"Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth."
The variety of life on Earth, encompassing genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. It is essential for ecosystem functioning and human well-being.
Ecosystems: An interconnected system of living and non-living things that work together to sustain life.
Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.
Endangered species: Species at risk of extinction due to various environmental factors.
Habitat loss: The destruction of natural habitats due to human activity.
Climate change: Global warming and its impact on biodiversity.
Conservation biology: The study of preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species.
Human impact on biodiversity: The negative effects of human activity on biodiversity.
Ecological niche: The role of an organism within an ecosystem.
Biogeography: The study of the distribution of species across geographic regions.
Genetics and biodiversity: The relationship between genetics and biodiversity.
Invasive species: Non-native species that cause harm to local ecosystems.
Habitat fragmentation: The breaking up of habitats into smaller isolated areas.
Keystone species: Species that play an important role in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem.
Restoration ecology: The study of restoring damaged ecosystems.
Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity: The relationship between traditional knowledge and biodiversity conservation.
Ecosystem diversity: This type of biodiversity refers to the variety of ecosystems in a place. It includes forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and other types of habitats. Each ecosystem has unique characteristics that support a variety of organisms.
Species diversity: This type of biodiversity is the variation of different species in a particular area. It includes the number of species, the variety of their genetic makeup, and their distribution. Greater species diversity provides a more stable ecosystem and ecosystem services like pest control and pollination.
Genetic diversity: This type of biodiversity refers to the variation of genes among individuals within a species. It is important for the survival and adaptation of a species to changes in the environment.
Functional diversity: This type of biodiversity measures the variety of functions performed by different organisms in an ecosystem. It includes the variety of roles in nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, pollination, and other ecosystem services.
Landscape diversity: This type of biodiversity describes the variation in landscape features, including topography, soil types, and land use patterns. It is important for protecting habitats and maintaining connectivity between different ecosystems.
Endemic diversity: This type of biodiversity is the number of species unique to a particular region or ecosystem. They are usually found nowhere else in the world and are especially vulnerable to habitat destruction and climate change.
Cultural diversity: This type of biodiversity refers to the variety of cultures and traditions associated with different environments and ecosystems. It includes the knowledge and practices of local communities in maintaining and using natural resources sustainably.
"Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (genetic variability), species (species diversity), and ecosystem (ecosystem diversity) level."
"It is usually greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and high primary productivity in the region near the equator."
"Tropical forest ecosystems cover less than 10% of Earth's surface."
"Marine biodiversity is usually higher along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest, and in the mid-latitudinal band in all oceans."
"Yes, there are latitudinal gradients in species diversity."
"Biodiversity generally tends to cluster in hotspots."
"More than 99.9% of all species that ever lived on Earth, amounting to over five billion species, are estimated to be extinct."
"About 1.2 million have been documented."
"The total amount of related DNA base pairs on Earth is estimated at 5.0 x 10^37."
"The age of Earth is about 4.54 billion years."
"The earliest undisputed evidence of life dates at least from 3.7 billion years ago."
"There are microbial mat fossils found in 3.48 billion-year-old sandstone discovered in Western Australia."
"Other early physical evidence of a biogenic substance is graphite in 3.7 billion-year-old meta-sedimentary rocks discovered in Western Greenland."
"More recently, in 2015, 'remains of biotic life' were found in 4.1 billion-year-old rocks in Western Australia."
"Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions and several minor events have led to large and sudden drops in biodiversity."
"The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, occurred 65 million years ago and has often attracted more attention than others because it resulted in the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs."
"The ongoing global biodiversity crisis not only involves biological extinctions but also the loss of experience and the gradual fading of cultural knowledge and collective memory of species. The reduction is caused primarily by human impacts, particularly habitat destruction."
"Biodiversity positively impacts human health in many ways."
"A few negative effects are studied."