Our planet’s diverse, thriving ecosystems may seem like permanent fixtures, but they’re actually vulnerable to collapse. Jungles can become deserts, and reefs can become lifeless rocks. What makes one ecosystem strong and another weak in the face of change? Kim Preshoff details why the answer, to a large extent, is biodiversity.

1. FILE 2 B CHANGING LIVES
Why is biodiversity so important? - Kim Preshoff
Our planet’s diverse, thriving ecosystems may seem like permanent fixtures, but
they’re actually vulnerable to collapse. Jungles can become deserts, and reefs can
become lifeless rocks. What makes one ecosystem strong and another weak in the
face of change? Kim Preshoff details why the answer, to a large extent, is
biodiversity.
https://youtu.be/GK_vRtHJZu4
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1.- An organism that others may depend on for survival is called a(n):
AKeystone species
BInterdependent species
CDiverse species
DVulnerable species
2.- Coral reefs are essential for the survival of other organisms. They provide:
AMicrohabitats
BShelter
CBreeding grounds
DAll of the above
3.- The tapir and agouti are ______ found in the Amazon Rainforest.
ACarnivores
BOmnivores
CHerbivores

2. DDecomposers
4.- What may cause a species to become less genetically diverse?
AIsolation from members of its species
BLow population numbers
CBoth A and B
DNone of the above
5.- Ecosystem diversity, species diversity, genetic diversity all intertwine to create
______.
AVulnerability
BBiodiversity
CInterdependence
DRecycling
6.- Humans have cut and frayed the woven tapestry of Earth’s biodiversity. List and
describe three ways.
7.- Correctly use the following words in a well-written, scientifically correct
paragraph. Be sure to clearly distinguish the differences between each of them and
how they intertwine! Be sure to provide examples. Species diversity, biological
diversity, ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity.
8.- From both the verbal and visual descriptions provided in this lesson, sketch your
own diagram of the Amazon Rainforest Food web.
How much biodiversity is in the rainforest? Check out this video clip: An Unseen
World made using a game camera set deep in the Amazon by Paul Rosolie.
Interested now? Read Paul Rosolie’s book: Mother of God. Follow him on his journey
through the Amazon. Still not understanding the importance of biodiversity? Really
want to have a greater understanding of this essential ecology topic? Watch the
California Academy of Sciences: Why is biodiversity important? Can you define
species richness? Be sure to watch the whole series on Biodiversity here. Visit the
California Academy of Sciences Library of Life to get a small idea of the
biodiversity in our world.

3. Resiliency and resistance? What are the meanings of these two key vocabulary
words? What do they have to do with ecosystem survival? Read this article and find
out! Ecosystem services? Biodiversity loss? So, what is the big deal? Visit this
link and get some insight into the importance of having biodiversity in our world.
Coral reefs are amazingly beautiful features of Earth’s surface, full of biodiversity
and life! Visit the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living structure
at National Geographic. What are some of the major threats to coral reefs? Let’s
begin with Ocean Acidification by visiting The Seattle Times site: Sea Change: The
Pacific’s Perilous Turn. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program has a great list
of volunteer and student opportunities where you can get involved. Learn from this
TED-Ed Lesson: Conserving our spectacular, vulnerable coral reefs by Joshua Drew.
Then listen How We Wrecked the Ocean by coral reef ecologist Jeremy Jackson
and visit the site: A Day in The Life of Baby Coral by Kristin Marhaver.
How important is biodiversity? Check out a diverse collection of 32 TED Talks on
biodiversity here. Want to get involved in some citizen science projects based on
biodiversity? Check out Take Notes from Nature and Science Gossip then start
transcribing! Why would you help? Many museums have tons of historical
biodiversity data that could be available to everyone on their home computer if it
could just be transcribed! How awesome would that be? You can also check
out Microplants and help measure microleafs! Take the tutorial and get measuring.
If you haven’t found one that piqued your interest yet, visit Zooniverse and scroll
through the projects!
DISCUSS
Ecosystem services are benefits that healthy, diverse ecosystems provide to humans.
List some ecosystem services provided by a healthy biodiversity on Earth and
describe how our lives would be changed without these