Hi

Biodiversity is not just an ecosystem function! Biodiversity is part of the structure and function of ecosystems!

The ecosystem is the natural biological system composed of biotic (biological) and abiotic components.

All these components are interconnected so that the function of each of the individual biological components and that of the system sustains.

A biological system (ecosystem) begins once a pioneer component interacts with the nonliving component. Say, for example, a microalga starts growing on a rock. The pioneer interaction enables the system to gradually accept more components to grow and develop until the system attains sustainability.

The above process is called ecological succession. Ecological succession enables a young ecosystem to evolve and achieves sustainability.

However, the extent of diversity in a system depends on the intensities of physical environmental factors available in an area where the system sustains. Say, for example, in the equator and tropical regions where mineral, light, and humidity (environmental factors most crucial to the sustenance of biological components) are rich or intensive, the possibility of the number of components to develop a system is many, whereas in areas where such physical components are less rich or intensive the number of components will be very few. Accordingly, humid equatorial and tropical ecosystems are rich in biodiversity, whereas dry tropical (desert) or cold temperate (less light intensity) are relatively poor in biodiversity.

Therefore, the richness of biodiversity in a system depends on where the ecosystem sustains and the history of its development. But all the earth's ecosystems are interconnected to maintain a single biological system, the biosphere.

Therefore, the ecosystem's biodiversity is essential to sustain life on the planet! The function of biodiversity, irrespective of whether the system is poor or rich in biodiversity, is to support life in the world!

Dr Joseph George Ray thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Biodiversity is the variety of life forms in an ecosystem. An ecosystem that is rich in biodiversity stabilizes the net productivity and makes the ecosystem more resistant to exotic species. It maintains the ecosystem by maintaining the food chain. Biodiversity is the name given to the variety of ecosystems species and genes in the world or in a particular habitat.Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. And people also value nature of it. It has been shown that biodiversity of an area has a large impact on the ecosystem stability of that area. Areas with high levels of species and genetic diversity are likely to have a more complex ecosystem, with a variety of food webs and biotic interactions. There is more biodiversity within tropical ecosystems than temperate or boreal ecosystems. In fact, tropical rain forests have the most diversity. The most diverse group of animals are invertebrates. Ecosystems with higher biodiversity are more stable as they can easily adjust to changes. Having a number of different organisms increases the stability of an ecosystem, because a change in the population of one organism will have less effect on the population of an organism that depends on it. Advantages of high biodiversity in maintaining the stability of an ecosystem. Explanation: The increased biodiversity of the plant species will aid in the development and abundance of the animal species which will provide for the plant species thus maintaining stability between plant and animal species. Greater biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and individuals leads to greater stability. As, 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. A forest containing many types of trees, dozens of bird species, and both big and small mammals, is described as having high biodiversity. In contrast, a forest having just one type of tree, only two bird species, and a single type of mammal, is described as having low biodiversity. a forest containing many types of trees, dozens of bird species, and both big and small mammals, is described as having high biodiversity. In contrast, a forest having just one type of tree, only two bird species, and a single type of mammal, is described as having low biodiversity. Biodiversity is essential for stability of an ecosystem. Communities having more species tend to be more stable than those with less species. A stable ecosystem is able to resist occasional disturbance. Under certain environmental conditions, increased biodiversity can also lead to an ecosystem becoming more unstable. Ecosystems have a variety of benefits: They provide us with food, water and other resources, as well as recreational space.Biodiversity maintains the stability of ecosystems by replenishing resources from time to time. So, for example an even number of species spread out throughout the forest ecosystem will help in keeping the growth of the trees stable. A stable point is such that a small perturbation of the system will be diminished and the system will come back to the original point. On the other hand, if a small perturbation is magnified, the stationary point is considered unstable. The most stable ecosystems are found in oceans because it is naturally liquid (saline), has dissolved oxygen, is light and temperature sensitive. Other terrestrial ecosystems experience modifications and biotic component succession. Oceans, however, are steady over a very long period of time. Ecosystems that have high levels of biodiversity have a large number of species, complex food webs, a variety of ecological niches, increased genetic diversity, and abundant resources.