Ecology Biodiversity

a) What is biodiversity and what is the importance of preserving it?

Biodiversity is the variety of life. It includes the different life forms in every organization level in which nature is expressed. It is important to preserve it because it can be lost, and it´s part of our cultural wealth.

b) What are the natural resources, what is their classification and the relevance of taking care of them?

Natural resources are the resources that nature give us in order to complete all our needs, the natural resources are classified into renewable and non-renewable, I think it is important for us to care of them, because non- renewable like its name says they can’t be regenerated, and the even the renewable can take many years to regenerate.

c) What are the factors that cause the loss of these resources and biodiversity?

-The loss or deterioration of habitat through deforestation, agriculture, stockbreeding, mining, urban development.

-The introduction of exotic or invasive species, producing plagues and population reduction.

-Overexploitation: logging, hunting, fishing, among others.

-Contamination: air, water and soil as well as industrial activities, ranching, agricultural and urban activities.

-Climate change. what happens if they modify or decrease in an ecosystem?

d) What can we do to prevent t?

Some alternatives that could help to preserve the resources are:

-Protection and conservation in natural reserves. Terrestrial and marine areas of a country that are specifically destined to the protection of life and its natural and cultural resources.

-Sustainable use of natural ecosystems. Alternative uses for the preservation and sustainability of natural resources management.

-Ecologic restoration. A series of practices aimed to the restoration of the structure and operation of the affected ecosystems.

e) What are your advices to the community in order to preserve them?

First make consciousness on people that the biodiversity and the resources can be lost, then when they are aware, I would advise them to follow some of the alternatives which I already mentioned.

f) The top mega-diverse countries and why are they mega-diverse?

They are mega diverse because they are located in, or partially in, tropical or subtropical regions. Some example of this countries are Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Australia, Madagascar etc.

g) What is a threatened species and what is an endangered species? Give five examples for each one.

A threatened species are any species (including animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future, and endangered species, is the a species which is likely to be extinct.

Threatened: African Elephant, Great White Shark, Forest Elephant, Marine Iguana, Polar Bear.

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