Introduction To Biodiversity

What is Biodiversity???
 Biological diversity
 Simply means the diversity,
or variety, of plants and
animals and other living
things in a particular area or
region
 Also means the number, or
abundance of different
species living within a
particular region
 Okay, So Why Is It Important?
 Everything that lives in an ecosystem is part of the web of
life, including humans
 Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place on
the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life
 Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend upon
one another for what each offers, such as food, shelter,
oxygen, and soil enrichment
 "It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be diminished
indefinitely without threatening humanity itself." -Edward
O. Wilson (Father of Biodiversity)
 Early Classification
 To study the diversity of life, biologists use a classification system to
name organisms and group them in a logical manner.
 The field of Biology that deals with classifying organisms is called
Taxonomy.
 Carolus Linnaeus is the father of Modern Taxonomy (1700’s)

•Linnaeus is considered the founder

of the binomial system of
nomenclature and the originator of
modern scientific classification of
plants and animals
 Hierarchy
S y s t e m O f C la s s if i c a t io n

H ie r a r c h y
R a n k in g S y s t e m

K in g d o m P h y lu m C la s s O rd e r F a m i ly G enus S p e c ie s