ERSC 1010H Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Overexploitation, Whistle Rymes, Invasive Species

• School: Trent University
• Department: Environmental & Resource Science/Studies
• Course: ERSC 1010H
• Professor: Stephen Hill

Document Summary

There are three levels of biodiversity, and they are genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity is the variety of genes and is important because it represents the raw material for evolution and adaptation. Species diversity is the most common study for biodiversity and it involves the variety of different species in an ecosystem. Ecosystem diversity refers to the number and variety of different ecosystems. Its importance is that it deals with species distributions and community patterns. These stresses include: habitat alteration: organisms are adapted to the habitats in which they live. Any major change in their environment can make their habitat less suitable. Another scenario could be that humans overharvest higher- level consumers in an ecosystem and lower- level consumers and producers are left to overpopulate. Species that are unable to adapt are forced out of their ecosystems if they cannot handle the new climate.