Biodiversity

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Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is measured by the amount of
  different species that can be found within an
  ecosystem.
• Stable ecosystems help to sustain biodiversity.
• Habitats must be preserved to protect endangered
  species and maintain biodiversity.
• Destruction of habitat, invasive species and
  pollutants threaten biodiversity

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Examples

• Lets look at some living examples of the
  incredible diversity of our planet

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Larger than life (well, at least the largest)

• What is the largest organism in the world?
• The honey mushroom.
• One of these fungi found in Oregon is 5.6 km long
  and covers an area of more than 1,600 football
  fields.

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The fungus, also known as the honey mushroom,
spreads below ground by sending out these stringy
rhizomorphs.
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Temperature Range
A bacteria known as Strain 121 was found living
around hydrothermal vents. This bacteria can
survive at temperatures of up to 121º C.
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Speed- The berserk Basilisk Lizard
The basilisk lizard runs so fast that it is able
to run right over water. (5.4 km/h)
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Meet Bill and Sam
The Red-knobbed hornbill (above) and the Toucan
(left)
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Cute?
Deep sea fish come in allsorts of unusual forms.
This is a Psychrolutes fish found over 1000m deep
off the coast of Australia.
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Mr. Mom
With seahorses, it is the male that becomes
pregnant and gives birth to the young.
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Lighten up a little
Many Jellyfish and some other animals like the
firefly are able to produce their own light using
bioluminescence (symbiosis with bacteria).
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A Knock Out
The Pistol shrimp uses its claw to shoot a
shockwave bubble at its prey. When this bubble
collapses it releases enough energy to kill its
prey.
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The Hardy Cockroach
Cockroaches are resistant to radiation, and able
to live for up to a week without a head.
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The Flying Squirrel
These animals are found throughout Canadian
forests. They have loose skin between their legs
that allows them to glide from tree to tree.
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Flying Fish
These fish found throughout tropical oceans are
capable of flying for up to 100m in distance and
1m out of the water. These fish use their unusual
talent to escape predators. Unfortunately for the
one on the right, flying didnt help him escape
Charlie.
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Its a bird! Its a plane! Its a snake?
The Flying Snake
Several types of tree snakes are able to flatten
out their bodies and glide from tree to tree like
a piece of ribbon.
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Eggstraordinary Mammals
The platypus and the echidna are both found in
Australia and are the only mammals that lay eggs.
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I oughter ring your neck
The Nene Goose (on the left) is found in Hawaii
and is a relative to the Canadian goose (below).
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The Rhinoceros Beetle
This beetle is one of the strongest organisms
(relative to its size) on the earth. It can lift
850 times its own weight.
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An exhibitionist
The naked Mole-rat has very little fur. These
animals can be found in Ethiopia, central
Somalia, and Kenya.
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The fast and the furious
The cheetah is the fastest animal on land. It can
run up to 112 km/h. Fast enough to get it a
speeding ticket on the 401.
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A super star
The Star-nosed mole can be found throughout
eastern Canada. It prefers swampy habitats. The
nose for which it is named, is the most tactilely
sensitive in the animal kingdom.
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The Tarsier
This interesting animal can be found in
southeastern Asia. The tarsier is classified as a
suborder of primate and is the smallest known
primate measuring 15 to 18 cm in length.
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