Scribd
Upload
28 views

Fundamental Concepts of Ecology and Biodiversity

This document discusses key concepts of ecology and biodiversity including: 1. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth including millions of species, genes, and ecosystems. 2. Evolution occurs through genetic mutation, natural selection, geographic isolation, and genetic drift in response to environmental changes over time. 3. Speciation generates new species while extinction ends species, influenced by a species' ability to adapt, migrate, or cease to exist when environments change.

Uploaded by

Emon Chowdhury
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
28 views

Fundamental Concepts of Ecology and Biodiversity

This document discusses key concepts of ecology and biodiversity including: 1. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth including millions of species, genes, and ecosystems. 2. Evolution occurs through genetic mutation, natural selection, geographic isolation, and genetic drift in response to environmental changes over time. 3. Speciation generates new species while extinction ends species, influenced by a species' ability to adapt, migrate, or cease to exist when environments change.

Uploaded by

Emon Chowdhury
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

Fundamental Concepts of

Ecology and Biodiversity


Lecture 4
Today’s Themes
• 1. Biodiversity
• 2. Evolution
• 3. Speciation, Extinction And Biodiversity
• 4. Various Types of Species
• 5. Interaction Between Species
1. Biodiversity
1. Biodiversity
• Combination of two words 'biological' and
'diversity‘
• Refers to the number, variety and variability of
all life forms on earth
• Biodiversity includes millions of plants,
animals, microorganisms, the genes they
contain, the intricate ecosystems of which
they are a part etc.
2. Evolution
2.1 What is Evolution?
• Evolution is the change over time in one or more
inherited characteristics found in populations of
individuals
• Species have evolved in response to changing
environmental conditions
• Each species here today represents a long chain of
evolution
• Mechanisms of evolution:
– Genetic Mutation
– Natural Selection
– Geographic Isolation and Migration
– Genetic Drift
2.2 Genetic Mutation
• Process that causes changes in the DNA structure
of genes
• The structure/number of DNA molecules in a cell
randomly changes
• Genetic mutation might cause death/extinction in
one hand or contribute to develop new
characteristics on the other
• Genetic mutation generally takes place due to
exposure to radiation, chemicals or other agents
2.2 Genetic Mutation

Genetic Mutation (Source: PCMag)


2.3 Natural Selection
• Sometimes nature gives certain skills to some
members of a population that increase their
chances of survival compared to other members
• Those individuals are better suited than other
members of their population
• These better suited individuals will survive and
reproduce offspring leading to a large population
in a few generations
• This process is known as Natural Selection
2.3 Natural Selection

Natural Selection (Source: CS4K)


2.4 Geographic Isolation and Migration
• Sometimes populations of the same species
become geographically isolated from each other
for a long time
• During that time they may change so much that
they can no longer reproduce together even
when they are brought back together
• Thus two new species occur
• Geographic Isolation and Migration has been a
very important evolutionary process
2.4 Geographic Isolation and Migration

Geographic Isolation and Migration (Source: UC Berkeley)


2.5 Genetic Drift
• Random fluctuations in the appearance of
genes in a population
• Non-proportional inheritance of
characteristics
• Just by chance the characteristics of the next
generation might be the characteristics of the
"lucky" individual, not necessarily the
“healthier” or "better" individual
2.5 Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift (Source: Tor1714)


2.6 Common Misconceptions About
Evolution
• "Survival of the fittest" means "survival of the
strongest"
– Actually to biologists, fitness is a measure of reproductive
success not strength. Thus the fittest individuals are
those that leave the most descendants
• “Evolution involves some grand plan of nature in
which species become progressively more perfect”
– Actually from a scientific standpoint, no plan or goal of
perfection exists in the evolutionary process
3. Speciation, Extinction And
Biodiversity
3. Speciation, Extinction And Biodiversity

• Speciation :
– Process of generating a new species
– Can lead to two species arising from one
• Extinction:
– End of a group of organisms, normally a species
– When environmental conditions change, a species
must:
• Evolve (become better adapted)
• Move to a more favorable area (if possible)
• Cease to exist (become extinct)
4. Various Types of Species
4. Various Types of Species
• Native Species: Species that normally live and thrive
in a particular ecosystem
• Ubiquitous species : Species that are found almost
everywhere
• Endemic Species: A species that is native to a
particular area and not native elsewhere is called an
endemic species
• Cosmopolitan species: A species with a broad
distribution, occurring all over the world wherever the
environment is appropriate
4. Various Types of Species
• Nonnative, exotic or alien species: Species that
migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately
or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem
• Indicator Species: Species that provide early
warnings about natural disasters
• Keystone Species: Species whose role in an
ecosystem is much more important than their
abundance
5. Interaction Between Species
• There are three basic categories of interaction
among species:
• Competition: in which outcome is negative for
both groups
• Symbiosis: which benefits both species
• Predation-parasitism: in which the outcome
benefits one, and is detrimental to the other

You might also like