What is meant by biodiversity?

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Biodiversity is all life and the combination of all earth’s ecosystems which are composed of complex communities (Pavid 2020). Ecosystem diversity is the widest display of biodiversity as it can be the most easily observed by seeing the change of species across transition zones between ecosystems and natural communities (Medland 2004). Species diversity is the commonly used and best-known version of biodiversity as it is the species within a specific community (Medland 2004). Genetic diversity is the range of traits or alleles within a particular species (Medland 2004).

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Why is biodiversity important?

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The importance of biodiversity is critical in preserving and managing ecosystems even those as far away as Borneo’s tropical rainforests (Hancock c2021). One of the main purposes is biodiversity’s function in biological processes that cycle soil and aquatic nutrients and affect the chemical composition of ecosystems benefitting living species (Shah 2014). Biodiversity is related to many facets of human society with the main one being resource production, and then other purposes such as cultural purposes, including religious significance attached to other species (AMNH c2021). Biodiversity influences resource production as humans benefit greatly from medicines, shelter or infrastructure resources, and food (Shah 2014).

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What values may be assigned to biodiversity?

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Inherent value can be assigned as it establishes a species’ worth based on its uniqueness and its inherent role in its ecosystems or its existence (Medland 2004, Primack 2012). Another value is instrumental value, which is the human reliance on the species (Medland 2004). Instrumental values of species have led to the ecological communities to be harmed in Borneo (Hancock c2021) and around the world.  The aesthetic value of biodiversity is the visual beauty or the species that appeals the most to a person (NAS 1999). The educational value of biodiversity is what allows us to better understand the ecosystems across the world and how we can better support these ecosystems via methods of sustainable development (UNESCO c2021). The recreational values of biodiversity include the use of natural bodies of water for swimming, bird watching, hunting, fishing and even the shade from the sun provided by tall trees (NAS 1999). Biodiversity contributes to nitrogen fixation, and it is broken down into nutrients by decomposers. Then the plants can use the nutrients for the processes like photosynthesis (Shah 2014). Biodiversity allows bees to be a mainstay source pollinating much of the plant species (Shah 2014). Trees benefit biodiversity by holding carbon dioxide that could go back into the atmosphere contributing more towards climate change (USGS c2021).

 

References:
 

American Museum of Natural History. c2021. What is Biodiversity?. https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity--conservation/what-is-biodiversity. Accessed Nov. 10, 2021.

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Hancock. Lorin. c2021. What is Biodiversity? WWF. What is biodiversity? | Pages | WWF (worldwildlife.org). Accessed Nov.10, 2021.

 

Medland. Vicki L. 2004. Biodiversity. pp. 125-131. Cofrin Center for Biodiversity. https://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/about/biodiversity.asp.

 

National Academy of the Sciences. 1999. Perspectives on Biodiversity: Valuing Its Role in an Everchanging World. The Values of Biodiversity - Perspectives on Biodiversity - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov).

 

Pavid. Katie. 2020. What is Biodiversity?. The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-biodiversity.html.

 

Primack. Richard B.  2012.  A Primer of Conservation Biology.  5th Edition.  Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts. https://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/about/biodiversity.asp.

 

Shah. Anup. 2014. Why is biodiversity Important? Who cares?. Global Issues.org. https://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares.

 

UNESCO. c2021. Biodiversity and Education. Biodiversity & Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (unesco.org). Accessed Nov.17, 2021. 

 

USGS. c2021. Land Carbon. LandCarbon (usgs.gov). Accessed Nov.17, 2021.