Image source: National Geographic Photo Ark
Biodiversity is the complete range of species and biological communities on earth, as well as the genetic variation within species (Primack, 2014). Species diversity includes all species of all taxonomic levels. Genetic diversity is important for species to maintain healthy populations. Ecosystem diversity considers all the types of biological communities found on the planet.
But why is biodiversity important? Biodiverse communities are more resilient, and therefore better able to fight off diseases and adapt to changes in the environment, such as those that are brought on by climate change. The incredibly intricate food webs and inter-species dependencies that we are only beginning to understand can easily be damaged when biodiversity is lost, resulting in a continuous cycle of biodiversity loss.
Humanity depends on biodiversity to survive. The benefits provided to us by ecosystems are known as ecosystem services. They include everything from pollution and pest control services, to drought and flood mitigation, to medicines derived from plants, bacteria, and fungi. Many of these natural processes are impossible for us to recreate with technology, so essentially without healthy ecosystems (which are dependent on rich biodiversity), we could not survive.
In addition, healthy and diverse ecosystems make life more interesting! Many people enjoy traveling to far-flung places to see rare and unique species. Even in our own backyards, it is fun to check off the different species of birds we see at our birdfeeders or the myriad types of wildflowers we can find at a local park. More than just the services that healthy ecosystems provide us, biodiversity has value in and of itself.
Sources:
Primack, R. B. (2014). Essentials of Conservation Biology (6th ed.). Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc.
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