Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. The biodiversity is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans.
Why is biodiversity so important?
Dear RG colleagues, please your opinion.
Simply, a biodiversity a round the earth is a natural process that undertake the persistent & balanced of the ecosystem and life. Hence, it is a continuity and preservation of the genus.
All the best,
Naseer Almukhtar
In order to create competition, which is the most effective way for progress.
High biodiversity makes the ecosystem more stable in productivity and more resistant towards disturbances such as alien species invasions and floods. Hence, biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the health and ecological balance of an ecosystem.
Dharmendra Arya
Simply, a biodiversity a round the earth is a natural process that undertake the persistent & balanced of the ecosystem and life. Hence, it is a continuity and preservation of the genus.
All the best,
Naseer Almukhtar
Biodiversity is the sumtotal of variation and variability of all living things on land, water and at sea.
It is the variety of life that creates and develops life into its advanced stage with creative force of nature and brilliance of human brain.The term is actually coined by E.O. Wilson in 1985.
Biodiversity has productive, social, ecological, economical, ethical as well as legal values and importance. Hence it is to be addressed globally for its immediate conservation for sustaining nature and life.
The importance of biodiversity
- Biological organisms play an important role in the development of agriculture, medicine and industry.
- Biodiversity contributes to the well-being of communities, especially in rural areas, where livestock accounts for 90% of human needs for wood, human food and plant fertilizer.
- Biodiversity helps to conserve species of living organisms.
- increases the desire of scientists and their attempts to conduct experiments to detect the world of living organisms, especially in the field of genetic engineering.
- The impact of biodiversity on ecotourism development comes into play, as the rich nature of living organisms is a source of real economic value.
- Can be used as an outlet for innovative economic types.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity (short form of Biological diversity) refers to the variability among living organisms which includes diversity within species, between species and of their ecosystem The term biodiversity was coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1985. There are three levels of biodiversity; genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.
Why is biodiversity so important?
Biodiversity plays important role in the life of man. Without biodiversity existence of human life is not possible on this earth. The various benefits of biodiversity are described as follows:
1. Plants are source of medicines. It is estimated that more than 25 per cent of all the medicines available today are derived from tropical plants. The plant Indian snake root (Rauvolfia serpentina) is source of alkaloid reserpine used in treatment of hypertension. The dried ripe seeds of tree Strychnos nux-vomica are source of alkaloid nuxvomica, which is used in the treatment of paralysis and nervous disorders. The bark of Gymnospermic shrub Ephedra gerardiana is source of alkaloid ephedrine used in the treatment of asthma. Similarly the bark of Gymnospermic tree Taxus baccata is source of alkaloids taxol and baccatin used in the treatment of cancer. The gum obtained from the plant Commiphora wightii is used in the treatment rheumatic arthritis. The alkaloid Dioscorin obtained from the plant Dioscorea delatoides is used as contraceptive. The roots of Atropa acuminata is used as an anodyne of rheumatism, neuralgia and local inflammations. The plants Coptis teeta and Colchicum luteum are used in the treatment of malaria and gout, respectively. However, according to Red Data Book all the aforesaid medicinal plant species belongs to endangered category of plant species in India.
2. Biodiversity helps in increasing agricultural productivity and also in developing disease resistant varieties. It was evident in the early 1970s when epidemic called grassy stunt disease of rice caused by virus destroyed more than 160,000 hectares of the crop in Asia. A resistance gene borrowed from wild rice variety of Central India named Oryza nivara controlled the disease. It was the only known genetic source of resistance to the grassy stunt disease. The cultivar IR 36 was developed with help of Oryza nivara. Today 20 major genes from wild rice for disease and pest resistant are used in rice improvement programme. A wild barley plant from Ethiopia provided a gene that protected California from lethal yellow dwarf virus. A wild tomato discovered in the Andes has been used to increase the sugar content of cultivated varieties, increasing their commercial value by millions of dollars per year. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) has been greatly benefitted from its several wild relatives. For instance, Solanum acaule has conferred resistance to Solanum tuberosum against potato virus X and potato leaf roll virus. Similarly Solanum spegazzini another wild relative of potato has been source of resistant genes against five races of cyst rematode (Globodera) and the fungus Fusarium coeruleum. The Solanum vernei has also been the source of resistant gene against cyst nematode (Globodera). The Solanum stoloniferum has contributed a gene that gives resistance to potato virus Y. The Solanum demissum has been source of resistant gene against Phytopthora infestans (the fungus causing late blight of potato). The grass Kans (Saccharum spontaneum) has been source of resistance gene to the red rot disease of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum).
3. Biodiversity play a role in the maintenance of productivity in the face of natural and human induced change (e.g. drought, disturbance, climate change, toxins etc.) and changes in landscape configuration can have large and long lasting effects on regional productivity.
4. Biodiversity fulfils the need of food, fodder, fuel, fibre, timber and ornamentation. Plants are important source of grazing for cattle and other herbivores. Flesh of animals is an important source of food for human beings. A conservative estimate is that a lower middle-class Indian uses at least 75 species daily as food, drink, condiments, clothing, shelter, recreation, ornamentation and so on.
5. Forests comprising diverse group of plant species are the major sinks of carbon dioxide which serve as a green house gas causing global warming, thus biologically diverse forest ecosystem helps in abatement of global warming.
6. Biodiversity plays an important role in protecting the water resources. The natural vegetation cover in water catchment helps in maintaining hydrological cycles, regulating and stabilizing water runoff and acts as buffer against natural disasters like flood and drought. Vegetation facilitates the percolation of water into the ground, thus helping in maintenance of ground water table. Deforestation has been the major cause of the lowering of ground water table.
7. The standing mangrove vegetation along the coastal areas serves as a shield against natural disasters like cyclone and tsunami. In addition to this, mangroves play an important role in controlling shoreline erosion. Degeneration of mangrove diversity along coast may lead to lessening of production in unmanaged fisheries.
8. Biodiversity plays significant role in soil formation and its conservation. The vegetation improves the soil structure, increase the water holding capacity of the soil and also raise the nutrient level of the soil.
9. Biological diversity plays important role in nutrient recycling. It is the sink and source of nutrients. Microbes decompose the dead plant parts and animals in the soil thus facilitating the nutrient return to the soil
10. Biodiversity helps in elimination of environmental pollution. Breakdown of the pollutants and its absorption is feature of many plants. The plant Catharanthus roseus has the ability to degrade Trinitrotoluene (TNT) like explosive. Several strains of micro-organisms have been found useful for the purpose of cleaning up toxic wastes. The bacteria like Pseudomonas putida, Arthrobacter viscosus and Citrobacter spp. have the ability to remove several toxic heavy metals from industrial effluents. Radioactive toxic metals as uranium and thorium are removed by Rhizopus arrhizus, however, the Penicillium crysogenium has the ability to accumulate radium. Some plant species thrive on soils that are rich in heavy metals. These plants possess biochemical mechanisms that enable them to extract those metals from the soil and accumulate them to very high levels in their tissues. Several plants have the ability to hyper accumulate metals like copper, nickel, cadmium, chromium, cobalt and mercury. They can be planted on toxic waste sites where they can remove the toxic metals from the soil. The Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) has the capability of absorbing cadmium and chromium from the soil. Aquatic plants like Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia molesta and Lemna minor are used for disposition and extraction of metals like copper, cadmium, iron and mercury from water.
