1. Explain what is meant by the term biological diversity. 2. In one or two sentences explain why so many different types of organisms exist on Earth today. 3. Describe how scientists classify an organism. Connect Your Understanding 4 Explain how the classification system helps us to understand how living things are different from or related to each other. 5. Summarize, in your own words, ecosystem diversity, community diversity, and genetic diversity. 6. Compare and contrast the meanings of population and community. 7. Why is there more biological diversity closer to the equator than in Canada? Give reasons for your answer. Extend Your Understanding 8. Imagine that you have to classify all the birds on Earth based on where they live. Design a system that starts with very broad categories of many members and goes to very specific groupings of one type of member. 9. Explain why preseving biological diversity is important to life on Earth.

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1. Explain what is meant by the term biological diversity. 2. In one or two sentences explain why so many different types of organisms exist on Earth today. 3. Describe how scientists classify an organism. Connect Your Understanding 4 Explain how the classification system helps us to understand how living things are different from or related to each other. 5. Summarize, in your own words, ecosystem diversity, community diversity, and genetic diversity. 6. Compare and contrast the meanings of population and community. 7. Why is there more biological diversity closer to the equator than in Canada? Give reasons for your answer. Extend Your Understanding 8. Imagine that you have to classify all the birds on Earth based on where they live. Design a system that starts with very broad categories of many members and goes to very specific groupings of one type of member. 9. Explain why preseving biological diversity is important to life on Earth.

Answer 1

1. **Biological diversity**, or **biodiversity**, refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems. This includes the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life. It encompasses three main aspects: ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.2. Millions of different types of organisms exist on Earth today due to the process of evolution. Over billions of years, natural selection and other evolutionary mechanisms have led to the diversification of life, adapting organisms to various environments and niches.3. Scientists classify organisms using a hierarchical system called taxonomy. This system groups organisms based on shared characteristics, starting with broad categories like domains and kingdoms and becoming increasingly specific, ending with the species level. Each organism is assigned a unique scientific name using binomial nomenclature, consisting of its genus and species.4. The classification system helps us understand how living things are related by organizing them based on evolutionary relationships. Organisms grouped together share a common ancestor. The system also highlights the differences between organisms, reflecting the diversity of adaptations and evolutionary pathways.5. *Ecosystem diversity* refers to the variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes within and between different ecosystems (like forests, grasslands, or oceans). *Community diversity* describes the variety of species within a particular community or habitat. *Genetic diversity* refers to the variety of genes within a species, which allows for adaptation and resilience to environmental changes.6. A *population* consists of all the individuals of the same species living in a specific area at a given time. A *community* encompasses all the populations of different species interacting within a specific area. So, a community is made up of multiple populations.7. Biodiversity is generally greater closer to the equator than in Canada due to several factors. Tropical regions have more stable and predictable climates, allowing for greater specialization and niche diversification. They also have higher solar energy input, supporting greater primary productivity and thus more complex food webs. Canada's colder climate and shorter growing seasons limit the number of species that can survive.8. **Bird Classification System Based on Habitat:*** **Category 1: Terrestrial Birds** (Birds living primarily on land) * **Category 2: Forest Birds** (Birds inhabiting forests) * **Category 3: Tropical Rainforest Birds** (Birds specific to tropical rainforests) * **Category 4: Fruit-eating Tropical Rainforest Birds** * **Category 5: Keel-billed Toucan** (Ramphastos sulfuratus) * **Category 2: Grassland Birds** (Birds inhabiting grasslands) * **Category 3: Savannah Birds** * **Category 4: Ostrich** (Struthio camelus)* **Category 1: Aquatic Birds** (Birds living primarily in or near water) * **Category 2: Marine Birds** (Birds inhabiting oceans) * **Category 3: Pelagic Birds** (Birds living in the open ocean) * **Category 4: Albatrosses** (Diomedeidae family) * **Category 5: Wandering Albatross** (Diomedea exulans) * **Category 2: Freshwater Birds** (Birds inhabiting lakes and rivers) * **Category 3: Ducks** (Anatidae family) * **Category 4: Mallard** (Anas platyrhynchos)This system could be further expanded to include more specific categories based on diet, nesting habits, etc.9. Preserving biodiversity is crucial for the health of the planet and human well-being. Biodiversity provides essential ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, pollination, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling. It also contributes to food security, medicine development, and economic stability. Loss of biodiversity can lead to ecosystem collapse, impacting human survival and quality of life.

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