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Summary
• Biodiversity is important to the
health of the biosphere
• There are three types of
biodiversity: genetic, species,
and ecosystem
• Biodiversity has aesthetic and
scientific values, and direct and
indirect economic value.
• It is important to maintain
biodiversity to preserve the
reservoir of genes that might
be needed in the future.
• Healthy ecosystems can
provide some services at a
lesser expense than the use of
technology.
Demonstrate Understanding
1.
Explain
why sustaining biodiversity is essential to
supporting and enhancing life on Earth.
2.
Explain
how extinction affects biodiversity.
3.
Generalize
why maintaining biodiversity has a direct
economic value to humans.
4.
Differentiate
between the direct and indirect economic
value of biodiversity.
5.
Evaluate and discuss
the importance of maintaining
biodiversity for future medical needs.
Explain Your Thinking
6.
Design
a course of action for the development of a
building project in your community, such as a housing
development, city park, or highway, that provides for
the maintenance of biodiversity in the plan.
7.
Connection
WRITING
Write
an argument that
describes the importance of maintaining genetic
diversity in domesticated animals, such as dogs, cats,
pigs, cattle, and chickens. Include the advantages and
disadvantages in your report.
Check Your Progress
The body of water shown in
Figure 8
is Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay in California. This area is an
environment with many aesthetic qualities. Lake Tahoe was once pristine, but urbanization,
increased runoff, and other forms of pollution have harmed the environment’s health. Invasive
species such as clams, pond weed, and even domestic goldfish have also upset the lake’s ecosys-
tem. Many groups are working together to remedy these problems, and to try to keep Lake
Tahoe healthy and beautiful.
There is also value in scientific study of the environment. Every human on the planet is part of
Earth’s biosphere, so study of the environment has the potential to benefit everyone. Attempting
to solve a problem often brings diverse groups of people together. Each group can have their own
ideas about how to approach the situation. Bringing together these different perspectives not only
increases the likelihood of finding a solution, it can also lead to a greater understanding of other
cultures or groups. Bringing together people to study the environment can also lead to the
formation and development of new technologies.
Sometimes the scientific benefits of biodiverse ecosystems can be difficult for people to see or
understand. However, many scientists are finding ways to show the value in protecting and study-
ing the environment.
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Module 5 • Biodiversity and Conservation