BIODIVERSITY

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
& BIOMES
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lecture students should be able to:

• Differentiate between species, genetic and ecosystem diversity.

• Describe the effects of temperature and precipitation on

characteristics of biomes.

• List important uses for biodiversity.

• Differentiate between vulnerable, endangered and critically

endangered species.

• Differentiate between characteristics of endangered species

and human activities that endanger species.

• Differentiate between in situ and ex situ conservation.

 BIODIVERSITY

• Also called “biological diversity”

• Consists of the forms of life that

can best survive Earth’s conditions

• Includes genetic diversity, species

diversity & ecosystem diversity
 GENETIC DIVERSITY

Refers to the variety of

genes within a single
species

http://www.free-pet-wallpapers.com/free-pet-wallpapers/free-pet-
desktop-backgrounds/878103931.jpg
 SPECIES DIVERSITY

• Refers to the variety of

living organisms (species)
on earth

• Approximately 1.7 – 2
million species have been
formally identified
 ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

• Also called ecological

diversity

• Variety of forests, Gut River, Manchester

deserts, grasslands,
streams, lakes, oceans
and other biological
communities
http://www.komar.de/fileadmin/media/Fototapeten_Bilder/8-
005_Rocky_Mountains_hd.jpg
 Importance of Biodiversity
We are dependent on the rich variety of
genes, species and ecosystems.
They are important in:

• Agriculture
• Industry
• Medicine
• Ecosystem Stability
• Science
• Genetic Engineering http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-

• Aesthetics images/Environment/Pix/columnists/2010/8/13/1281700354396/Biodiversity-100-
007.jpg

• Ethics
 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

http://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/877x500p/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/81/164/86805364.jpg
 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
• Ecosystem within a body of
water

• May be classified as
freshwater or
marine

• Prominent marine
ecosystems in the
Caribbean include: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8B0d3S1rPSU/TLSBajwie7I/AAAAAAAAABk/FhQh9BeDL5Q/s1600/Mangrove
s+seagrasses+coral+reef.jpg
- Mangroves
- Seagrass Beds
- Coral Reefs
 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Coral Reefs

Seagrass Beds

Mangrove

Burrwood Beach, Trelawny

 MANGROVES
• Lies between the
sea and land in
areas inundated
by tides

• Dominated by
trees partially
submerged in
coastal wetlands

• Habitat for
Jaedon Lawe

~2000 species
 FUNCTIONS OF MANGROVES

• Protects shoreline
from erosion

• Fish nursery

• Absorbs excess
water

• Filters water from

land
https://news.ucsc.edu/2020/03/mangroves.html

• Encourages
sediment
deposition
FUNCTIONS OF MANGROVES
 SEAGRASS BEDS
• Important foraging
ground for: grouper,
grunt, snook, snapper,
parrotfish, barracuda
and tarpon

• Primary food source for

turtles and manatees,
https://www.coresciences.org/seagrass-research
urchins and parrotfish

• Fish nursery ground

 SEAGRASS BEDS

• Buffers wave
action to stabilize
sediments – clearer
waters

• Filters nitrates and

phosphates from
water
column
https://www.rimonitoring.org/eelgrass-beds/
 CORAL REEFS

• Found in warm,
tropical and
subtropical oceans
(equatorial region)

• Coastal, shallow https://www.coraldigest.org/index.php/CoralGeography

waters
 CORAL REEFS

• Habitat for many

marine plants &
animals

• Protects shoreline
from erosion

https://earthjustice.org/slideshow/protecting-endangered-caribbean-corals
 ABIOTIC FACTORS: WEATHER
AND CLIMATE

https://com-rheum.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/files/2013/09/Wheather.jpg
 Weather

Short-term changes in
temperature, pressure,
precipitation and other
conditions in the
atmosphere at a given place
& time http://www.thefutureschannel.com/img/weather/PredictingTheWea
ther03.jpg

http://s.imwx.com/img/intl/intl-video-still.jpg
 Climate
• Average weather of
an area

• Taken over a period

of at least 30 years

• Temperature &
precipitation are the
2 most important
factors that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ClimateMap_World.png

determine climate
 BIOMES

http://soils4teachers.org/files/images/s4t/elephants.jpg
 BIOMES
• Large, relatively distinct
terrestrial region

• Characterized by similar
climate, soil, plants and
animals regardless of
where they occur in the
world
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mP6apQATqB4/TNyk9di-
PpI/AAAAAAAAAGo/uihAQqL2dT8/s1600/Biome_Comparison.jpg

• Climate and vegetation

both vary with latitude and
altitude
 BIOMES

The 9 major biomes are:

• Tropical rain forest

• Savannah
• Desert
• Chaparral
• Temperate grassland
• Temperate deciduous
forest
• Temperate rain forest
• Taiga
• Tundra
Source: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/l/loom/wk%2013/biome%20determine.jpg
 TUNDRA
• Also called “arctic tundra”

• Just south of the arctic

polar ice cap
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:800px-Map-Tundra.png

• Covered with ice & snow

(for most of the year)

• Bitterly cold

• Permafrost
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/001/cache/high-sierra-
tundra_190_600x450.jpg
 TAIGA
• Also called “swamp
forest” or “boreal
forest”

