Biodiversity
Biodiversity describes life on earth. The variety of plants and species that sustain life make it the most intricate and vital element on earth.
It deals with both natural and artificial ecosystems, nature’s variety, and biosphere. It includes a number of different organisms and their frequency in nature. It also includes the group of organisms at various levels.
Biodiversity provides us with:
- Nourishment
- Housing
- Fuel
- Clothing
- Money from tourism
That is why it is important to understand and protect the biodiversity.
Types of Biodiversity
- Species - indicates the assortment of different types of groups found in a certain area.
- Genetic -concerns the distinctions among the genetic properties of the organisms.
- Ecological - discusses to the distinctions in the plant and animal species that live together and arelinked by food chains.
The Importance of Biodiversity
The importance of biodiversity is:
- To maintain the balance of the ecosystem by combating pollution, stabilizing climate, protecting water and soil sources, and storing nutrients.
- Delivery of medicines and pharmaceuticals, food for humans and animals, decorative plants, wood products, reproduction stock and collection of species, ecosystems and genes.
- Recreation and travel, cultural importance and instruction and research benefits.
Threats to Biodiversity
- Loss of habitat as the population explodes and more agriculture and housing is needed so many animals find their habitat shrinking.
- Overuse of resources such as wood, water, food, and others these things can lead to loss of habitat as well as lowering the resource itself.
- Invasive species like zebra mussels need to be kept to a minimum.
- Pollution of air and water.
- Climate change caused by greenhouse gases.
Over the past century the human population has exploded. We have overused the resources which affect the biodiversity of earth. However not all changes in the biodiversity are manmade, some are from evolution of new species.
The Effects of climate change on Biodiversity
Climate change effects biodiversity in both bad and good ways. It is important to understand the changes from climate change to help protect our biodiversity.
Increasing temperatures for example have prompted some species to change their conduct. Behaviors like physically changing, changing biological events, or changing their geographic radius. Unfortunately, even some species adapting to the changes may be doing so too slowly.
Rising temperatures on the oceans can cause restrictions to movement of vital deep-ocean nutrients thought to arouse primary making of phytoplankton, microscopic marine organisms accountable for half of all primary production.
On the other hand rising temperatures in frigid ocean areas cause ice melt. The ice melt causes an increase in phytoplankton populations, and catalyzing primary creation in those areas.
Protecting and Conserving Biodiversity
How can we protect and conserve biodiversity? Here are the top ways for all of us to conserve and protect the biodiversity of the planet.
- Reduce emissions and greenhouse gases lowering air pollution
- Decrease pollution of air, land, and water
- Education that animals, plants, and other species are an integral part of our ecosystem
- Purchase sustainable products
- Research
- Nature preserves to help conserve habitats
- Lower the number of invasive species
- Restore habitats this can be done by individuals, government, and businesses
- Captive breeding and seed banks at zoos
By protecting and conserving biodiversity we can protect our planet for future generations. It will also improve our ecosystem and provide a cleaner more hospitable environment for humans.