The document discusses biodiversity and taxonomy. It defines a species as a group of organisms that share genes and lineage, and are adapted to particular environmental resources. There are millions of species, many not yet identified. Taxonomy is the science of classifying species in a hierarchical system, from broad kingdoms to specific genera and species, to indicate natural relationships. This ordering system, developed by Linnaeus, helps organize the vast number of species and provides a standardized naming convention. The document also discusses how biodiversity supports ecosystem functions and is declining due to human-caused extinction rates being much higher than background rates.

1. Science Module
Biodiversity and Taxonomy

2. From the beginning
What is a species?

3. There are multiple definitions.
2 useful ones for our purposes...
A set of organisms adapted to a
particular set of resources in the
environment

4. There are multiple definitions.
2 useful ones for our purposes...
A group of organisms
that share a lineage,
and thus, genes at
some significant level

5. Keeping track
There are many many species to name

6. Keeping track
How do we organize
our species?

7. Keeping track
Biologists use a system called
Taxonomy

8. Keeping track
The science of naming and
classifying species in an ordered
system that indicates natural
relationships

9. Taxonomy assigns each animal in
a hierarchical classification system
First, identify a new species
Second, determine if the species already has a name
Third, assign a new, unused, name to the species
Fourth, notify a name authority of the new species
A system founded on the principles of Carl Linnaeus

10. Taxonomy
Gives order to a system of names
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Insecta
Family Lycaenidae
Genus Maculinea
Species M. alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

11. Taxonomy
Gives order to a system of names
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Insecta
Family Lycaenidae
Genus Maculinea
Species M. alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Genus

12. Taxonomy
Gives order to a system of names
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Insecta
Family Lycaenidae
Genus Maculinea
Species M. alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Genus Species

13. Taxonomy
Gives order to a system of names
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta Binomial
Order Insecta
Family Lycaenidae
Genus Maculinea
Species M. alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Genus Species

14. Beyond species
What is a biodiversity?

15. Genes
Species
Ecosystems

16. Biodiversity
We have documented ~2 million
species

17. Biodiversity
10-50 million are thought to exist

19. Future of biodiversity
What does biodiversity do for us?

23. Why do scientists study biodiversity

24. An attempt to get big picture
understanding of what is happening
to our natural world

25. Conservation

26. Ecosystem functions and services

27. Evolution and natural selection

28. Global and regional change

29. Future of biodiversity
What is happening to biodiversity?

30. First, think about this
Quadrillion ants in the world
EO Wilson

31. First, think about this
Extinction rates are 100-1000
times higher than before
humans
IUCN, 2004

32. Future of biodiversity
"There is medium confidence that
approximately 20-30% of species assessed so
far are likely to be at increased if increases in
global average warming exceed 1.5-2.5 deg C
(relative to 1980-1999). As global average
temperature increase exceeds about 3.5 deg C,
model projections suggest significant
extinctions (40-70% of species assessed)
around the globe."
IPCC Four

33. Species extinction
"The death of birth" e.o. wilson

34. Species extinction
"The death of birth" e.o. wilson