Q Biodiversity Hotspot Activity Ted Ed Importance of Biodiversity Video Questions 1. Are ecosystems vulnerable to collapse? 2. List the three features of biodiversity. 3. How does biodiversity relate to ecosystem resilience? 4. What role do the tapir and agouti play in forest reproduction? 5. Why is genetic diversity important for species survival? 6. Why is coral so important for biodiversity? 7. What is a keystone species? 8. Are humans dependent upon global biodiversity? Cal Academy/Khan Academy Biodiversity Hotspots videos What is a Biodiversity Hotspot Video 1. What two criteria are used to identify biodiversity hotspots? 2. Why is the focus on plants? 3. What is an endemic species? 4. How many biodiversity hotspots are recognized by Conservation International? Biodiversity Hotspot Case Study: California Video 1. Why is the California Floristic Province considered to be a biodiversity hotspot? 2. What percentage pf plants in the CA Floristic Province are endemic? 3. Are hotspots common in developed parts of the world? 4. How has agriculture impacted natural lands in California? Biodiversity Hotspot Case Study: Madagascar 1. When did Madagascar separate from Africa? 2. Why is that important for endemics in Madagascar? 3. What are the threats to biodiversity on Madagascar? Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund From the main menu, choose “our work” and then “Biodiversity Hotspots.” Then from “11 additional hotspots,” choose the California Floristic Province. 1. What types of ecosystems will you find in CA? 2. How much of the original vegetation is still existing? 3. List some of the endemic species at risk. Click on “species” 1. List four large mammal species that were extirpated by European settlers. 2. How many of the amphibian species are endemic? 3. How many insect species are found in California? How many are endemic? Click on “threats” 1. List the direct pressures on California ecosystems. 2. How much of the native grassland and vernal pool ecosystems still exists? 3. For what purposes has the grassland been converted? 4. How much of the original Coast Redwood still exists? Choose TWO other hotspots listed on the “Biodiversity Hotspots” page. Describe the species composition and threats to the ecosystem.