<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Species diversity"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/54.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Species diversity ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6139928.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6139928.page GMT Species diversity http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6139944.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6139944.page GMT Species diversity ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6139949.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6139949.page GMT Re:Species diversity
I'm having trouble with my biology home work, what is the advantage of having a greater amount of species diversity in an ecosystem?


Not only does a greater diversity "spread the load" on an ecosystem with more things filling more niches, but greater species diversity aids in natural selection. If too many members of a species can be susceptible and/or easily influenced by the same thing, such as a virus or a niche food source, the species can easily lose too many members to it to be sustainable.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6141603.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6141603.page GMT Species diversity
Also, diversity can simply be used as a measure of the health of an ecosystem- a healthy system will have more species than one that has been wrecked, which will probably just have a few survivor-types.

Plus, y'know, more species=more potentially tasty things to eat.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6141681.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6141681.page GMT Species diversity
Diversity is how equal the percentages of different species in an area there are, so for example, there could be only two species of animal in a given habitat, both having 51% and 49% of the population respectively, this would lead to a very high diversity. This is measured using the simpsons' diversity index.

Abundance is the actual number of different species, but both are important.

In diversity dominance is a bad thing. For example, in planted Coniferous forests, used for commercial purposes here in Scotland, have a dominance of mosses, and a lower Species diversity and Abundance than other native Deciduous woodlands.

More genetic material floating around is always good, helps against disease, and lessens the impact of extinctions of one species. Much of our medicines require a good diversity and abundance, the Amazon provides a vast amount of our new and pioneering research into cures for some of the most damaging diseases around.

Diversity in plants also allows for a greater diversity and abundance of animals species. High plant diversity can also be important in keeping the soils fertile and insuring that the right nutrients are reabsorbed.

I admit, I really should be able to give you more reasons why it is important, but if i'm honest I can't think of many, most of the time its just a matter of "diversity = good" and just don't question it.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6143533.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6143533.page GMT Species diversity
 Cheesecat wrote:
I'm having trouble with my biology home work, what is the advantage of having a greater amount of species diversity in an ecosystem?


An advantage to the ecosystem?

I'd guess the advantage would be the different things they provide. Many animals help to promote pollenation through differing means. Some animals carry seads on their skin, others in their feces, etc... A wide variety of animal species will help allow for more means of pollenation, allowing for a larger variety of plant life, promoting a more abundant ecosytem all together.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6143590.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6143590.page GMT Re:Species diversity
To put it in another way if every member of a species is the same then if a disease arrives then either all of them will live or none of them will. This is why the genetically modified plants that Monsanto and it's ilk are pimping out are so problematic. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6144019.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/557286/6144019.page GMT