Learning Targets“I can…”

• Define “biodiversity”• List the four levels of biodiversity• Provide an example of each of the four

levels of biodiversity.• State the five biggest threats to biodiversity

in our world.• Explain how species diversity is decreased

by human disturbance under most circumstances.

Biodiversity

Chapter 6: Humans in the Biosphere

Biodiversity in the Gorongosa

Biodiversity in Gorongosa

At least 200 species of ants live in Gorongosa National Park, including the African Weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda). These ants build football-sized nests in trees by weaving leaves together with silk produced by their larvae. The nest contains the queen’s chamber, a nursery for the larvae, and a storehouse for prey. Weaver ants attack snails, grasshoppers, beetles, and even snakes. They have also been used to control agricultural pests such as fruit flies that damage citrus fruits and other crops. Moreover, the ants themselves are an excellent source of protein and fatty acids and are consumed in some societies as a delicacy. Small animals like ants

mostly escaped the ravages of the Mozambique civil war.

Article Questions

1. What affect does elimination of big grazing mammals, such as elephants, have on the Gorongosa ecosystem?

2. Why is it beneficial to have genetic diversity in a species?

3. What is sustainable development, and give an example of how the Gorongosa aims to achieve sustainable development?

What is biodiversity?

What is Biodiversity?

Journey through the Ndoki Forest

What is Biodiversity?

3. The variety of life at all levels of organizationa.Genes

b. Individuals

c. Populations

d. Species

e. Communities

f. Ecosystems

g. Global

What is Biodiversity?

4. Example

• California

• Congo

Biological Diversity Worksheet

How do humans affect biodiversity?

H Habitat loss, including that caused by human-induced climate change.

I Invasive species harmful aliens, including predators, diseases, and competitors that displace native species

P Pollution Oil spills, human agricultural waste, fertilization, pesticides, acid deposition, greenhouse gases etc

P Population, Human overpopulation to be exact, a root cause of the other four factors

O Overharvesting, Overuse hunting, fishing, gathering

How do humans affect biodiversity?

References

• http://www.ngsprints.co.uk/images/M/459860.jpg• http://www.digitalfrog.com/resources/archives/strata.jpg• http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/wc.notes/

15.climates.veg/veg.images/rainforest/rainforest.structure.diagram.jpg

• http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/putting-food-table?utm_source=BioInteractive+News&utm_campaign=ecda1a5c54-BioInteractive_News_Vol_299_2_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_98b2f5c6ba-ecda1a5c54-69212481