of having high levels of biodiversity in any ecosystem?

4. How do highly diverse insect populations and communities benefit humans?

5. Was there a difference in the types of insect orders found in the various types of traps? What trends did you notice?