The level of biodiversity that encompasses available habitat in an area and the relationship between species diversity and sustainability is known as "ecosystem biodiversity." Ecosystem biodiversity considers the variety of ecosystems, habitats, and ecological processes within a given geographical area. The relationship between species diversity and sustainability lies in the understanding that diverse ecosystems are more resilient, productive, and sustainable over time, as they can better adapt to environmental changes and disturbances.
1. Ecosystem Biodiversity: Ecosystem biodiversity is a component of biodiversity that focuses on the variety of ecosystems and habitats within a specific geographic area. These ecosystems can include forests, grasslands, wetlands, coral reefs, and many others. Each ecosystem is characterized by its unique set of species, physical features, and ecological processes.
2. Available Habitat: Within ecosystem biodiversity, the concept of available habitat refers to the different types of living spaces or niches that are present within an ecosystem. For example, a forest ecosystem might include habitats like the forest floor, tree canopies, and various understory layers. The availability of diverse habitats within an ecosystem is crucial because it allows for a greater variety of species to thrive, each adapted to specific conditions.
3. Species Diversity and Sustainability: The relationship between species diversity and sustainability is fundamental to understanding the health and resilience of ecosystems. Here's how it works:
· Resilience: Ecosystems with higher species diversity tend to be more resilient. This means they can withstand and recover from disturbances, such as natural disasters or human impacts, more effectively. In diverse ecosystems, if one species is negatively affected by a disturbance, others can step in to perform similar ecological functions, maintaining the overall stability of the ecosystem.
· Productivity: Diverse ecosystems often exhibit higher levels of primary productivity. This means they can capture and convert energy from the sun into biomass more efficiently. This productivity supports a wide array of species and sustains ecosystem services like water purification, carbon sequestration, and pollination, all of which contribute to human well-being.
· Adaptation to Change: Ecosystems with greater species diversity are better equipped to adapt to environmental changes, including climate change. Some species may be more resilient to changing conditions or may serve as indicators of environmental health.
· Sustainability: The sustainability of an ecosystem refers to its ability to persist over time while maintaining its essential ecological functions and supporting the organisms that depend on it. Ecosystems with high species diversity are more likely to be sustainable because they have redundancies in terms of species performing key roles, and they are less susceptible to catastrophic collapses.
In summary, ecosystem biodiversity considers the various habitats and ecosystems within a region and recognizes that maintaining a high level of species diversity within these ecosystems is critical for their sustainability. This is because diverse ecosystems are more resilient, productive, and adaptable, ultimately benefiting both the natural world and human societies that rely on ecosystem services.
Ecological biodiversity is the diversity of ecosystems, natural communities, and habitats. In essence, it's the variety of ways that species interact with each other and their environment. Coral reefs are believed by many to have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet even more than a tropical rainforest. Occupying less than one percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to more than 25% of all marine life. These types of ecosystems vary according to the climate it is in; the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems are found in tropical rainforests, which have many tree and animal species. However, temperate and boreal forests also have their own respective flora and fauna species. The greatest biodiversity is found in the tropical regions of the world, particularly among tropical rainforests and coral reefs. Biodiversity is increased by genetic change and evolutionary processes and reduced by habitat destruction, population decline and extinction. Tropical rain forest types of forests exhibit highest bio-diversity. A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. As larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. 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. Biologically diverse communities are also more likely to contain species that confer resilience to that ecosystem because as a community accumulates species, there is a higher chance of any one of them having traits that enable them to adapt to a changing environment.