What is Biodiversity?

The variety of different species on Earth is a planet’s BIODIVERSITY.

Why is biodiversity important? 1.Just Because: Wild organisms and ecosystems are a source of beauty and recreation. 2.Economic Value: Many plants, animals, and other organisms are economically valuable for humans. They provide food as well as materials for clothing, medicine, and other products. 3.Ecological Value: More species in an ecosystem means more food choices in a food web. A change in the food web will affect the ecosystem more if it is not as biologically diverse.

What are some threats to Biodiversity? Natural Events: Hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, etc… can wipe out entire populations in an area. Habitat Destruction: The major cause of extinction is the loss of a natural habitat. Poaching: The illegal killing or removal of organisms from their habitats. Pollution: Pollution may reach animals through the water they drink, the air they breathe, or the food they eat. Pollutants may kill or weaken organisms, cause birth defects, or cause the extinction of the species.

What is Sustainability? The ability of an ecosystem to maintain itself and remain productive over a long period of time.

What does that mean? Ecosystems can experience natural stresses, such as hurricanes, droughts, or floods. Human activities can also stress an ecosystem. Those ecosystems that have the greatest ability to keep functioning despite the outside stresses show the most sustainability.

The most sustainable ecosystems are those with the greatest biodiversity. They have genetic variety needed to change as the environment changes. They also have more species to absorb population declines or species loss.

So… More Diversity = More Sustainability