What is biodiversity?

Transcription

1 Biodiversity

2 What is biodiversity? Variety of living & non-living things 3 basic components: genetic diversity, species richness, and ecosystem diversity Genetic diversity-the variety of DNA in an individual or organism (unique characteristics) Species richness-the number of different species in an area (food chain) Ecosystem diversity-the variety of environments in an area Indicator of ecosystem health

3 Biomes A major regional or global biotic community, such as a grassland or desert, characterized chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate. Forest, tundra, aquatic, grassland, desert

4 Biomes Forest- a dense growth of trees, plants, and underbrush covering a large area Tropical Boreal Temperate Tundra- a vast treeless plain, with little vegetation and cold temperatures Arctic Alpine

5 Biomes Aquatic biome-consisting of, relating to, or being in the water salt water and fresh water Grassland-dominated by grass or grass like vegetation, such as prairie or meadow Savanna Temperate Desert-a dry, often sandy region of little rainfall, extreme temperatures and sparse vegetation Hot/dry, semi-arid, coastal, cold

6 Why is biodiversity important? A way of life Healthy ecosystem Oxygen Clothes Food Cycle of interdependence

7 Threats to Biodiversity Pollution Global Warming Deforestation Overexploitation Urban areas Littering War

8 Ways to Protect Biodiversity Decrease use of aerosols Find new fuel substitutes Public transportation, walk, bike Recycle Use only what is necessary Designate part of your lawn to biodiversity Encourage routine neighborhood clean-up

9 The purpose of our study The purpose of our study was to observe six different environments and determine which had the highest level of biodiversity.

10 Hypotheses The wetland habitat would have the highest level of biodiversity. The wetland habitat would have the highest soil moisture percentage. The area with the most canopy cover would have the lowest air temperature.

11 Study sites C&O Canal Downtown Cumberland Finzel Swamp Carey Run Nature Sanctuary Private property, Lavale, MD Savage Mountain Hiking Trail Edge habitat Urban Wetland Planted forest Open field Natural forest

12 Methods Field Methods Observations Air temperature Canopy cover Soil sample Laboratory Methods Measured 30 grams of soil on electronic balance Dried in drying oven for 24 hours Weighed soil again Calculated soil moisture

13 Calculations [(wet weight-dry weight)/wet weight] x 100 Example: [( ) / 30.00] x 100 [6.84 / 30.00] [0.23] x 100 final answer = 23% soil moisture

14 Observations C&O Canal Edge habitat Birds, trees, deer, squirrels Plants, flowers, leaves, grass, sun Mosquitoes, flies, dragonflies, beetles Downtown Cumberland Urban area Fountains, trees, plants, birds, flowers Stores, people, cars, pollution

15 Observations Finzel Swamp Wetland Shrubs, flowers, marsh grasses, trees, blueberries Mosquitoes, butterflies, worms, clamshell Water habitat Carey Run Nature Sanctuary Planted forest Red pine trees Pine needles, sticks No grass Deer, birds, dead trees Odor from decaying matter

16 Observations Savage Mountain Hiking Trail Natural forest Ferns, trees, leaves, poison oak/ivy Insects Deer, birds, bears Open Field Gravel road,tall grass, short grass, dead leaves Rattlesnakes, deer, mice, rodents Butterflies, mosquitoes, birds

17 Results Biodiversity Wetland Edge habitat Natural forest Open field Planted forest Urban Soil Moisture Natural forest Wetland Edge habitat Planted forest Open field Urban

18 Biodiversity/Soil Moisture graph Relationship between Biodiversity and Soil Moisture Rank 4 3 Biodiversity Soil Moisture Wetland Edge Natural Forest Open Field Planted Forest Habitat Urban

19 Results Canopy Cover Planted forest Natural forest Edge habitat Urban Wetland Open field Air Temperature Natural forest Wetland Edge Planted forest Open field Urban

20 Canopy Cover/Air Temp. graph Relationship between Canopy Cover and Air Temperature Rank 4 3 Canopy Cover Air Temperature Planted Forest Edge Natural Forest Open Field Wetland Urban Habitat

21 Hypotheses, revisited Wetland would be the most diverse. Accepted Wetland had the most biodiversity.

22 Hypotheses, revisited Wetland would have the most soil moisture. Reject Natural forest had the most soil moisture. Wetland had the second highest soil moisture level.

23 Hypotheses, revisited The area with the highest canopy cover would have the coolest air temperature. Rejected The planted forest had the highest canopy cover but the natural forest had the lowest air temperature.

24 Importance of our results The importance of our results is to make us aware of the habitats around us and how we can protect them. Knowing which habitats have the most biodiversity will help us to focus our conservation efforts in the best way possible.

25 Limitations Time Time of day Estimate of canopy cover Estimate of biodiversity Number of study sights Number of soil samples Weather

26 Improvements More time Nighttime study Measure canopy cover Count plants and animals (biodiversity) Study sites (more of each habitat) Soil sample (deeper and more locations)

27 Further study Would different geographic areas, such as coastal areas or different states, have different results? Do different kinds of wetlands have different habitat characteristics and biodiversity? Do weather conditions affect soil moisture content and biodiversity? How do certain species or animal communities use the resources of an area, and how can they be improved?

28 Thank you