11. Biodiversity plays important role in maintenance of human health. Alterations in biodiversity can affect disease transmission either through their influence on vectors of disease, or more directly on their influence on the disease causing organisms themselves. Changes in landscape diversity, due to agriculture, have resulted in the spread of human diseases. For instance, the introduction of jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture) into wet tropical Africa resulted in an increase in malaria which in turn increased the occurrence of sickle-cell anaemia. Physically damaged reefs are often invaded by the dinoflagllate Gambierdiscus toxicus, which is responsible for ciguatera in human beings. Changes in plant species composition can result in changes in the emissions of volatile organic compounds by plants which can lead, along with industrial pollutants, to increases in tropospheric ozone that can indirectly affect human health. Rooting depth changes as a result of replacing species when forests are converted to agricultural systems. These changes in rooting depth affect the amount of water percolating through the soil and may increase the levels of nitrate in ground water.
12. Vegetation influences climate both at the micro and macro levels. Forests maintain rainfall by recycling water vapour stability into atmospheric turbulence. Change in species composition affects atmospheric interaction and local weather through changes in evapo-transpiration and albedo. In desert and grassland systems, the amount of water transpired and hence the local climate depends very strongly on the particular complement of species present and the way in which they partition water. In marine systems, planktonic algae emit considerable amount of dimethyl sulphide, which subsequently have a strong influence on cloud formation.
13. Biodiversity provide stability to the ecosystem and maintains the ecological balance. Plants and animals in ecosystem are linked to each other through food chain and food web. The loss of one species in the ecosystem affects the survival of other species. Thus the ecosystem becomes fragile
14. There are various social benefits of biodiversity. Nature is the best laboratory for studies. The research, education and extension works can progress only with the help of nature and its inherent biodiversity. There are evidences to prove that human culture has co-evolved with the environment. For this reason itself, conservation of biodiversity is important for his cultural identity.
15. Biologically diverse forest ecosystems are home of wild-life and tribals. The forest of surrounding areas fulfils all the needs of the tribals. Due to constant association with the forest environment tribals have evolved a curious knowledge of plants and their utility for them. Many of the uses for which plant tribals employ products are not known outside their restricted community.
16. Biodiversity has aesthetic value as well. In provides beauty to the landscapes. Wild animals and plants provide inspiration not only to biologists but also to naturalists, explorers, painters, photographers, poets, writers and musicians. More over some of the interesting aspects of animal life (social, behavior, migration etc.) occur only in wild not in zoos.
Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is the term we use for the variety of animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and other intertwined life forms within any ecosystem…
Biodiversity is important to people in many ways. Plants, for instance, help humans by giving off oxygen. They also provide food, shade, construction material, medicines, and fiber for clothing and paper. The root system of plants helps prevent flooding. Plants, fungi, and animals such as worms keep soil fertile and water clean. As biodiversity decreases, these systems break down.
The diversities in genes and species of all living organisms in all ecosytems such as terrestrial and aquatic is biodiversity (bio- Life, diversity-variety).
Biodiversity pivots our life and provides both direct and indirect services that play quintessential roles in the lives of humans. I have several studies on this.
Personally as a researcher in biodiversity conservation, I think that the absence of biodiversity will mean no human life!
Why is biodiversity important to people?
Humans depend on functions performed by the world’s ecosystems. Ecosystems produce oxygen, purify and detoxify the air and water, store and cycle fresh water, regulate the climate, form topsoil, prevent erosion and flood damage, and produce raw materials, foods and medicines. Most of these ecosystem services cannot be replaced by human technology, at any cost. Biodiversity is the ‘library’ of species and genetic information that allows the Earth’s systems to function.
Biodiversity is a micro-environment containing species of plants and animals, some of which are extinct and another wild, an important subject ...
Greetings..
Biodiversity (noun) meaning
the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
REGARDS
Briefly, we can say, in general, for the well-being of our beloved plant, biodiversity is important because it increases the productivity of our ecosystem.
Thanks to the very helpful discussion dr Wajid Zaman dr Naseer Almukhtar dr Yasser Jaamour dr Dharmendra Arya dr Amit Baran Sharangi dr Ali Mohammed Yassen Al Hashemi dr Djaafar Zemali dr Dickson Adom dr Zainab A Makawi dr Ahsan Siddiqui dr Abdullah Noori
What is biodiversity?
