4.5

Benefits of Biodiversity

Ecosystem Services

• A benefit provided by an ecosystem• Fresh air• Clean water• Resources (oil, minerals, metals)• Flood control (trees)• Crops

Staple Crops

• Food for people• Rice, corn, wheat, vegetables

Corn Products• Beer• Cake Mixes• Candies• Carbonated Beverages - Coke• Cookies• Corn Flakes• Corn Starch• Corn Meal• Cosmetics• Gasoline• Granola Dips/Granola Bars• Gypsum Wallboard• Instant Coffee & Tea• Mars Bar & Twix Bar• Paint and Varnish• Paper Products• Pharmaceuticals• Snack Foods - Corn Chips & Doritos• Spark Plugs• Tire, Rubber• Toothpaste• Whiskey• Yogurt

Compounds

• Chemicals in medicine or make-up• Made from plants or animals

Genetic Engineering

• Used to increase biodiversity• Combine genes of 2 different species

• Featherless chickens

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/bizarre-genetically-engin_n_789435.html#s193674

2007, South Korean scientists altered a cat’s DNA to make it glow in the dark and then took that DNA and cloned other cats from it — creating a set of fluffy, fluorescent felines. Here’s how they did it: The researchers took skin cells from Turkish Angora female cats and used a virus to insert genetic instructions for making red fluorescent protein. Then they put the gene-altered nuclei into the eggs for cloning, and the cloned embryos were implanted back into the donor cats — making the cats the surrogate mothers for their own clones.

Quality of Life

• Aspects of a community that make life enjoyable

• Recreation• Spiritual• Economic

Recreation

• Using nature for fun• Beaches, parks, hiking, fishing, picnics, sports

Spiritual

• Good for the soul• Healthy to interact in nature• Affects moods and mental well being

Economic

• Nature is a source of income• Products (furniture, food, medicine)

Nature Preserve

• Protected land• Open to the public for environmental education and

low-impact recreation, such as hiking, bird-watching, photography, fishing, and enjoying nature.

Ecotourism

• Responsible travel to natural areas• Conserves the environment and improves the

welfare of the local people