Introduction
"Biodiversity"--the contracted version of "biological diversity"--refers to the variation within species, between species and of ecosystems. The estimated number of species living on Earth range between 5-30 million and can be grouped on the basis of shared characteristics or "taxa". These include:
Living organisms play central roles in the cycles of major elements (carbon, nitrogen and so on) and water in the environment, and diversity specifically is important in that these cycles require numerous interacting species. So,biodiversity is highly important to the functioning of all natural and human-engineered ecosystems and by extension, to the ecosystem services nature provides free of charge to the human society.Such benefits include breathable air, fertile soil, productive forests and fisheries and other cultural benefits.
Currently,human intervention in ecosystem services through habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation and pollution has adversely affected biodiversity. The IUCN Red List estimates that 12-52% of species within well studied higher taxa such as vertebrates and vascular plants are threatened with extinction.Moreover, scientists estimate that the current rates of species extinction are about 100 times higher than long-term average rates based on fossil data.These estimates are the basis of the consensus that the Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event in its history; the present extinction event is termed the Holocene Mass Extinction.
- Bacteria-Microorganisms lacking a cellular nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles
- Archaea-Micoorganisms of primarily extreme environments that closely resemble bacteria
- Eukarya-Organisms based on nucleated cells including animals,fungi,protists and plants
Living organisms play central roles in the cycles of major elements (carbon, nitrogen and so on) and water in the environment, and diversity specifically is important in that these cycles require numerous interacting species. So,biodiversity is highly important to the functioning of all natural and human-engineered ecosystems and by extension, to the ecosystem services nature provides free of charge to the human society.Such benefits include breathable air, fertile soil, productive forests and fisheries and other cultural benefits.
Currently,human intervention in ecosystem services through habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation and pollution has adversely affected biodiversity. The IUCN Red List estimates that 12-52% of species within well studied higher taxa such as vertebrates and vascular plants are threatened with extinction.Moreover, scientists estimate that the current rates of species extinction are about 100 times higher than long-term average rates based on fossil data.These estimates are the basis of the consensus that the Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event in its history; the present extinction event is termed the Holocene Mass Extinction.
This website was created for Professor J. Christiansen, Economics 203 in Spring ,2013.
The creators are Sarah A. Khan, Emily Donaldson, Emily Martecchini and Brittany Greggs
The creators are Sarah A. Khan, Emily Donaldson, Emily Martecchini and Brittany Greggs