It is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions. If that sounds bewilderingly broad, that’s because it is. Biodiversity is the most complex feature of our planet and it is the most vital. “Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity,” says Prof David Macdonald, at Oxford University.
Infographic on Biodiversity and Health (source: Convention on Biological Diversity) - in Attachment
Biodiversity is important to improve the human well being that include the ecosystem services contributed by different biota of the world.
Please see the link below to know some of the importance of biodiversity.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
"At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change". -- The Convention about Life on Earth
Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. The Importance of Biodiversity. Biodiversity is the amount of variety of life on Earth. Healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity: Increase ecosystem productivity; each species in an ecosystem has a specific niche—a role to play. Support a larger number of plant species and, therefore, a greater variety of crops.
It keeps the "balance" in nature.
For instance, the flowering plants need their pollinators, the birds and the insects.
One group would not exist if the other wasn't present.
"Biodiversity as a whole forms a shield protecting each of the species that together compose it, ourselves included." — E.O. Wilson, "Half-Earth"
Biodiversity is the other side of biocomplexity. And we do not know what effect an injury to biodiversity can have on the (complex) Gaia system, of which we humans are a part. That we know (and we want it) or not. Mario
Biodiversity ensure the sustainability. Its BournVita of the productivity of the ecosystem.
It is important to know that it is not impossible to restored the biodiversity!!!
Best regards,
MTT
The importance of biodiversity
Biodiversity is reflected negatively or positively on the lives and well-being of humans. Whatever organisms are small, they greatly affect the ecosystem and the importance of biodiversity:
Environmental stability: Every organism performs a specific function within the ecosystem, such as the production and analysis of organic matter, the determination of atmospheric gases, the regulation of climate and other processes and functions. Without these processes, humans can not survive.
Providing food for humans and animals. Biodiversity is a major food resource, consisting of animal wealth, plant crops and fisheries
Biodiversity must be important to save the ecological balance in each ecosystem.
Why is biodiversity important to people?
Humans depend on functions performed by the world’s ecosystems. Ecosystems produce oxygen, purify and detoxify the air and water, store and cycle fresh water, regulate the climate, form topsoil, prevent erosion and flood damage, and produce raw materials, foods and medicines. Most of these ecosystem services cannot be replaced by human technology, at any cost. Biodiversity is the ‘library’ of species and genetic information that allows the Earth’s systems to function.
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where all available species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
Biodiversity or diversity of life on the planet at genetic , species and ecosystem level are the very basis of human existence on earth. It provides ecological services in terms of provisioning, regulatory, cultural and economic to the humankind. Biodiversity is the insurances for human survival, genetic pool for food, medicine, clothing, and many of our daily requirements. It helps in the mitigation and adaptation to climate change by providing carbon sink and natural defence against disasters.
biodiversity is face of our environment and ecosystem. For I am very interest in study of microbial biodiversity.
Biodiversity is the basis of evolution. Without it species will not be healthy and die out. It is nature's way of protecting and sustaining itself. Human survival will be difficult without biodiversity.
Biodiversity exists only because it is favoured by natural selection as an evolutionary stable strategy that enables an ecological balance. Biodiversity is not the result of a planned process but simply an integral and necessary attribute if life is to continue to exist on this planet.
Diversity among living organisms (Planta or Animalia) is due to the different environmental conditions, geographical locations and thus adaptations made by them.
It creates diverse gene pool that forms a lot of varieties that may be beneficial in many ways.
Not sure but I feel the diversity in biological & non biological life makes our life better. Unfortunately we do not understand that &try to apply our little logo to modify the nature & in return caused extinction of severs species. Man animal is the most lethal disease, which our planetary biodiversity faces today.
Regards
Biodiversity is of great importance in many respects, and its absence may be a threat. The importance of biodiversity is that it gives us an opportunity to learn about different genotypes, which helps to produce better plants and new plants that strengthen the economy. The entire pharmaceutical industry depends on microorganisms and plants. 70% of the world's population relies on plants for their treatments and 40% described by doctors are also containing plant and animal components such as aspirin extracted from the leaves of tropical willow trees.
Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
For example,
A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops
Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms
Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.
And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife. Also the best experience. More info
Global Issues
Search this site
Search
Get free updates via
EmailWeb/RSS FeedFacebookTwitter
Main menu:
You are here:
HomeIssuesArticlesWhy Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?
Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?
Author and Page information
by Anup ShahThis Page Last Updated Sunday, January 19, 2014
At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change.
The Convention about Life on Earth, Convention on Biodiversity web site.
On this page:
What is Biodiversity?
Why is Biodiversity Important?
A healthy biodiversity offers many natural services
Species depend on each other
Soil, bacteria, plants; the Nitrogen Cycle
Bees: crucial agricultural workers
Interdependent marine ecosystem
Large carnivores essential for healthy ecosystems
Interdependency vs Human Intervention
Biodiversity providing lessons for scientists in engineering
More important than human use or biological interest
Putting an economic value on biodiversity
More information
What is Biodiversity?
The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity.
The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.
Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach to preserving biodiversity. Almost all cultures have their roots in our biological diversity in some way or form.
Declining biodiversity is therefore a concern for many reasons.
Back to top
Why is Biodiversity Important?
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
For example,
A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops
Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms
Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.
And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.
Back to top
A healthy biodiversity offers many natural services
Ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest are rich in diversity. Deforestation threatens many species such as the giant leaf frog, shown here.
(Images source: Wikipedia)
A healthy biodiversity provides a number of natural services for everyone:
Ecosystem services, such as
Protection of water resources
Soils formation and protection
Nutrient storage and recycling
Pollution breakdown and absorption
Contribution to climate stability
Maintenance of ecosystems
Recovery from unpredictable events
Biological resources, such as
Food
Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs
Wood products
Ornamental plants
Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
Future resources
Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems
Social benefits, such as
Research, education and monitoring
Recreation and tourism
Cultural values.
I notice many people answer this question from a human perspective. Biodiversity should not be defined by existentialism as humans are only a very small part of the picture. All of life exists because of evolved strategies that natural selection favoures. If human actions are not favoured by natural selection then we will, as a consequence, begin to see the deleterious effect this has on biodiversity (e.g., human contributed global warming).
Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. Biodiversity is also considered by many to have intrinsic value—that is, each species has a value and a right to exist, whether or not it is known to have value to humans. The biodiversity book by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO; Morton & Hill 2014) describes 5 core (and interacting) values that humans place on biodiversity:
- Economic—biodiversity provides humans with raw materials for consumption and production. Many livelihoods, such as those of farmers, fishers and timber workers, are dependent on biodiversity.
- Ecological life support—biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystemservices.
- Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity, such as birdwatching, hiking, camping and fishing. Our tourism industry also depends on biodiversity.
- Cultural—the Australian culture is closely connected to biodiversity through the expression of identity, through spirituality and through aesthetic appreciation. Indigenous Australians have strong connections and obligations to biodiversity arising from spiritual beliefs about animals and plants.
- Scientific—biodiversity represents a wealth of systematic ecological data that help us to understand the natural world and its origins.
In a simpler way, biodiversity can also be defined as variety of all living things: plants, animals and micro organisms, including the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they form.
The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity.
The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.
this link is useful
http://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares
regards
In a simpler form, biodiversity is described as the degree of variation of life.
Biodiversity encompasses microorganism, plants, animals and ecosystems.
We can also say biodiversity is sustaining nature: plants, animals, and other living things...
Biodiversity makes existence of living system by proper food web management.
