Exploring Earth's biodiversity, this content delves into the variety of life forms, from species and genes to ecosystems. It highlights the latitudinal diversity gradient, biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon, and tools for measuring biodiversity such as Simpson's and Shannon's Diversity Indexes. These metrics help assess ecosystem health and guide conservation efforts, emphasizing the importance of species richness and evenness.
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Biodiversity encompasses the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems on Earth
Number of formally described species
Only about 1.2 million of the estimated 8.7 million species on Earth have been formally described by scientists
Most species-rich group
Insects are the most species-rich group, with over a million identified species
Biodiversity is richest in the tropics and decreases towards the poles, known as the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG)
Biodiversity hotspots are areas with exceptional species richness and high numbers of endemic species, such as the Amazon rainforest
Species found in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is home to one-third of the world's tropical tree species and a multitude of insect species, many of which are yet to be discovered
Biodiversity is measured by species richness, the number of different species in an ecosystem, and species evenness, the balanced distribution of individuals among species
Calculation and interpretation
Simpson's Diversity Index, calculated using the number of organisms of each species and the total number of organisms, is a measure of biodiversity that is particularly sensitive to dominant species
Use in comparing biodiversity across ecosystems
Simpson's Diversity Index can be applied to compare biodiversity in different ecosystems, with a higher index value indicating greater diversity
Calculation and interpretation
The Shannon Diversity Index, calculated using the proportions of each species and their natural logarithms, is another measure of biodiversity that is more influenced by species richness
Complementary insights
Both Simpson's and Shannon's Diversity Indices are important for ecologists, offering complementary insights into the complexity of biodiversity within ecosystems
Simpson's Diversity Index is an important tool for quantifying biodiversity, taking into account both species richness and evenness
Role in conservation planning
The index's sensitivity to dominant species is useful for identifying ecosystems at risk and aiding in conservation planning
Management of natural resources
Simpson's Diversity Index provides valuable information on species dominance and distribution, which is crucial for the management of natural resources
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The term 'biodiversity' encompasses the variety of all ______ on our planet, including species, genes, and ecosystems.
living organisms
01
Define LDG.
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient: species diversity increases from poles to equator.
02
Role of Amazon rainforest in biodiversity.
Amazon: hosts one-third of tropical tree species, numerous insects, many undiscovered.
