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Module 14: Biodiversity

MigrationMod 14: Biodiversity: (see also chapter 7 in progressFroggie book)

  • Species: a particular type of organism
  • Population: a group of individuals of a given species, at one place and time
  • Evolution: inherited changes in the population of organisms over time
  • Natural Selection: inherited characteristics that enhance survival and reproduction
  • Adaptation: better adapted individuals survive to pass on their traits
  • Phylogeny: the branching pattern of evolutionary relationships


Species diversity: richness vs. evenness:
  • Species Richness = number of species in an area
  • Species Evenness = balanced relative proportions
Screen Shot 2022-10-16 at 12.02.58 PM.png
Screen Shot 2022-10-16 at 12.02.58 PM.png

Measuring species diversity (lab):

Screen Shot 2022-10-16 at 12.09.43 PM.png
Screen Shot 2022-10-16 at 12.09.43 PM.png

Lab: Calculating Shannon's index, using baked goldfish (the cheddar kind, not the ones that stink)
  1. wash your hands
  2. pour out a random number of different colored goldfish on your plate (your "pond")
  3. determine the number of distinct populations by color, using chopsticks
  4. determine the proportion for each population (e.g. 5 red ones out of 20 total would be 5/20 or 0.25)
  5. calculate Shannon's index (H) for this "pond"
  6. repeat the experiment with a very low biodiversity, calculate H
  7. repeat with a very high biodiversity, calculate H
  8. eat the contents of your "pond", representing a catastrophic event
Questions:
  1. what is the value of biodiversity in any community?
  2. what are the benefits and drawbacks of a low biodiversity?
  3. how does this play into competition (next chapter)
  4. why is it important to determine the number of "distinct populations"?
  5. what is the impact of this on a human population, e.g. the census?

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