Biodiversity 4.1

First part

Why is biodiversity important?

It provides oxygen, food, water, resources, medicine, waste breakdown, and natural recreation sites.

Genetic diversity

Variety of genes within a population or species.

Population (species) diversity

Different species in a habitat.

Ecosystem diversity

Variety of ecosystems in a region.

Genetic diversity (definition)

The variety of genes and alleles within a species/population. It helps species adapt to environmental changes.

Low genetic diversity

Populations are more vulnerable to changing environmental conditions.

Natural selection

The process where individuals better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Genetic drift

Random changes in allele frequencies due to loss of individuals, reducing genetic variation.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene.

Founder effect

A type of genetic drift where a small group forms a new population, leading to genetic differences from the original group.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species in one place at one time.

Community

All the populations of different species living in the same ecosystem.

Ecosystem

Both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an environment.

Interaction categories

Competition, predation, and symbiosis.

Types of symbiosis

Mutualism: both benefit. Commensalism: one benefits, the other unharmed. Parasitism: parasite benefits, host harmed.

Autotrophs

Organisms that make their own food from inorganic molecules (e.g., plants via photosynthesis).

Heterotrophs

Organisms that feed on others to get energy (carnivores, herbivores, omnivores).

Habitat

Resources like oxygen, water, breeding sites, shelter, and suitable temperature.

Factors affecting species survival

Interactions between organisms, climate, and human impact.

Species richness

A measure of the number of species in an ecosystem; an indicator of ecosystem diversity.