Ecosystem Diversity

Summary

In this environmental science video, Mr. Andersen discusses ecosystem diversity and its importance to the economy. He explains that the Earth's ecosystem services, such as oxygen production and water filtration, are more valuable than the world's gross product. Biodiversity, measured by species, genetic, and ecosystem variety, is crucial for these services. Speciation through evolution increases species, while extinction decreases them. The video highlights the four areas of ecosystem services: supporting life, provisioning resources, regulating the planet, and cultural significance, emphasizing the need to protect biodiversity for both ethical and economic reasons.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Earth's economy, valued at 75 trillion dollars, is dwarfed by the value of ecosystem services, which are essential for human life and are provided for free by nature.
• 🌿 Ecosystem diversity is crucial for the efficiency of ecosystem services such as oxygen production, soil formation, nutrient recycling, and water filtration.
• 🐘 Biodiversity is measured by the variety of species on Earth, which is increased through speciation and decreased through extinction.
• 🌱 Speciation, the process by which one species becomes two, is driven by evolution through natural selection, adapting organisms to their environments over time.
• 🦕 Extinctions, the process by which species become zero, are currently occurring at an unprecedented rate, largely due to human activities.
• 🌳 Ecosystem services can be categorized into four areas: supporting services (like photosynthesis and nutrient cycling), provisioning services (like food and water), regulating services (like water filtration and climate regulation), and cultural services (like ecotourism and spiritual significance).
• 🌱 The variety of species on Earth is a result of evolution from a common ancestor, as depicted in the branching tree of life and cladograms showing genetic relationships.
• 🌿 Genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity are also important measures of biodiversity, in addition to species diversity.
• 💸 Protecting biodiversity is not only the right thing to do but also makes economic sense, as the loss of species can lead to a decrease in valuable ecosystem services.
• 🌐 The Earth has experienced five mass extinctions, and many scientists argue we are on the verge of a sixth, largely caused by human actions.

Q & A

What is the relationship between economic value and ecosystem services?

The world's gross product, valued at 75 trillion dollars, is dwarfed by the value of ecosystem services, which are the natural processes the planet provides for free, such as oxygen production, soil formation, nutrient recycling, and water filtration.

How does biodiversity contribute to the efficiency of ecosystem services?

Biodiversity enhances the efficiency of ecosystem services because a greater diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems can lead to more robust and resilient ecosystems, which in turn provide these services more effectively.

What are the three ways to measure biodiversity on Earth?

Biodiversity can be measured by the variety of species, the variety of genes within those species, and the variety of ecosystems present on the planet.

How does speciation increase the number of species on Earth?

Speciation occurs when one species evolves into two distinct species, often due to geographic isolation and subsequent adaptation to different environments, leading to reproductive isolation.

What is the role of natural selection in speciation?

Natural selection is the primary mechanism of speciation, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the evolution of new species over time.

How does extinction decrease the number of species?

Extinction occurs when a species can no longer survive in its environment, often due to environmental changes or human activities, leading to the permanent loss of that species from the planet.

What are the four areas in which ecosystems provide services?

Ecosystems provide services in four areas: supporting services (like photosynthesis and nutrient cycling), provisioning services (like food and water), regulating services (like water filtration and climate regulation), and cultural services (like recreational and educational opportunities).

Why is it important to protect biodiversity from a monetary perspective?

Protecting biodiversity is important from a monetary perspective because the ecosystem services it provides are invaluable and irreplaceable. The loss of biodiversity can lead to increased costs for services that were previously provided for free by nature.

What is the significance of the cladogram in understanding biodiversity?

A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various species, illustrating how they have diverged from common ancestors. It helps in understanding the process of speciation and the interconnectedness of life on Earth.

How does the concept of the sixth mass extinction relate to human activities?

The concept of the sixth mass extinction is linked to human activities such as habitat destruction, overexploitation of resources, pollution, and climate change, which are causing species to go extinct at an unprecedented rate.

What is the significance of the branching tree of life in the context of biodiversity?

The branching tree of life represents the evolutionary history of species on Earth, showing how all life forms are connected through a common ancestry. It underscores the importance of maintaining biodiversity for the health and resilience of ecosystems.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Ecosystem Diversity and Services

This paragraph introduces the concept of ecosystem diversity and its importance to the economy and human society. It discusses how the Earth's ecosystems provide essential services for free, such as oxygen production, soil formation, nutrient recycling, and water filtration, which are collectively known as ecosystem services. The paragraph emphasizes that the more diverse the ecosystems, the better these services are provided. It also touches on the economic value of biodiversity, which is measured not only by the variety of species but also by genetic and ecosystem diversity. The video explains how speciation through evolution by natural selection increases species diversity, while extinction decreases it. The concept of a cladogram is introduced to illustrate the relationships between different species and how speciation occurs when populations become separated and adapt to different environments. The paragraph concludes by discussing the potential sixth mass extinction, largely caused by human activities, and its implications for the loss of ecosystem services.

05:02

🐟 Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity

Paragraph two delves into the different types of ecosystem services that support human life, including production (photosynthesis), provisioning (food, water, lumber, minerals, and energy), regulation (water filtration, decomposition, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation), and cultural significance (historical, spiritual, educational, and recreational values). The paragraph highlights that these services are provided by the planet without direct cost to humans, but their loss due to human activities could result in significant economic and societal impacts. The video script challenges viewers to recall and fill in key points about biodiversity, speciation, and ecosystem services, emphasizing the importance of protecting biodiversity not only for ethical reasons but also for its monetary value and the ecosystem services it provides.

Keywords

💡Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems on Earth, each with its own unique set of organisms and environmental conditions. It is crucial for the health and resilience of the planet, as it ensures a wide range of ecosystem services. In the video, Mr. Andersen emphasizes that the more diverse the ecosystems, the better they perform in providing these services, which are essential for human life and the economy.

💡Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, such as the production of food, water purification, and climate regulation. These services are often taken for granted but are vital for human well-being and have significant economic value. The video explains that these services are provided 'for free' by nature, highlighting their importance in supporting human activities and the economy.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a measure of the variety of life on Earth, including the number of species, genetic diversity within species, and the variety of ecosystems. It is a key indicator of the health of our planet and is closely linked to the quality of ecosystem services. The video discusses how biodiversity is impacted by both speciation and extinction, and its importance in maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

💡Speciation

Speciation is the process by which new species evolve from existing ones. It is a key mechanism for increasing biodiversity and is driven by evolution through natural selection. In the video, Mr. Andersen uses the example of fish in separate ponds to illustrate how speciation can occur over time due to environmental changes and adaptation.

💡Extinction

Extinction is the permanent loss of a species, reducing biodiversity and the variety of life on Earth. It can occur naturally but is currently being accelerated by human activities, leading to a potential sixth mass extinction. The video discusses the concept of extinction in the context of the loss of ecosystem services and the urgent need for conservation.

💡Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process by which organisms with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the gradual evolution of species. It is the primary mechanism of speciation and is illustrated in the video using the example of bacteria with varying resistance to antibiotics.

💡Cladogram

A cladogram is a branching diagram used in biology to represent the evolutionary relationships among species or other taxa. It shows how species diverge from a common ancestor, leading to speciation. The video uses a cladogram to visually explain the concept of speciation and the branching tree of life.

💡Mass Extinction

Mass extinction refers to a widespread and rapid die-off of species, leading to a significant loss of biodiversity. The video mentions five major mass extinctions in Earth's history, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, and suggests that we are currently on the verge of a sixth, largely due to human activities.

💡Economic Value

The economic value mentioned in the video refers to the monetary worth of goods and services produced by the global economy. It is contrasted with the immense, often unquantifiable, value of ecosystem services provided by nature. The video argues for the protection of biodiversity not only for ethical reasons but also because of its significant economic importance.

💡Cultural Significance

Cultural significance in the context of the video refers to the non-material values that ecosystems hold for human societies, such as historical, spiritual, educational, and recreational values. These values contribute to the overall importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, emphasizing the multifaceted benefits that nature provides to humans.

Highlights

Ecosystem diversity is crucial for the life support systems of the planet.

The world's gross product is valued at 75 trillion dollars, yet it's dwarfed by the value of ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services are natural processes that the planet provides for free, such as oxygen production and water filtration.

Diversity in ecosystems enhances the efficiency of these free services.

Biodiversity can be measured through species variety, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Speciation, driven by evolution through natural selection, increases the number of species on the planet.

Extinction is the process that decreases species numbers, with humans currently causing a mass extinction event.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution suggests all life shares a common ancestor, visualized as a branching tree of life.

Cladograms illustrate genetic relationships and speciation events among different species.

Natural selection acts on genetic variation within a population, leading to speciation over time.

Environmental changes can lead to extinction, reducing the number of species and the associated ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services fall into four categories: supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.

Supporting services include photosynthesis, soil formation, and nutrient recycling, all essential for life.

Provisioning services encompass food, water, lumber, minerals, and energy, provided by the planet at no cost.

Regulating services such as water filtration and climate regulation are naturally occurring and cost-effective.

Cultural significance includes the value of ecosystems for historical, spiritual, educational, and recreational purposes.

Protecting biodiversity is not only morally right but also economically sensible due to the value of ecosystem services.

Transcripts

Hi. It’s Mr. Andersen and this is environmental science video 9. It is on ecosystem diversity.

A model we have talked a lot about so far is this idea that the earth provides life

support for the society of humans which is driven by economy. Now economics is the choices

that we are making but economy, if we put a monetary value on it is going to be a really

large number. It is 75 trillion dollars. That is the world gross product. That is what we

make, products, and also what we do, the services. It is a huge number but it is actually small

compared to what is called ecosystem services. That is what the planet does, what the planet

makes and what the planet does for us. And it does that for free. In other words it makes

oxygen. It makes soil. It recycles nutrients, filters water. And so it is doing that for

free. And it is more efficient the more diverse the ecosystems on our planet are. The more

diversity we have the better it is for ecosystem services. And as we degrade ecosystems we

are going to have to take on some of that cost. Biodiversity is a measure of the variety

of life on our planet. One way to measure that is the variety of species on our planet.

How do we increase the number of species? We do that through speciation. The mechanism

by which that occurs is evolution by natural selection. Now how do we decrease the number

of species? That is through extinction. That is one way to measure biodiversity. What is

another way to measure it? We could measure genetic diversity. Or we could measure ecosystem

diversity. All of the different ecosystems that we have on our planet. And that lends

itself to this idea of ecosystem services, what the world can do for us. And it really

does things in four different areas that we will talk about in this video. Supporting

us, provisioning us, regulating the planet and there is also cultural significance as

well. So we can measure biodiversity on our planet in one of three ways. We could measure

the different types of ecosystems that we have. The different species that we have.

Or the different genes that we have within those individuals. But if we take species,

as an example because that drives everything else, how did we get the variety of species

on our planet? That is through evolution. So Darwin pointed out that all life on our

planet shares one common ancestor. A branching tree of life. Now that is not super accurate.

Let me show you a scientific one. This is a cladogram that is showing how dolphins,

whales, hippos, dogs are all related. And so they are looking at genetics similarities.

But what you find is this cladogram that is branching out, just like this tree of life.

And so there are going to be areas where it branches. And so one becomes two. We call

that speciation. One species becoming two species. And that is how we increase the number

of species on the planet. Now how do we decrease the number of species? You can see that on

this cladogram as well. Some of these are fossils and that is because they are extinct.

In other words they are grayed out on this cladogram. That is when one species becomes

zero species. It takes a lot longer for speciation to occur then extinction. So what is the major

mechanism of speciation? It is evolution through natural selection. If you are not sure how

that works imagine we have some bacteria. And here is different types of bacteria. They

have varying levels of resistance to an antibiotic. And so let’s say you take an antibiotic.

Which of these are going to be killed? Well the ones that are least resistant. So once

we take the antibiotic, this is after selection or after that selective process. And so now

where is our final population. It is evolving over time. And that is how humans have become

better adapted to their environment. But if we look at speciation, how does that occur?

Well imagine we have a group of fish that are in a pond. And they are interbreeding

with each other, we will call them one species. And they somehow get separated. Maybe it dries

up and now we have two ponds. And so what happens over thousands and thousands of years

is that they each are going to adapt to their environment. And so they are going to be perfectly

adapted to that. So maybe there are changes in size, changes in coloration, changes in

behavior. And so they are now becoming two species. How do we know that? Let’s say

that we put them back together again, let’s say the pond grows again. If they quit interbreeding

with each other now we know that two species have evolved. Now this takes a long time for

this to occur but let’s say the climate changes. Let’s say the environment changes

and all of that species goes away. That is called extinction. It is going from that one

species to zero species. And this occurs, we can look back in the geologic time, it

occurs all the time. And so we have had five mass extinctions over time. So we are looking

back here, millions of years in the past, and this is extinction rates. And so there

are lots of different causes. The one you are probably familiar with is the asteroid

impact that caused this extinction of the dinosaurs. Now most scientists would argue

that we are on the verge of what is called the sixth mass extinction. In other words

we are seeing extinction of species at a rate that we have never seen in the past. Now who

is causing that? That is humans that are causing it. And it is a big deal because the earth

provides these ecosystem services, services that we need. If we were to say what are those?

They are in these four areas. And lets go through each of those. First of all they support

us. They support us through number one production. In other words plants and the process of photosynthesis

makes food and it also makes oxygen that we breathe. It also is making the soil that we

use to grow our crops. And is also recycling nutrients. These are all ecosystem services,

things that the earth does for free that we utilize. We could also look at provisioning

services, so they are making the provisions, the food that we eat. So seafood comes from

the sea. Water we are getting. Lumber. We could look at minerals or even energy from

the sun. So that is all provided from the planet itself at no cost to us. We could also

look at regulation. So filtration of water occurs naturally. We do not have to filter

the water. The ecosystem is doing that. Now if the ecosystem is gone and we have to make

water filtration it is going to cost us a lot more. Decomposition. We could talk about

carbon sequestration or climate regulation. These are all services that the ecosystem

provides. And it also provides cultural significance. Be it historical, spiritual, maybe educational

or recreational. Think about if we put a monetary value on ecotourism that comes from that area,

it is hugely valuable. And so it is important that we protect the diversity from a monetary

prospective. Not just because it is the right thing to do but it makes sense monetarily.

And so did you learn the following. Could you pause the video and fill in all the blanks?

If not, let me do it for you. And so biodiversity is a variety of life. We can measure that

in the variety of species. Also genes and ecosystems. So how do we increase the number

of species? Speciation, evolution through natural selection. How do we decrease it?

Through extinctions. Ecosystems provide ecosystem services that could be supporting us, provisioning

us, regulating and cultural services. So I hope you got that and I hope that was helpful.