Biodiversity is essential to human health, the health of the planet, and much more. Yet, humans have caused a devastating loss of precious biodiversity among plants and animals. At a time when more than 1 million species face extinction, the stakes have never been higher to preserve and protect biodiversity.
What Is Biodiversity?
The term “biodiversity” combines two words, ‘biological’ and ‘diversity.’ It refers to the variety of life all over the planet–including all plants, animals, microorganisms, and fungi, and the ecosystems they form.
Three levels of biodiversity
Biodiversity combines three primary “levels” or categories:
- Species diversity
- Genetic diversity
- Ecosystem diversity
Species Diversity: Species diversity includes the almost incredible variety of species all over our planet. Think of how many different kinds of butterflies, fish, birds, and insects there are! Every animal, plant, and insect is critical to species diversity–no matter how big or small. Each variety has its own special place in the ecosystem.
Even if two species look and act exactly the same, they are both critical to biodiversity. For example, the African elephant is just as crucial as the Asian elephant. The Swallowtail butterfly is just as precious as the Monarch butterfly.
Genetic Diversity: Genetic diversity refers to the biological variation within a species. Genetic diversity helps a species resist diseases, adapt to climate changes, and other benefits. Maintaining genetic diversity keeps a species healthy and can help a species adapt to changes in the environment.
Examples of genetic diversity include:
- The different textures and colors of hair in humans.
- Different shapes of bird beaks.
- Even the different types of apples in the grocery store.
When a species has many differences in its DNA, the genetic diversity is high because there are a lot of different mutations. For example, some apples grow better in warm climates thanks to genetic mutations and genetic diversity.
Unfortunately, genetic diversity can be lost when populations shrink or are isolated from one another.
When genetic diversity is low, there are fewer mutations in the DNA. Fewer mutations mean it’s more difficult for that species to adapt to environmental changes. It can also increase the chances that the species will develop physical or genetic weaknesses. If genetic diversity gets too low, a species can go extinct.
Ecosystem Diversity: Ecosystem diversity includes all the physical characteristics of the environment, the different species that live there, and the interactions the species have with each other and the environment around them.
Think of an ecosystem as a community and the physical environment that the community lives in. An ecosystem can be as small as the bacteria living in a tiny pool of water and as big as the entire biosphere.
When people talk about ecosystem diversity, they usually mean ecosystems like lakes, marshes, forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other unique areas on the planet.
On a large scale, ecosystem diversity focuses on preserving large ecosystems like rainforests or coral reefs. It’s equally essential to protect small-scale ecosystem diversity, like preserving a small river area where salmon return to spawn each year.
Why Is Biodiversity Important?
Biodiversity affects everything from human and animal health to food security.
Every plant and animal plays an integral part in the delicate balance of our planet.
Microorganisms, ecosystems, and ecological processes maintain the supply of oxygen we breathe and the clean water we drink. They help balance carbon and add precious nutrients to the soil so plants can grow.
Biodiversity helps control pests and keep diseases at bay. Biodiversity even prevents natural disasters like flooding or famine.
What is biodiversity loss?
Did you know that humans make up just 0.01% of all living creatures on the planet? Yet, humans have caused or contributed to the loss of about 83% of all wild mammals and about half of all plants within the last 100 years.
The processes we use to grow food, produce energy, eliminate waste, and consume resources are destroying precious biodiversity. Scientists agree that climate change is happening too quickly for most plants and animals to adapt and survive.
Conservation researchers Paul R and Anne Ehrlich used the analogy of rivets on a plane to describe biodiversity loss. They explained that losing one bolt or rivet on an aircraft likely won’t be a disaster. The other rivets can take up the slack. But each additional loss adds to the stress and increases the chances of a severe disaster. In the same way, losing one species in an ecosystem probably isn’t disastrous, but each additional loss increases the chances of devastating consequences.
Consequences of biodiversity loss
Scientists are still studying and learning about all the potential consequences of biodiversity loss. Still, one thing is sure–there are significant consequences. For example, deforestation can spread diseases as disease carriers like mosquitos can expand their geographic ranges to infect new populations.
Biodiversity that comes from protecting natural areas has been linked to fewer diseases like Lyme disease and malaria.
Biodiversity is also good for business. Biodiversity is worth billions each year, from tourism around natural wonders to sales of pharmaceuticals based on natural materials.
In summary, biodiversity makes the earth habitable. It protects from natural disasters, regenerates soils, and much more. Protecting biodiversity can help save human and animal lives and prevent economic loss and future consequences.
It’s essential to protect biodiversity. In doing so, we are protecting our own health and ability to thrive. As ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activity, acknowledging biodiversity’s benefits and beauty is the first step toward change.
Works cited
https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/biodiversity/why-is-biodiversity-important/
https://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/intro/index_en.htm
https://www.conservation.org/blog/why-is-biodiversity-important
https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/stories/why-biodiversity-important-children
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