Difference between revisions of "Biodiversity"
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===About Biodiversity=== | ===About Biodiversity=== | ||
: [[Biodiversity]] between different [[species]] is important to maintain complex [[Food Web|food webs]]. When one [[species]] in a [[Food Web|food web]] becomes [[extinction|extinct]] it can cause many others to become [[extinction|extinct]]. | : [[Biodiversity]] between different [[species]] is important to maintain complex [[Food Web|food webs]]. When one [[species]] in a [[Food Web|food web]] becomes [[extinction|extinct]] it can cause many others to become [[extinction|extinct]]. | ||
| − | : [[Biodiversity]] within a [[species]] is important to help a [[species]] produce [[health]]y and [[fertile]] [[offspring]]. If a [[species]] is reduced to close family members their [[offspring]] can be deformed or inherit genetic conditions | + | : [[Biodiversity]] within a [[species]] is important to help a [[species]] produce [[health]]y and [[fertile]] [[offspring]]. If a [[species]] is reduced to close family members their [[offspring]] can be deformed or inherit genetic conditions. |
: To help preserve [[biodiversity]] [[scientist]]s have created [[Gene Banks|gene banks]] where [[Sperm Cell|sperm]], [[Ovum|eggs]] and [[seed]] from many different [[species]] are stored. | : To help preserve [[biodiversity]] [[scientist]]s have created [[Gene Banks|gene banks]] where [[Sperm Cell|sperm]], [[Ovum|eggs]] and [[seed]] from many different [[species]] are stored. | ||
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| + | ===Examples=== | ||
| + | : Most Labradors have bad hips because they are all descended from a small number of dogs. They don't have enough [[biodiversity]] to inherit better hips. | ||
| + | : There are so few [[panda]]s left in China there is very little [[biodiversity]]. That means if one of them has a genetic condition that makes them unhealthy, this condition will be passed on to most of the [[panda]]s in the next few generations, making it even harder for them to survive. | ||
Revision as of 09:45, 21 September 2018
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Biodiversity is the amount of genetic variation within species and between different species. The more genetic variation, the greater the biodiversity.
About Biodiversity
- Biodiversity between different species is important to maintain complex food webs. When one species in a food web becomes extinct it can cause many others to become extinct.
- Biodiversity within a species is important to help a species produce healthy and fertile offspring. If a species is reduced to close family members their offspring can be deformed or inherit genetic conditions.
- To help preserve biodiversity scientists have created gene banks where sperm, eggs and seed from many different species are stored.
Examples
- Most Labradors have bad hips because they are all descended from a small number of dogs. They don't have enough biodiversity to inherit better hips.
- There are so few pandas left in China there is very little biodiversity. That means if one of them has a genetic condition that makes them unhealthy, this condition will be passed on to most of the pandas in the next few generations, making it even harder for them to survive.