All About What is Biodiversity

Biodiversity is described as the community of all living organisms on the planet, as well as the diversity among them throughout all environments. Biodiversity refers to the variation across species, within species, and throughout ecosystems.

Walter G. Rosen invented the term biodiversity in 1986.

Biodiversity is important for both ecological and economic reasons. It provides us with food, shelter, fuel, clothing, and a variety of other necessities. It also reaps financial rewards from tourism. As a result, having a thorough understanding of biodiversity is critical for a sustainable lifestyle.

The Significance of Biological Variety

The significance that biodiversity plays in the upkeep and preservation of the ecosystem’s ecological balance is critical. It is a measure of the variety of animal and plant species that are native to a certain region. In the concept of biodiversity, every species has an important function to fulfill within the ecosystem.

The Importance of Biodiversity to Ecosystems

Each individual species in the environment’s biodiversity serves an important purpose in the ecosystem, in addition to the role that it plays in maintaining ecological equilibrium. They have a significant impact on the formation of organic waste and its subsequent decomposition, the removal of gases from the atmosphere, and the control of the distribution of water and nutrients across the ecosystem. The greater the number of different species there are in an ecosystem, the more stable it will be.

The Importance of Biodiversity to the Economy

In addition to being a source of energy, biodiversity plays a significant part in the production of raw materials that are used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial goods, including oils, lubricants, fragrances, dyes, paper, waxes, rubber, and so on.

Since ancient times, people have been aware of the significance of different plant species for a variety of medical uses. Reports indicate that more than seventy percent of the anti-cancer medications are derived from plants that are found in tropical rainforests.

The Importance of Biodiversity to Science

Every species in the ecosystem plays a part in establishing the chain of events that led to the evolution of life on this planet and the part that each species plays in ensuring that the ecosystem continues to exist for future generations.

Various Categories of Biodiversity

The following are the three primary categories that can be used to classify biodiversity:

• Diversity of Genetic Origins (Diversity within species)
• Diversity of Animal Species (Diversity between species)
• Diversity within Ecosystems (Diversity between ecosystem)

Diversity of Genetic Origins

The genetic make-up of each individual member of a given species is unique unto itself. The term “genetic variety” refers to the genetic variations that can be found among the individuals of any given plant or animal species. When two people share a lot of genetic information with one another, which happens when they are closely related to one another, they look a lot alike.

Diversity of Animal Species

One definition of “species diversity” is “the variety of species that can be found within a certain location or environment.” Both the natural ecosystem and the agricultural ecosystem have examples of this type of diversity in its components.

There are more than 85,000 species of flowering plants native to tropical North and South America. Tropical and subtropical Asia is home to more than 50,000 species of flowering plants. On the other hand, tropical and subtropical Africa is home to only 35,000 species of flowering plant species. But there are around 11,300 different types of vascular plants in Europe. A smaller number of species can also be found in other habitats, such as salt flats and dirty streams.

Diversity within Ecosystems

There is a huge variety of varied ecosystems, each of which is home to a unique collection of species. This ecosystem shifts and changes with each other because of the differences in the habitats and species found within it. The diversity of these ecosystems can be found within a particular geographical location, as well as within a country or a state. In addition, mountain ranges, grasslands, deserts, and woods are all included in this category of diversity.

Factors Contributing to the Depletion of Biodiversity

The following is a list of some of the most significant factors that have contributed to the decline of biodiversity:

• The natural habitat of the ecosystem is one of the most important factors in ensuring that the ecological balance is preserved. In order to satisfy the needs of human beings, numerous trees are felled on an annual basis and used for the building of factories, roads, settlements, and other such things. As a direct consequence of this, the species is finally consumed by predators and goes extinct.
• One of the primary contributors to the decline in biodiversity has been the hunting of wild animals for the purpose of making a profit off of their goods. Poachers have slaughtered more than 90 rhinos for their horns since the year 2013, and according to the data for the year 2016, nine Indian rhinoceros have been slaughtered in Kaziranga National Park in the state of Assam.
• These plant species have become extinct as a direct result of human activity, specifically the harvesting of medicinal herbs for use in a variety of scientific experiments. Additionally, many animals are killed for the purposes of research in the fields of science and medicine.
• Disasters of a natural origin, such as floods, earthquakes, and forest fires, all contribute to the depletion of biodiversity.
• Air pollution is a significant contributor to the decline of the world’s animal and plant species. The rapid felling of trees has led to a rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which in turn has caused changes in the climate. Because of this, there has been an increase in the temperature of both the land and the water, which has had a negative influence on the various species.

Conclusion 

Biodiversity is the community of all living organisms on Earth and its diversity across environments. Biodiversity is the variation between and within species and ecosystems.

Walter G. Rosen invented biodiversity in 1986.Biodiversity is ecological and economic. It supplies food, shelter, fuel, clothing, and more. Tourism generates revenue. For a sustainable livelihood, it’s necessary to understand biodiversity.