Plant%20Science%20Lessons

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Plant Science Lessons

• Unit 1, Lesson 11
• Understanding Biodiversity

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What is biodiversity?
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We have observed biodiversity!

• Biodiversity is the variety of life in any given
  area. Biodiversity varies according to many
  factors including the climate, environment and
  land mass.
• The simplest and most
• common measure of biodiversity
• is the number of species that live
• in a certain area (just as we
• observed).

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• Where would you expect the greatest biodiversity
  to be located? Why?

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Why is biodiversity important?

• Organisms are adapted to live together in
  communities. Complex relationships exist amongst
  organisms. Remember that life depends on life.
  Living creatures create niches for other living
  organisms. Should one species become extinct,
  then another may also be in danger.
• Biodiversity also brings stability to ecosystems.
• Biodiversity is good for humans. Humans depend
  on other organisms for their well-being from
  their diet to the oxygen that they breathe.

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What happens when biodiversity is threatened?

• When biodiversity is threatened there are three
  impacts
• Extinction the disappearance of a species when
  the last of its members die. It is estimated that
  since 1980 40 species of plants and animals in
  the United States have become extinct.
• Threatened Species when the population of a
  species begins to decline rapidly, it is said to
  be threatened.
• Endangered Species when a species numbers
  becomes so low that extinction is possible, it is
  said to be endangered.

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Solutions.

• Balance!
• There is always a fine line between cultivation,
  hunting, conservation, habitat loss and pollution
  and human existance!
• Lets brainstorm solutions that exist to allow
  for diverse populations to co-exist!

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Biodiversity

• Can is coexist with agriculture?
• Can it coexist with urban development?
• How can biodiversity be promoted in agriculture
  communities?
• How can your FFA chapter contribute to expanding
  the diversity of biological life?