e01.    What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the number and variety of species of organisms on earth. These organisms live in one or more of the 6 to 11 biomes (depending on what you read), as defined by natural, undisturbed plant communities, plus a multitude of ecosystems (see The Missouri Botanical Garden for one viewpoint). While climate and vegetation vary with latitude and altitude, deserts and semi-deserts exist from tropical to sub-polar regions as do grasslands and forests. Precipitation is the limiting factor for plants (See Figure 1: Biomes of the World). The limitation of plants controls the number and kinds of animals in a given ecosystem. Biodiversity is the key to a healthy ecosystem and by extension to a healthy biome.

g03.    How did the atmosphere change after the Precambrian?

g05.    How are forests of geological importance?

g07.    How did plate tectonics affect the diversity of ecosystems?

m12.    Why are organisms becoming extinct?

m16.    How are forests of commercial importance?

m17.   What’s happening to the tropical forests?

m18.  To whom are rainforests important?

m19.    What can be done to reduce the destruction of tropical forests?

m20.    What is the status of forests the US and Canada?

m21.    Why is there controversy over old-growth deforestation?

m32.    How do ethics impact ecology?

m34.    How could food production affect the environment?

m35.    How can global warming affect biodiversity?

m36.    How could human health be affected by weather extremes?

m41.    How can matter affect the environment?

m42.    Are there other methods for controlling pests?

m44.    Why are there detractors of pesticides?

m45.    Why are there proponents of pesticides?

m46.    How do pesticides impact the environment?

m53.    How does air pollution affect organisms?

m55.    What are the environmental impacts of using up our mineral resources?

m65.    What can cause biological hazards?

m74.    How is soil important in the environment?

m78.    How do droughts and floods impact populations?

m83.    How do we produce food?

m84.    What do we need to feed the world?

m85.    How can food production be increased?

m86.    How can water help feed us?