Watch the following Ted Talk video from the American biologist E.O. Wilson.  Dr. Wilson has won numerous awards, including a Nobel Prize.  He is often called "the Father of Biodiversity" for his lifetime of work on studying and preserving diversity.  He was born in 1929 and is still alive currently.  He is one of the most influential biologists alive and will be remembered for centuries.

As you watch the video, answer the following questions and re-submit for 10 points.   Enjoy!

 

E.O Wilson My Wish:  Build the Encyclopedia of Life

Please answer the following questions based on the talk you watched. 

  1. According to Wilson, what would happen if insects were to go extinct (0.5 pt)?
  2. What specific group of insects did Wilson choose to study for the majority of his career (0.5 pt)?
  3. List two of the new species that Wilson lists as having been recently discovered at the time of the talk (1 pt).
  4. What are Prochlorococci (0.5 pt)?
  5. How many species of fungi are estimated to exist on earth (0.5 pt)?
  6. What are nematode worms (0.5 pt)?
  7. Approximately how many species of friendly bacteria are likely to be living in your mouth and throat (0.5 pt)?
  8. At the time of the talk, it was possible to sequence the entire genome (genetic code) of a bacterium in __________________________________ (how long--0.5 pt)?
  9. Which single celled organisms are closer to Eukarya---Bacteria or Archaea (pick one--0.5 pt))?
  10. What does each letter in the acronym HIPPO stand for (1 pt)?
  11. Current estimates state that one half of all animal and plant species will be extinct or critically endangered by __________________________ (give time span--0.5 pt).
  12. List two things that humans will lose if many species are forced to extinction (1 pt).
  13. How long did it take for the earth to recover from the last mass extinction event (0.5 pt)?
  14. O. Wilson’s wish is to build the Encyclopedia of Life. What does this mean (1 pt)? 
  15. What was the most interesting thing that you learned from the talk (1 pt)?