The short-beaked echidna is endemic to Australia. Watch this discussion about biodiversity: Although all three levels of diversity are important, the term biodiversity usually refers to species diversity. Ecosystem diversity describes the many types of functional units formed by living communities interacting with their environments. Finally, as Leopold clearly understood, the “cogs and wheels” include not only life but also the land, sea, and air that support life. A second measure recognizes variation within a species: differences among individuals or populations make up genetic diversity. Species diversity best fits the literal translation: the number of different species in a particular ecosystem or on Earth. Biologists, however, always alert to levels of organization, have identified three measures of life’s variation. What are the “cogs” and “wheels” of life?Īlthough the concept of biodiversity did not become a vital component of biology and political science until nearly 40 years after Aldo Leopold’s death in 1948, Leopold – often considered the father of modern ecology – would have likely found the term an appropriate description of his “cogs and wheels.” Literally, biodiversity is the many different kinds (diversity) of life (bio-). Aldo Leopold, Round River: from the Journals of Aldo Leopold, 1953 To save every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering. Conservation efforts are necessary to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species and their habitats.\) Some scientists estimate that half of all species on Earth will be wiped out within the next century. These threats have caused an unprecedented rise in the rate of species extinction. Pollution, climate change, and population growth are all threats to biodiversity. Much of the Earth’s biodiversity, however, is in jeopardy due to human consumption and other activities that disturb and even destroy ecosystems. Many species provide important benefits to humans, including food, clothing, and medicine. This manure can also be used to fertilize cropland. Cattle then produce manure that returns nutrients to the soil, which helps to grow more grass. For example, the grass in pastures feeds cattle. Endemic species-species that are only found in one particular location-are also found in hotspots.Īll of the Earth’s species work together to survive and maintain their ecosystems. Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity are called hotspots. Some areas in the world, such as areas of Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, the southwestern United States, and Madagascar, have more biodiversity than others. Looking at samples of soil or water through a microscope reveals a whole world of bacteria and other tiny organisms. Ecosystems can also contain species too small to see with the naked eye. Ecosystems that host the most biodiversity tend to have ideal environmental conditions for plant growth, like the warm and wet climate of tropical regions. ![]() ![]() A single grassland can contain a wide range of species, from beetles to snakes to antelopes. ![]() They also study how many species exist in single ecosystems, such as a forest, grassland, tundra, or lake. Scientists are interested in how much biodiversity there is on a global scale, given that there is still so much biodiversity to discover. All organisms that can reproduce with each other fall into one species. Organisms that have evolved to be so different from one another that they can no longer reproduce with each other are considered different species. These differences are what scientists use to tell one species from another. Over generations, all of the species that are currently alive today have evolved unique traits that make them distinct from other species. This means that millions of other organisms remain a complete mystery. However, only around 1.2 million species have been identified and described so far, most of which are insects. Scientists have estimated that there are around 8.7 million species of plants and animals in existence. Bio diversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth.
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