Lesson 1 — Activity 2: Biological Diversity among and within Species
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Lesson 1 — Activity 2:
Biological Diversity among and within
Species
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In Activity 1, you learned the meaning of biological diversity. This activity looks at diversity among species and also within species.
As you just learned, biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of life. It can be studied on many levels. At the highest level, you can look at all the different species on the entire earth. On a much smaller scale, you can study biodiversity within a pond ecosystem or a neighbourhood park. Identifying and understanding the relationships between all the life on earth are two of the greatest challenges in science.
You have just learned about ecosystems and why they are important. In any ecosystem, there are a number of different species that live within it. A species is a group of organisms that have the same structure and that can reproduce with one another to produce fertile offspring. Examples of various species are humans, lions, horses, cows, bees, houseflies, and jack fish.
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Each of these species is unique in that it can reproduce with another member of the opposite sex of its species. However, different species cannot reproduce with one another. For example, a lion cannot reproduce successfully with a dog.
Each of these species is unique in that it can reproduce with another member of the opposite sex of its species. However, different species cannot reproduce with one another. For example, a lion cannot reproduce successfully with a dog.
A mammal is a type of species. Humans are mammals. There are certain characteristics to being a mammal. You will learn more about this in the activity below.
Click on the Play button below to watch a video that further explains mammals.
This video shows what defines a mammal. Remember that you are a mammal. This means that you are distinctly related to such animals as the whale and the lion. As you watch the video, this will become clearer to you.
As you watch the video,
write down five characteristics that define a mammal on a piece of paper. That is, identify the characteristics that make mammals different from other living things such as birds or reptiles, for example.
As you watch the video, write down five characteristics that define a mammal on a piece of paper. That is, identify the characteristics that make mammals different from other living things such as birds or reptiles, for example.
After you have finished watching the video, click on the box to the left to see if you have similar answers about what characteristics make up mammals.
What are some of the characteristics of mammals?
Is your list similar to the following?
Mammals are viviparous. They produce living young instead of from eggs.
Young mammals feed from their mothers.
Mammals breathe air from their lungs.
Mammals have hair.
Mammals are warm-blooded.
Do you now understand how you are related to a whale and a lion? Although we share many things with all mammals, there is still diversity among our species!
Young mammals feed from their mothers.
Mammals breathe air from their lungs.
Mammals have hair.
Mammals are warm-blooded.
Do you now understand how you are related to a whale and a lion? Although we share many things with all mammals, there is still diversity among our species!
Diversity also occurs within species. Look around you. People around you have different heights, different masses, different skin tones, and different hair colours. Yet, because they all belong to the same species, a male and a female human can reproduce successfully. There is no barrier to this because a human being is a human being no matter where he or she is from or what he or she looks like.
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Similarity between species
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Diversity within one species
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