• South of the arctic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Distribution_Taiga.png

tundra

• Long, cold, dry winters

with 6-8 hours sunlight
• Dominated by few
species of coniferous
evergreens http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Picea_glauca_t
aiga.jpg/220px-Picea_glauca_taiga.jpg
 TROPICAL RAIN FOREST
• Found near equator

• Warm temperature

• High precipitation http://www.mongabay.com/images/rainforests/world-rainforest-map.jpg

•Thin, nutrient-poor soil

• High biological diversity

• Lost to slash-and-burn
cultivation and logging
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/03/Tropical_Rainforest.jpg
 DESERTS
• Precipitation <10
inches per year

• Widely-spaced
low vegetation
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-map/

• Slow rate of plant

growth

• Low species
diversity

http:test.scoilnet.ie/re/crosswords/desert.jpg
 SPECIES ENDANGERMENT AND
EXTINCTION

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/kgtoh/kgtoh1107/kgtoh110700025/9914684-background-concept-wordcloud-illustration-of-species-
extinction-event-glowing-light.jpg
 THREATENED SPECIES
• Any species (animal, plant, fungi etc.) which is
vulnerable to extinction in the near future.

• According to the IUCN (International Union for the

Conservation of Nature) there are three categories
of threatened:

1.
VULNERABLE
2.
ENDANGERED
3.
CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED
 THREATENED SPECIES
Yellow-billed Parrot

VULNERABLE:

• The least critical of the three

categories

• Species are likely to become http://www.birdfinders.co.uk/images/jamaica/yellow-billed-parrot-

jamaica-tour.jpg

endangered unless Yellow Boa

circumstances improve e.g.
cheetah, lion, polar bear,
giant panda, komodo dragon

http://www.my-island-
jamaica.com/images/jamaican_boa_snake.jpg
 THREATENED SPECIES

ENDANGERED:

• Faces a very high risk

of extinction in the near
future

• E.g. Jamaican black- Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

billed parrot, blue whale, http://www.fiwiroots.com/images/cockpit-butterfly.gif

tiger, Tasmanian devil.

 THREATENED SPECIES
CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED:

• Faces an
extremely high risk
of extinction in the
immediate future
Jamaican Iguana
http://www.stichtingherpetofauna.com/uk/projecten/images/cyclura_collei.jpg
• E.g. Jamaican
Iguana, Javan
Rhino.
 EXTINCTION
Complete disappearance
of a species from Earth

Jamaican Examples:

• Jamaican Rice Rat

• Giant Yellow Galliwasp
• Jamaican Parauque
• Black-capped Petrel
http://raindeocampo.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/2006-417-extinct-animal-
display.jpg
 CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDANGERED
SPECIES
Inherent features of an organism that make
it prone to endangerment

• Extremely small,
localized range

• Require a large
territory to survive

• Living in isolation
Pellew Island, Portland
 CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDANGERED
SPECIES

• Low reproductive rates

• Low reproductive success

• Specialized breeding areas

• Specialized feeding habits

Oracabessa, St. Mary

 THE 3 MAIN HUMAN CAUSES OF
EXTINCTION
Human activities that put organisms in
danger of extinction

1. Habitat Destruction

2. Biotic Pollution

3. Hunting
Portland Bight
Photo by: Christine O’Sullivan
 HABITAT DESTRUCTION
The greatest threat to most wild species

May include:
• Deforestation
• Pollution of air,
water bodies,
land

http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/images/artmax_161.jpg
 BIOTIC POLLUTION
Intentional or unintentional introduction of
foreign or exotic species into an
ecosystem by humans

Exotic species may:

• outcompete native
species for food and
space
• prey on native
species
 HUNTING
The action of chasing or trapping animals to kill
them for food, sport or profit or to control their
population size.
The three main categories
include:

1. Subsistence hunting
(for food)

2. Sport hunting
(for recreation)

3. Commercial hunting
(for profit) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/news/2015/11/1
7/trophyhunting/01trophyhunting.jpg
 CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
• Aims to investigate human impact on biodiversity

• Develops practical approaches to prevent species

extinction
• Develops
compromises
between
conservation
priorities & human
needs

http://withfriendship.com/images/h/39412/conservation-biology-biol.gif
 CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Involves two main strategies
In-situ Conservation Ex-situ Conservation

• On-site preservation • Off-site preservation

• Preservation of natural • Includes:

populations in the wild - Artificial insemination
- In vitro fertilization
• Best strategy for the - Captive breeding
long-term protection programmes
of biodiversity - Zoos
 HIGHLIGHTS
1. There are three broad areas under biodiversity
classification: genetic, species and ecosystem
diversity.

2. Precipitation and temperature determine the

characteristics of biomes.

3. Each biome is characterized by a specific vegetation

type and set of climatic conditions.
 HIGHLIGHTS
4. Extinction is due to human activities as well as
inherent characteristics of organisms.

5. The human activity with the greatest threat to

species is habitat destruction.

6. In-situ and Ex-situ conservation strategies are used

to protect species from extinction.
 BIODIVERSITY
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
& BIOMES
Originally Compiled Raymond Martin
By:
First Revision By: Nikki Bramwell, Raymond Martin
and Damian Nesbeth
Second Revision By: Christine O’Sullivan, May 2012

Third Revision By: Christine O’Sullivan, January 2016

Fourth Revision By: Nikki Bramwell, June 2017

Updated By: Christine O’Sullivan, June 2021