Biodiversity

Biodiversity is how many different types of organisms live in an area.

Explanation:
Examples of places with high biodiversity include rainforests and coral reefs, because they have
many different species in an area. Less biodiverse areas include deserts, icy areas, and the bottom
of the ocean. Organisms do exist in those places, but not as many as places with higher
biodiversity.

"The biodiversity of an ecosystem contributes to the sustainability of that ecosystem. The higher the
biodiversity of an ecosystem, the more sustainable it is. Conversely, lower biodiversity equals less
sustainability. The biodiversity of an ecosystem contributes to the sustainability of that ecosystem. •
Higher/more biodiversity = more sustainable. • Lower/less biodiversity = less sustainable. • High
biodiversity in an ecosystem means that there is a great variety of genes and species in that
ecosystem. A great variety of genes and species means that the ecosystem is better able to carry
out natural processes in the face of external stress. • Thus, the ecosystem is more sustainable."

Biotic components are the living things that shape an ecosystem. Biotic
components usually include: Producers, i.e. autotrophs: e.g. plants, they convert the energy
[from photosynthesis (the transfer of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into energy), or other
sources such as hydrothermal vents] into food.

Importance of Biodiversity to ecosystem

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have
animportant role to play. For example, A larger number of plant species means a greater
variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.

Importance of Biodiversity

4.2 Discuss the importance of the maintenance of biodiversity

The biodiversity found on Earth today is the result of approximately 3.5 billion years of
evolution. Until the emergence of humans, the earth supported more biodiversity than any
other period in geological history. However, since the dominance of humans, biodiversity
has begun a rapid decline, with one species after another suffering extinction 1
.

The maintenance of biodiversity is important for the following reasons:

1. Ecological stability

Each species performs a particular function within an ecosystem. They can capture
and store energy, produce organic material, decompose organic material, help to
cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, control erosion or pests, fix
atmospheric gases, or help regulate climate.

Ecosystems provide support of production and services without which humans could
not survive. These include soil fertility, pollinators of plants, predators,
decomposition of wastes, purification of the air and water, stabilisation and
moderation of the climate, decrease of flooding, drought and other environmental
disasters.

Research show that the more diverse an ecosystem the better it can withstand
environmental stress and the more productive it is. The loss of a species thus
decreases the ability of the system to maintain itself or to recover in case of damage.
There are very complex mechanisms underlying these ecological effects.

2. Economic benefits to humans

For all humans, biodiversity is first a resource for daily life. Such 'crop diversity' is
also called agrobiodiversity.

Most people see biodiversity as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the
manufacture of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Thus resource
shortages may be related to the erosion of the biodiversity.

Some of the important economic commodities that biodiversity supplies to

humankind are:

- FOOD : crops, livestock, forestry, and fish

- MEDICATION: Wild plant species have been used for medicinal purposes
since before the beginning of recorded history. For example, quinine (Used to
 treat malaria) comes from the bark of the Amazonian tree Cinchona tree;
digitalis from the Foxglove plant (chronic heart trouble), and morphine from
the Poppy plant (pain relief).

According the National Cancer Institute of the USA, over 70 % of the

promising anti-cancer drugs come from plants in the tropical rainforests.
Animal may also play a role, in particular in research. It is estimated that of
the 250,000 known plant species, only 5,000 have been researched for
possible medical applications.

- INDUSTRY: fibres for clothing, wood for shelter and warmth. Biodiversity
may be a source of energy (such as biomass). Other industrial products are
oils, lubricants, perfumes, fragrances, dyes, paper, waxes, rubber, latexes,
resins, poisons and cork can all be derived from various plant species.
Supplies from animal origin are wool, silk, fur, leather, lubricants, waxes.
Animals may also be used as a mode of transportation.

- TOURISM & RECREATION: biodiversity is a source of economical wealth for

many areas, such as many parks and forests, where wild nature and animals
are a source of beauty and joy for many people. Ecotourism in particular, is a
growing outdoor recreational activity.

3. Ethical reasons

The role of biodiversity is to be a mirror of our relationships with the other living
species, an ethical view with rights, duties, and education. If humans consider
species have a right to exist, they cannot cause voluntarily their extinction. Besides,
biodiversity is also part of many cultures’ spiritual heritage.

Online Resources

"The value of Biodiversity.Insights from Ecology, Ethics and Economics"

(prepared for the Malahide conference “Biodiversity and the EU – Sustaining Life, Sustaining
Livelihoods”) held in May 2004.

http://netherlands.biodiv-chm.org/index.php?menuid=2200&lang=en&cl=blue&q=

References
Biodiversity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity