Biodiversity

Summary

In the final video of the series, Mr. Andersen discusses the concept of biodiversity, highlighting its importance in maintaining ecosystem balance. He introduces keystone species like sea otters and jaguars, which play a crucial role in their ecosystems. The script also touches on human impact, such as monoculture farming, which reduces biodiversity. Mr. Andersen emphasizes the rapid loss of genetic diversity and the need for conservation, concluding with a thought-provoking quote from EO Wilson about the long-term consequences of habitat destruction.

Takeaways

• 🌿 **Biodiversity Importance**: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in terms of species, genes, and ecosystems, and it's crucial for the balance and health of our planet.
• 🔬 **EO Wilson's Legacy**: Considered a modern-day Darwin, EO Wilson is known for his work on ants and his emphasis on the significance of biodiversity.
• 🌐 **Encyclopedia of Life**: Wilson's TED wish was an encyclopedia of life, a website to catalog all species, highlighting the vastness of life forms on Earth.
• 👁️ **Personal Struggles and Focus**: Wilson's poor vision led him to focus on the smaller aspects of ecology, such as ants, rather than broader ecological studies.
• 🌳 **Ecosystems in Flux**: Ecosystems are dynamic and change with the environment, and human impact is accelerating these changes.
• 🐾 **Keystone Species**: Keystone species, like sea otters and jaguars, play a disproportionately important role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems.
• 🌾 **Monoculture Impact**: Monoculture farming practices reduce biodiversity by favoring a single species over a diverse range of life forms.
• 📊 **Species Discovery**: We have identified only a fraction of the estimated millions of insect species, indicating a vast amount of life forms yet to be discovered.
• 🌱 **Genetic Diversity**: The genetic diversity of our planet is decreasing faster than we can identify new species, underscoring the urgency to preserve biodiversity.
• 🏰 **Keystone Species Analogy**: The keystone of an arch is crucial for its stability; similarly, keystone species are essential for the structure and function of ecosystems.
• 🌊 **Sea Otter's Role**: Sea otters, by controlling sea urchin populations, protect kelp forests that are vital habitats for many fish species.

Q & A

Who is EO Wilson and why is he significant in the context of biodiversity?

EO Wilson is considered a modern-day Darwin and is often referred to as the father of biodiversity. He is famous for his work with ants, understanding how they communicate using chemicals, and his contributions to the study of biodiversity and the importance of life on our planet.

What is the encyclopedia of life that EO Wilson was excited about?

The encyclopedia of life is an idea proposed by EO Wilson for a website where all life on our planet could be organized, with each species getting its own page that could infinitely grow with information.

How did EO Wilson's childhood injury affect his focus in the field of biology?

EO Wilson injured his eye as a child while fishing, which resulted in poor vision. Instead of focusing on large-scale ecology, he concentrated on smaller organisms, particularly ants.

What is biodiversity and how is it defined in the script?

Biodiversity is defined as the variation in life, which can refer to the variety of species, genes, or ecosystems on our planet. It essentially measures how much variation we have in life.

What is the role of biodiversity in ecosystems, especially with changing environments?

Biodiversity is crucial in ecosystems as it provides variation that allows ecosystems to adapt and remain balanced amidst changing environments, especially those changes accelerated by human impact.

What is a keystone species and how does it impact an ecosystem?

A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. Removing a keystone species can cause the ecosystem to become unstable or even collapse.

Can you provide examples of keystone species mentioned in the script?

Examples of keystone species mentioned are sea otters and jaguars. Sea otters control sea urchin populations, which in turn maintain kelp forests. Jaguars, as predators, control populations of various species in their ecosystem.

How does monoculture farming decrease biodiversity?

Monoculture farming decreases biodiversity by replacing diverse ecosystems with a single crop species, reducing both the number of species and genetic variability in the area.

What is the current status of species discovery on Earth according to the script?

The script suggests that we have discovered only a small portion of the estimated 9 million insect species on Earth, and the actual number of species yet to be discovered could be much higher.

What is the significance of genetic diversity and why is it decreasing?

Genetic diversity is significant because it allows species to adapt to changing environments. It is decreasing at a rate faster than we can identify it, largely due to the destruction of natural habitats.

What quote from EO Wilson is shared in the script, and what does it imply?

EO Wilson's quote implies that the loss of genetic and species diversity due to habitat destruction is a grave mistake that future generations are unlikely to forgive, emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Biodiversity

Mr. Andersen welcomes viewers to the final video in a series of 55, focusing on biodiversity. He mentions EO Wilson, a modern-day Darwin, who is celebrated for his work on ants and the concept of biodiversity. Wilson's idea of an encyclopedia of life, a website organizing all species, is highlighted. Biodiversity is defined as the variation in life, including species, genes, and ecosystems. The importance of biodiversity is underscored by the fact that ecosystems are dynamic and under threat from human-induced environmental changes. The concept of keystone species, which are disproportionately important to an ecosystem's health, is introduced with sea otters and jaguars as examples.

05:03

🐅 Keystone Species and Their Impact

This section delves into the role of keystone species in ecosystems. Jaguars in South America are highlighted for their wide-ranging diet, which includes up to 87 different species, thus controlling population sizes and maintaining balance. Similarly, sea otters are discussed for their role in controlling sea urchin populations, which in turn protects kelp forests. The removal of keystone species can lead to significant ecosystem disruption. The narrative also touches on human impact, such as changes in orca diet due to human activities, and the rapid decrease in genetic diversity as species are lost faster than they can be identified. The segment concludes with a quote from EO Wilson emphasizing the irreversible damage caused by the destruction of habitats and the loss of biodiversity.

Keywords

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms and levels of organization, including species, genes, and ecosystems. In the video, biodiversity is discussed as a critical component of ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of variation in life forms. It is highlighted by the presenter as a key factor in maintaining the balance and health of ecosystems, especially in the face of environmental changes caused by human activities.

💡EO Wilson

EO Wilson, often called the father of biodiversity, is a renowned biologist known for his work on ants and chemical communication, as well as his contributions to the understanding of biodiversity. In the video, Mr. Andersen mentions having met Wilson and discusses Wilson's vision for an encyclopedia of life, which would catalog all species on Earth, reflecting his dedication to preserving and understanding biodiversity.

💡Encyclopedia of Life

The Encyclopedia of Life is an idea proposed by EO Wilson for a comprehensive digital resource that would provide information on every known species on Earth. Each species would have its own page, allowing for a vast and growing database of life. The video mentions this as Wilson's TED wish, illustrating his commitment to biodiversity education and awareness.

💡Ecosystem

An ecosystem is defined as a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. The video script uses ecosystems as a central concept to discuss how biodiversity is maintained within them and how human impacts, such as climate change, can disrupt these systems.

💡Keystone Species

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. The video gives examples like sea otters and jaguars, which play critical roles in their respective ecosystems. The removal of a keystone species can lead to significant changes or even collapse of the ecosystem, emphasizing their importance in maintaining biodiversity.

💡Monoculture

Monoculture is the practice of cultivating a single crop or species over a large area, which is mentioned in the video as a human activity that reduces biodiversity. The script describes how converting forests into monoculture farms, such as potato fields, leads to a decrease in species and genetic variability, negatively impacting biodiversity.

💡Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a species or a population. The video script discusses how human activities are reducing genetic diversity at a faster rate than it can be identified or cataloged, which is a significant concern for the long-term health of ecosystems and the planet.

💡Climate Change

Climate change is a significant theme in the video, discussed in the context of its impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. The presenter mentions that climate change, particularly due to human activities, is causing rapid environmental changes that ecosystems must adapt to, often with the help of biodiversity to maintain balance.

💡Species Discovery

Species discovery is the process of identifying and cataloging new species. The video script highlights that despite the vast number of species on Earth, many are yet to be discovered. This underscores the importance of biodiversity research and conservation efforts to understand and protect the full spectrum of life on our planet.

💡Human Impact

Human impact is a recurring theme in the video, with a focus on how human activities, such as farming and deforestation, are reducing biodiversity. The script discusses the consequences of these impacts, such as the loss of species and genetic diversity, and the potential collapse of ecosystems.

💡Folley

In the context of the video, 'folley' is a term used by EO Wilson to describe the irreversible mistakes that future generations are unlikely to forgive. The video uses this term to emphasize the long-term consequences of current actions that harm biodiversity and natural habitats.

Highlights

Introduction to the final video on biodiversity

EO Wilson, a modern-day Darwin, is introduced as a key figure in biodiversity

EO Wilson's TED wish for an encyclopedia of life website

Wilson's childhood injury leading to a focus on small ecology and ants

Importance of biodiversity in ecosystems and its variation

The concept of ecosystems being in flux due to environmental changes

Definition of biodiversity as variation in life

The role of keystone species in maintaining ecosystem balance

Examples of keystone species: sea otters and jaguars

Monoculture farming's impact on decreasing biodiversity

Graph showing the number of species on Earth, discovered and undiscovered

The rate of genetic diversity loss outpacing species identification

The analogy of a keystone in architecture to explain keystone species

The jaguar's role as a keystone species in South American ecosystems

Sea otters as keystone species maintaining kelp forest health

EO Wilson's quote on the irreversible loss of biodiversity

The call to action for humans as keystone species to make positive changes

Transcripts

Hi. It's Mr. Andersen and welcome to biology essentials video 55. This is on

biodiversity. This is video 55 of 55 videos. So this is the last one. You made it to the

end. And so if you made it the whole way from the first video on natural selection to this

last video, congratulations. If not, I better get started because you want to know about

biodiversity. I started with Darwin and I end with EO Wilson. EO Wilson is kind of a

modern day Darwin. He's famous. And some people would call him the father of biodiversity.

I got a chance to meet him last year and talk to him for just briefly. But what he was excited

about was the encyclopedia of life. It was his TED wish. This idea that we could have

a website where we organize all life on our planet. Each organism or each species gets

its own page. And it can infinitely grow from there. And so it was fun to talk to him. He

actually injured his eye when he was a child fishing. Set the hook and the fish got caught

in his eye. And so he ended up having poor vision. And so instead of concentrating on

the big of ecology he concentrated on the small. And he's famous for his work with ants.

Understanding how they communicate using chemicals. And so we owe a lot to him. But he also studied

the importance of biodiversity. The importance of life on our planet and the amount of life

that we have. And so I'll leave you with a quote at the end from EO Wilson. But I better

get started on biodiversity. Remember, ecosystems are large areas where the climate is the same,

but they are constantly in flux with the changing environment. And as that environment changes,

and environments are changing especially fast now due to human impact, it's important that

you have biodiversity or variation in ecosystems. And so biodiversity is a pretty big term.

We could define it in a couple of different ways. But I'm mostly going to kind of talk

about ecosystem biodiversity. And then concentrate on keystone species. And so a keystone species

is essentially one species in an ecosystem that is disproportionally move important than

other species. In other words when you remove it the ecosystem has a tendency to fall apart.

I'll talk about sea otters and jaguars as examples of keystone species. But first of

all what is biodiversity? Biodiversity is essentially variation in life. And when we

talk about biodiversity we could be talking about the actual species that we have. We

could be talking about the genes that we have. Or we could be talking about the ecosystems

that we have on our planet. But essentially it's how much variation we have in life. And

so this rainforest in Australia must be balanced between all of the species that live there.

And then increasingly impacts that humans are going to have as we start to change the

climate and as we start to effect ecosystems. And so this is a picture of some fruit found

in a forest in Panama. And so as we look in rain forests we surely have an increase in

biodiversity. But humans are starting to do things that will actually decrease biodiversity.

So farming is great. We need food obviously. But what we're doing with a lot of our farming

is we're farming using what's called a monoculture. So we're just planting one thing. So this

used to be a forest. We cut it down. We're just planting potatoes. And when we do that,

we're decreasing the amount of the area of life where we can have a diversity of life.

And we're replacing it with just one species of potato. So we're decreasing the species.

And we're decreasing that genetic variability. And I love this graph over here. What it shows

you essentially is how many species we have on our planet. And how many of those we've

actually discovered. And how many scientists think we have yet to discover. So insects

when they publish this table, they thought there were around maybe 9 million species

of insects on our planet. But we've only identified a small portion of that. Same with plants.

Arachnids. Mushrooms. We've always discovered much less than half of the species that are

still found on our planet. And some scientists would push this number way out here. Maybe

close to like 30 million types of insects. And we've only identified a small percentage

of those. And so we're at a weird time where the amount of genetic diversity that we have

on our planet is decreasing at a rate much faster than we can actually identify it. And

that's why biodiversity is important. Now one thing I want to talk about in this podcast

is the idea of a keystone species. A keystone is a great analogy. So if you're building

an arch, an arch essentially has pedestals on either side. You're going to have series

of stones that go across the top. But this one block, this one block right up here is

called the keystone. In other words this whole thing you could imagine, if I were to remove

this keystone, all of the weight of this side and all of the weight on this side are all

placed against that keystone. So if I remove that, the whole arch falls in on itself. Now

ecosystems are not built like arches but they are to a degree. And so a jaguar is an important

predator in South America. And the reason why is that it feeds on cayman. It can even

kill adult cayman. It feeds on turtles. It feeds on deer. It feeds on capybara and tapirs

and peccaries and anacondas and sloths and armadillos and frogs. In other words it feeds

on up to 87 different species. And so if the population of deer gets higher, than the jaguars

that mostly feed at night are going to start to prey on that deer. Or as the whatever,

capybara population goes up. And so this one jaguar is going to serve as a control on a

number of different species in that area. If we remove the jaguar, we move that selective

pressure. We remove that one keystone species. And so it's weird to say it's more important,

but it is more important than removing just the capybara in an area. Because it's going

to have a greater impact on the entire ecosystem. Sea otters also have been mentioned as a keystone

species. And why is that? Well, they love to feed on sea urchins. And sea urchins themselves

feed on kelp. And so we have these kelp forests in the Pacific Ocean. Sea urchins would decimate

kelp forests if they weren't kept in check by the sea otters. So if we remove that sea

otter, now the sea urchins are gong to go crazy and deplete the kelp. And all of these

fish depend on the kelp forest. And so it can have a greater, even though if we were

to measure like the weight of the sea otters in that area of the ocean. It's very small.

But they actually feed on quite a bit. There were some studies that showed that orcas were

preying on sea otters as they saw a decrease in the seal population. And a lot of that

maybe had an impact, it was a human impact, that way actually causing that diet shift.

Orcas, you know, a sea otter's not much food for an orca. But it can have huge impacts

on the whole ecosystem. And so that's what a keystone species is. But I want to leave

you with this one quote of EO Wilson. He was talked to in the 1980s, they were talking

to him about the cold war and nuclear build up and all of these things seemed to be putting

us at risk. And he said, "The one process ongoing that will take millions of years to

correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by destruction of natural habitats.

This is the folley our that our descendants are least likely to forgive us." It's important

that you understand that you're part of an ecosystem and you clearly are a keystone species

and you can make big changes. And so without further ado, that's the end!