Biodiversity refers to the diverse variety of life forms existing on Earth. It encompasses life at multiple levels, ranging from variations in genes among individuals of the same species to the wide array of distinct species and diverse ecosystems. By studying evolutionary relationships through phylogeny and understanding both in situ and ex situ conservation methods, humans can appreciate and protect the biological wealth that sustains ecological balance and human survival.
Biodiversity exists at three levels, while land plants share a branching evolutionary history from green algae to angiosperms.
Gene variations within a population and between different populations of the same species.
Variation and variability of organisms on Earth, comprising species richness and species evenness.
Biotic communities and ecological processes in terrestrial, marine and aquatic environments.
Biodiversity — the diverse variety of life forms existing on Earth. It is divided into three distinct types: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
Refers to the gene variations of an individual within a population and gene variations between different populations of the same species. Differences in genes arise due to individual isolation and adaptation to differing environments. No two individuals of the exact same species are identical. For example, the huge variety in gene combinations provides genetic variation in cultivated rice (paddy), yielding many varieties worldwide.
Refers to the variation and variability of organisms on Earth. It encompasses two components: species richness and species evenness. Tropical rainforests possess huge species diversities, containing 5 to 10 million insect species and over two million species of flowering plants.
Refers to the biotic community and ecological processes occurring in ecosystems on land, in the sea, and across other aquatic environments. Diverse ecosystems rich in biodiversity include oceans, deserts, and swamps.
Phylogeny is the evolutionary history of a species or a group of organisms that are genetically linked. A phylogenetic tree is a branching diagram that represents hypotheses on evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms. Branches indicate how groups diverge from a common ancestor.
Homologous structures are body parts or anatomical structures observed across multiple organisms that share a common ancestor, even though the functions of these structures may differ. The forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats share the identical skeletal framework: humerus, radius, ulna, carpal, metacarpal, and phalanx. They differ in size, length, and specific function, proving they originated and diverged from one common ancestor.
Evidence suggests land plants evolved from a common ancestor: green algae. The evolutionary sequence is: non-vascular plants (mosses) → seedless vascular plants (ferns) → seed plants, which split into gymnosperms (non-flowering vascular plants with seeds, e.g., conifers) and angiosperms (flowering vascular plants with seeds enclosed inside fruits). Angiosperms are considered the most successful plants because their seeds are enclosed inside fruits to ensure species survival.
Answer in your mind, then press “Check Answer”.
What are the two main components that define species diversity in a biological community?
Why are the forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats considered homologous structures?
What is the main difference between in situ conservation and ex situ conservation?
Genetic diversity means differences between entirely different species.
Genetic diversity refers to variations in genes among individuals of the same species (both within one population and between different populations).
Angiosperms are primitive land plants because they rely on fruit.
Angiosperms are the most advanced and successful land plants because their enclosed seeds inside fruits protect the embryo and maximise survival.
Ex situ conservation means abandoning animals in damaged forests.
Ex situ conservation refers to deliberate human-managed care outside their native natural habitats, such as in botanical gardens, seed banks, or accredited zoos.
Objective: test your understanding of biodiversity, phylogeny, plant evolution and conservation.
1 Which group of land plants is considered the most successful because their seeds are enclosed inside fruits to ensure species survival?
2 What term describes anatomical body parts across different organisms that originate from a common ancestor but perform different functions?
3 Species diversity includes the total number of species in a community, known as species richness, and the relative species distribution in a community, known as species .
4 Conserving wildlife within their natural habitat, such as in national parks and permanent forest reserves, is called conservation.
Match each conservation method or evolutionary plant group to its correct textbook description. On a phone, tap a choice first, then tap the matching box. Tap the Answer Choices area to return a selected item.
Write the correct category or concept next to each description.
Answer choices: In situ conservation • Ex situ conservation • Non-vascular plants • Gymnosperms
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