TREE OF LIFE ASSIGNMENT BIODIVERSITY

6/1/18

1

How many species?

Described vs Predicted

Described Species

1.6 million

Which groups have the most described species?

Which have the most

predicted number of species?

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2

Described Species

1.6 million

Vertebrates - 46,000, 2.9%

Described Species

1.6 million

Arthropods - 955,000, 62%

Described Species

1.6 million

Plants - 230,000, 15%

Predicted Number

5 million to 150 million

6/1/18

3

Mollusks

6/1/18

4

Protozoa

Crustaceans

6/1/18

5

Plants

Arachnids

6/1/18

6

Roundworms

Fungi

6/1/18

7

Bacteria and Archeabacteria

Algae

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8

I n s e c t s

Why the disparity between described and predicted

numbers of species?

Why do some groups have so many undescribed species?

•  Small organisms harder to find. •  Small organisms have a greater number of

potential ecological roles. •  They are in older groups - longer period of

time for more species to evolve. •  Fewer taxonomists working on them

describing species. •  Less funding to support work on some

groups.