Introduction to Biodiversity

What is a species? 

A species is a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding naturally to produce fertile offspring. Better known as the biological species concept, this is the most used definition of what a species is in general literature. 

What is an ecosystem? 

An ecosystem, or ecological system, is a discrete unit within which biotic and abiotic elements interact. Biotic elements are the flora and fauna within the unit, while the abiotic comprises the climatic (light, temperature, water, atmospheric gases), topographic (altitude, gradient) and edaphic (largely soil based).

What are biotic trophic levels? 

Biotic trophic levels are used to describe a species’ role and level within the food web. 

The three basic trophic roles are producers or autotrophs, which are typically plants and algae that take nutrients from the soil or aquatic environment to produce their own food with sunlight, which is photosynthesis. 

The second role is that of a consumer or heterotroph, which cannot produce their own food and need to consume other organisms, with herbivores consuming plants and carnivores consuming other animals. 

The third role is that of a decomposer or detritivore, which are typically bacteria and fungi that break down dead plant and animal material into mineral nutrient for use by producers and for abiotic cycles. 

What is a flagship species? 

Flagship species are identified as icons, symbols or ambassadors for an environmental cause more for their ability to rouse public interest in the conservation of the species, its habitat and/or broader conservation agendas. Flagship species are typically in danger of extinction and are considered to be popular, charismatic and ‘cute and cuddly’. For example, the elephant, the panda, the rhino. 

What is a keystone species? 

Keystone species are those whose presence and actions help define and maintain their ecosystem. Keystone species may not necessarily be the largest or most numerous species within an ecosystem. One example is of the dam-building abilities of beavers. These dams affect the flow rate and oxygenation of waterways, creating a thriving environment for other species as well as itself.