Chapter 5.1, Problem 5MI

Compare and contrast the species biodiversity of different areas.

Summary Introduction

To compare and contrast:

Species biodiversity of different areas.

Introduction:

Biodiversity is a variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of species living in that area. It helps in maintaining a healthy biosphere and provides direct and indirect value to humans. Biodiversity increases the stability of an ecosystem. There are three types of biodiversity: species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity.

Answer to Problem 5MI

	Rain forest	Corn field	Vegetable garden	Tundra
Plants	Many species of herbs, shrubs and trees are found.	Only maize plants are found.	Carrots, brinjal, cauliflowers, tomatoes, pumpkin etc are found.	Only short grasses and few shrubs can grow.
Animals	Hundreds of species of birds and insects are found.	Many species of insects, some birds and few animals are found.	Many species of insects, worms, toads, rats are found.	Polar bears, arctic foxes, birds, insects, wolves are found.

Explanation of Solution

The number of different species and their relative abundance in a biological community is called species diversity. Species diversity is not evenly distributed over the biosphere. It increases as we move from poles to equator.

Rain forest- Rainforests are rich resources of plants and animals. These are found in the equatorial region. The species biodiversity is very highest in rainforests as there is plenty of sunshine and food available. Hundreds and thousands of plant species are found here. Tall broad leaved trees, ferns, mosses, creepers, herbs and shrubs can easily grow here. Many species of animals like monkeys, elephants, orangutans, Bengal tigers, bats, snakes, birds and insects are found in these forests.

Corn field- In a corn field there is not much species diversity of plants as only maize/ corn is grown in these fields. Some weeds may also grow. Many species of insects like grasshoppers, beetles, bugs and aphids, some birds and few animals like rats, squirrels, cats, and dogs are found.

Vegetable garden- A vegetable garden has diverse species of plants and animals. Vegetables like carrots, brinjal, cauliflowers, tomatoes, pumpkin and ladyfinger are grown in a garden. Animals like insects, worms, rats, toads and squirrels are found in such gardens.

Tundra- Tundra is found near the poles and is permanently frozen so it can hardly support any plant life except for some short wild grasses and few shrubs. Some animals such as polar bears, foxes, birds, insects, wolves are found that have adapted themselves to the cold harsh conditions.