Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are suited for the environment. Those individuals are more likely to survive to produce offspring bearing that allele. Loss of genetic diversity could drive widespread loss of physiological versatility and ecological resilience, with flow-on effects cascading through to critical and potentially irreversible, changes to ecosystem structure and functioning.

Yes an Ecosystem with very high biodiversity will be able to adapt to environmental changes. High genetic diversity is a precursor for adaptation to the ever-changing climatic conditions. A less diverse ecosystem will be vulnerable to ash climate and the evolution of new pathogens

Dear Olayinka Ashiru thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are suited for the environment. Those individuals are more likely to survive to produce offspring bearing that allele. Genetic diversity makes it possible for species to adapt when the environment changes. Thus, large genetic diversity a big gene pool positively affects ecosystem resilience and function. Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are suited for the environment. Those individuals are more likely to survive to produce offspring bearing that allele. A genetically diverse population of individuals is more likely to survive than a population of individuals with similar genetic makeup. Variation allows some individuals within a population to adapt to the changing environment and natural selection allows the expression of those beneficial traits to persist. Loss of genetic diversity could drive widespread loss of physiological versatility and ecological resilience, with flow-on effects cascading through to critical and potentially irreversible, changes to ecosystem structure and functioning.Indeed, high genetic diversity bolsters the resilience of populations, because they harbor a higher adaptive capacity with which to respond to perturbations such as disease, environmental change, or declining environmental conditions. Ecosystem resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to absorb change and return to the same equilibrium state after a temporary disturbance. Ecosystems with higher species diversity tend to be more resilient. Greater biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and individuals leads to greater stability. For example, species with high genetic diversity and many populations that are adapted to a wide variety of conditions are more likely to be able to weather disturbances, disease, and climate change.