What is biodiversity?

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), “Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area — the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.” (Hancock, n.d.)

Examine the following carousel of images and captions to learn more about the term biodiversity and what it means.

The impacts of climate change on living things.

The climate on our planet undergoes natural long-term cycles of change, but it is now well documented that, largely due to human activity, these natural changes are happening at a rate much faster than ever before, and faster than many life systems on Earth can keep up or adapt to. This is what we often refer to as climate change.

Scientists, environmentalists and citizens alike know that climate change is impacting many living organisms around the world and threatening their survival and existence. Many species of living organisms have gone extinct, and many others are at risk of the same fate.

Let’s begin by examining the definition of the term biodiversity.

The definition of the term biodiversity references the interconnectedness of living organisms on our planet. So, an impact on one species will inevitably have an impact on others.

Let’s explore a specific example that the impacts of climate change are having on one species and the trickle-down effect on other living things sharing the same community.

Check out this video entitled “Climate Watch Shorts: The Changing Hunt” to learn more about the impact of climate change on wolves and other species they are connected with.

While wolves seem to be adapting to the effects of climate change so far, the shifting hunting grounds of the wolves, and their inability to cross over once-frozen waterways, will impact the food webs in the areas where they once used to live.

With the wolves gone from a region of the forest, what might happen to the other living things left behind?

Try the following flowchart activity to explore a simplified example of what might happen if wolves were not able to return to a section of the forest.

Revisit your notes from the brainstorm question: “What impact does the loss, or severe decline, of one species do to overall life on our planet?”

Is there any new thinking or ideas you’d like to add to your notes?

The impact of biodiversity on human life

When we think about the human connection with plants and animals, we tend to think about our need for these living things for food. Many people are not aware just how dependent humans are on other living things for many of the products and materials that we use in everyday life. Let’s begin our investigation with a forest habitat and try and identify the many different products that come from this diverse community of organisms.

Explore this video clip from the episode of Finding Stuff Out with Zoey entitled “Into the Woods” to learn more about what products originate from the forest.

Let’s examine some more products that humans use that originate from the world’s biodiversity.

While many countries try and put laws into effect to not allow the use of species at risk in the creation or manufacturing of their products, not all countries do this. With the ability to purchase goods and materials online, it is now more than ever, incredibly important to think critically about the products that we purchase and use to ensure that they are not only sustainable, but don’t put the biodiversity of the planet at further risk.

How do we help?

Explore this video entitled “Climate Watch Shorts: Wildlife Rescue” to learn more about what some individuals are doing to help the animals in Ontario to survive in a changing climate.

While we can’t all be conservation scientists and help preserve biodiversity or end climate change on a large scale, we can all try and contribute small actions to protect our planet.

Examine the following list of actions everyday citizens can take in their lives to help preserve biodiversity:

• support local growers/farmers or try and grow some of your own food
• plant native plants, especially pollinator-friendly ones to help our bee populations
• use less water during your day to help conserve freshwater resources
• be aware and respectful of habitats and try to just observe and not disturb them
• be curious about the products and materials you use and consider the impacts to biodiversity of their creation or use

Can you think of any other actions not listed? Remember, small actions taken by many can have a large impact in the long term.

The future of climate change

How would the loss of biodiversity because of climate change directly impact you? Using the format of your choice, answer the following two questions using as much detail as possible.

• What would life be like in a future where climate change is significantly improving?
• What would life be like in a future where climate change is getting much worse?

In both answers, include information to describe daily life and your environment/surroundings. What has changed? How is it affecting you? Use as much description as possible to communicate your thinking. If you would like, you may also include a visual representation to go along with your answers.

When finished, if possible, share your thinking with a partner and compare your answers.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.