Thank you Mario Zunino Djaafar Zemali Modestus Okwu Tatjana Atanasijevic Samy Selim Srini Vasan @George Taylor Prabhjot Kaur Sikandar Hayat Khan Isam Issa Omran @Tamara Alaa @Hussam Ali Mohammed Hassan Nima @Abhijit Mitra @Sileesh Mullasseri
Thank you Hamid Reza Samadifard, Maham Muzamil, Marpha Telepova-Texier, Ramesh Singh Yadav, Noureddine Slimani
Environmental stability: Every organism performs a specific function within the ecosystem, such as the production and analysis of organic matter, the determination of atmospheric gases, the regulation of climate and other processes and functions. Without these processes, humans can not survive.
Providing food for humans and animals. Biodiversity is a major food resource, consisting of animal wealth, plant crops and fisheries.
Drug manufacturing: Many wild plants are involved in the manufacture of medicines and pharmaceuticals. For example, active ingredient in the treatment of malaria is extracted from the bark of the eucalyptus tree.
Among the benefits of biodiversity in the industry are the manufacture of perfumes, dyes, leaves, oils and candles of different plant types, and the manufacture of wool, silk, leather and animal fur.
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
Djafaar, the most ancient and common remedy for malaria, quinine, is extracted from the Andean Chinchona officinalis (Rubiaceae) . Cheers
Thank you dr Djaafar Zemali dr @Carine Temegne Nono dr Mario Zunino
Life is a process of eating and being eaten. One species depends upon another for food, shelter, protection etc. Biodiversity is required for the sustenance of the eath itself.
You may get some answer from this highly cited paper "Duffy, J. Emmett. "Why biodiversity is important to the functioning of real‐world ecosystems." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7, no. 8 (2009): 437-444."
Biodiversity or biological diversity forms the foundation of the vast array of ecosystem services that critically contribute to human well-being.
I think the simplest answer is that biodiversity is what sustains the ecosystem. We do not have a full grasp of how this system works, all of the control loops. So it is at immense risk that we let ourselves degrade the level of biodiversity. If one removes the control loops of stable systems, the system goes out of control and ends up destroying itself.
Biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services.
" The Rich Biodiversity in Indonesia. Occupying only 1.3% of the world's land surface, Indonesia is one of the world's richest nations in terms of its biodiversity.Indonesia is an archipelago made up of about 17,000 islands throughout which there are unique ecosystems containing a large number of diverse species. "
What is biodiversity?
It is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions. If that sounds bewilderingly broad, that’s because it is. Biodiversity is the most complex feature of our planet and it is the most vital. “Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity,” says Prof David Macdonald, at Oxford University.
The term was coined in 1985 – a contraction of “biological diversity” – but the huge global biodiversity losses now becoming apparent represent a crisis equalling – or quite possibly surpassing – climate change.
More formally, biodiversity is comprised of several levels, starting with genes, then individual species, then communities of creatures and finally entire ecosystems, such as forests or coral reefs, where life interplays with the physical environment. These myriad interactions have made Earth habitable for billions of years.
Thank you dr Nazia Asad dr Djaafar Zemali dr Modestus Okwu dr @Albert Manfredi dr Mohammad Mehdizadeh dr Albert Manfredi
An important and intelligent question @ Nihada Ahmetovic
Biodiversity is the natural phenomenon that represents any environment in life. An example is the Ecosystem which contains many species of organisms under an astonishing equilibrium (Biodiversity)unless the human being intervene this system.
Homo sapiens is the only species responsible for ecological imbalance these days.
Dear Nihada,
Biodiversity is a spectre of different possibility for life; and the security not for one species, but for all species of the ecosystem
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.
I wish if all of us the world over understand and take this seriously @Dr. Khalid M. Breesem.
Because biodiversity has more experience in survival on this planet than the human mind could gather.
Biodiversity has billions and billions of years of survival experience compared to some thousand - or hundred years, as you prefer, humans have.
That biodiverse exchange of information has formed the biotope we emerged in.
The air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all rely on biodiversity.
Prof. David Macdonald, at Oxford University defined biodiversity as the most complex feature of our planet and the most vital. According to him, “Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity,”
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Social Psychology
- Attitude