Biodiversity Simulations

Biodiversity Simulations Visually

Learn about biodiversity with interactive visualizations. Explore species diversity, genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity, and conservation through hands-on examples and dynamic simulations.

Biodiversity Species Richness Ecosystem Diversity Genetic Diversity Biodiversity Indices Conservation Strategies Visual Simulation
Introduction Species Diversity Genetic Diversity Ecosystem Diversity Conservation Simulations Calculators Differences Exercises nH9 Visualizations

Introduction to Biodiversity

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth at all levels, from genes to ecosystems. It encompasses the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.

Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity Conservation Extinction

Core Components of Biodiversity

  • Genetic Diversity: Variation in genes within species
  • Species Diversity: Variety of species in an area
  • Ecosystem Diversity: Variety of habitats and ecological communities
  • Functional Diversity: Variety of roles in ecosystems

Why Biodiversity Matters

  • Provides ecosystem services like clean air and water
  • Supports food security and medicine development
  • Contributes to climate stability
  • Enhances resilience to environmental changes

Species Diversity

Species diversity refers to the variety and abundance of different species within a given area. It includes both species richness (the number of species) and species evenness (the relative abundance of species).

Key Concepts:
  • Species Richness: Total number of different species
  • Species Evenness: How evenly individuals are distributed among species
  • Species Abundance: Number of individuals per species
  • Diversity Indices: Mathematical measures of biodiversity

Species Diversity Visualization

Interactive visualization of species diversity in different ecosystems

Genetic Diversity Visualization

Visualization of genetic variation within populations

Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variation in genes within and between populations of species. It is the foundation of biodiversity and essential for adaptation and evolution.

Key Concepts:
  • Allelic Diversity: Variation in gene forms
  • Heterozygosity: Presence of different alleles
  • Genetic Bottleneck: Reduction in genetic diversity
  • Founder Effect: Genetic variation in new populations

Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of habitats, biotic communities, and ecological processes within a given area. It includes diversity of ecosystems, habitats, and ecological niches.

Key Concepts:
  • Habitat Diversity: Variety of physical environments
  • Community Structure: Organization of species in ecosystems
  • Ecological Processes: Energy flow and nutrient cycling
  • Ecosystem Services: Benefits provided by ecosystems

Ecosystem Diversity Visualization

Interactive visualization of different ecosystem types

Conservation Priorities Visualization

Visualization of biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities

Conservation Biology

Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction.

Conservation Strategies:
  • Protected Areas: National parks and reserves
  • Species Recovery Programs: Endangered species protection
  • Habitat Restoration: Rehabilitating degraded ecosystems
  • Ex-situ Conservation: Captive breeding and seed banks

Interactive Simulations

Species Richness Simulation

50
20

Genetic Diversity Simulation

100
2

Biodiversity Calculators

Shannon Diversity Index Calculator

Shannon Index: -

Evenness: -

Species Richness: -

Simpson Diversity Index Calculator

Simpson Index: -

Simpson Diversity: -

Simpson Dominance: -

Biodiversity Change Calculator

Species Loss: 15%

Biodiversity Retention: 85%

Annual Loss Rate: -

Endemism Calculator

Endemism Rate: 15%

Endemism Index: 0.15

Significance: Moderate

Differences from Other Fields

Biodiversity vs. Ecosystems

Biodiversity focuses on the variety of life forms, while ecosystems focus on the interactions between organisms and their environment. Biodiversity is a component of ecosystem studies.

  • Biodiversity: Variety of species, genes, and ecosystems
  • Ecosystems: Interactions between organisms and environment
  • Relationship: Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem stability

Biodiversity vs. Conservation Biology

Biodiversity is the subject of study (the variety of life), while conservation biology is the applied field focused on protecting and managing biodiversity.

  • Biodiversity: The phenomenon being studied
  • Conservation Biology: Applied science to protect biodiversity
  • Relationship: Conservation aims to preserve biodiversity

Biodiversity vs. Genetics

Genetics focuses on heredity and variation at the molecular level, while biodiversity encompasses genetic variation along with species and ecosystem levels.

  • Genetics: Molecular basis of inheritance
  • Biodiversity: Includes genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
  • Relationship: Genetic diversity is a component of biodiversity

Biodiversity vs. Biogeography

Biogeography studies the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space, while biodiversity focuses on the variety and abundance of life forms.

  • Biogeography: Spatial distribution patterns
  • Biodiversity: Variety and abundance of life forms
  • Relationship: Distribution patterns affect biodiversity measures

Example Exercises

Problem:

A forest contains 50 individuals of species A, 30 individuals of species B, 15 individuals of species C, and 5 individuals of species D. Calculate the Shannon diversity index and evenness for this community.

Solution:

Step 1: Calculate total number of individuals: N = 50 + 30 + 15 + 5 = 100

Step 2: Calculate proportion of each species: pA = 50/100 = 0.5, pB = 30/100 = 0.3, pC = 15/100 = 0.15, pD = 5/100 = 0.05

Step 3: Calculate Shannon index: H' = -Σ(pi × ln(pi)) = -(0.5×ln(0.5) + 0.3×ln(0.3) + 0.15×ln(0.15) + 0.05×ln(0.05))

Step 4: Calculate evenness: E = H'/ln(S) where S is the number of species

Shannon Index (H'): 1.26

Evenness (E): 0.91

Interpretation: The community has moderate diversity with relatively even distribution of species.

Problem:

A region contains 1,500 endemic plant species and has lost 70% of its original habitat. Determine if this region qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot using the standard criteria.

Solution:

Step 1: Check first criterion - Endemism threshold: 1,500 endemic species > 0.5% of world's plant species (≈1,500)

Step 2: Check second criterion - Habitat loss: 70% loss > 70% threshold

Step 3: Both criteria are met

Result: YES, this region qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot

Criteria Met: High endemism (>1,500 endemic species) AND significant habitat loss (>70%)

Conservation Priority: High priority for conservation efforts

Problem:

A population of 100 individuals has been genotyped at a particular locus with two alleles (A and a). The results show: 36 AA, 48 Aa, and 16 aa genotypes. Calculate the allele frequencies and heterozygosity.

Solution:

Step 1: Calculate total number of alleles: 2 × 100 = 200 alleles

Step 2: Count alleles: A alleles = (36×2) + 48 = 120; a alleles = (16×2) + 48 = 80

Step 3: Calculate allele frequencies: p = 120/200 = 0.6; q = 80/200 = 0.4

Step 4: Calculate observed heterozygosity: Ho = 48/100 = 0.48

Frequency of A allele: 0.6 (60%)

Frequency of a allele: 0.4 (40%)

Observed Heterozygosity: 0.48 (48%)

Interpretation: The population shows high genetic diversity at this locus.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the Shannon diversity index measure?
2. Which of the following is NOT a level of biodiversity?
3. What is the primary criterion for a region to be considered a biodiversity hotspot?
4. Which measure of diversity accounts for both the number of species and their relative abundance?
5. What is the main cause of current biodiversity loss?
6. Which genetic diversity measure is calculated as the proportion of heterozygous loci?

Interactive Visualizations

Biodiversity Gradient Visualization

Hover over the visualization to see how biodiversity changes with environmental gradients

Species-Area Relationship

Interactive visualization of how species richness increases with area

Phylogenetic Diversity Tree

Visualization of evolutionary relationships and diversity among species

Biodiversity Loss Over Time

Historical and projected biodiversity changes over time

Export & Import Data

Export Biodiversity Data

Export your biodiversity calculations, simulations, and visualizations for further analysis.

Import Biodiversity Data

Import previously saved biodiversity data to continue your analysis.