The Controversy Of Biodiversity

One issue that is rising due to deforestation is the loss of biodiversity in the deciduous forest. Biodiversity is defined as: the degree of

Biodiversity means the variety of life forms/organisms in an ecosystem, biome or entire planet. Globally, biodiversity is not evenly distributed. It generally increases from the poles towards the equator as around 50% of the world’s plants and animals live in tropical rainforests. This is because of the proximity to the equator causing a warmer, more moist, stable climate which means plants grow better and can support more species higher up in the food chain. Standard of living is the level of wealth, goods and

Biodiversity creates an interconnected system where each part builds off of one another to create a functional ecosystem. For example, a small insect such as a bee is critical for survival of many other species because it pollinates so many plants. Currently, the population of bees is dramatically decreasing due to anthropogenic actions such as using harmful pesticides. If the population of bees go extinct, so many species would follow because they would not get pollinated. This is problematic because humans do not have the time or the funds to replicate the vital work of the bee.

Biodiversity loss threatens to disrupt the function of ecosystems, with the potential of consequences for humans as well. Often this loss is measured by species extinction rates, but considerations should be made to include population diversity with measures including changes in size, number, distribution and genetic composition of population and potential implications those changes may have (Luck et al., 2003). Avise (2004) goes as far as to say biodiversity is genetic

In the ecosystem organisms rely on each other for food and protection. The Food chain is like a pyramid you have the producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and quaternary consumers. It’s an almost perfect balance and if any level were to just stop existing then the food chain would be destroyed. An example of organisms relying on others is an issue of isle royale were the wolves and moose population are in jeopardy. This relationship is important because without the other animal the population would die.

So we will talk about biodiversity first. Biodiversity is a group of different living organisms from around the world in one community. And biodiversity helps the biosphere because they can produce better and help other plants and humans in need. Some plants and trees have different characteristics regarding to their species.

Dictionary.com defines biodiversity as the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. The increase in growth of both economic activity and population on the planet are the central sources of the sixth mass extinction, altering the overall biodiversity of Earth. Even though new animals, plants, and other species are being found all the time, many others are also being wiped out. “Conservation International estimates that one species now goes extinct every 20 minutes, a thousand times faster than the norm during earth’s history… [and] we may be the first generation in human history that literally has

Species diversity measures the number of different species and the number of individuals of each species within any one community.

can affect our chances of survival. Also, we rely on animals for food such as meat and

1-What is biodiversity? Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Biodiversity presents occurrence of variety of species and their natural community in which they live. By the definition it is “The degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. It is a measure of the health of ecosystems and is in part a function of climate.” (Rutherford) Ecosystem is on the other hand, “ community and its abiotic environment”( Rutherford). Biodiversity exists in every ecosystem, weather it is big one, or just ecosystem of one garden, it has the same importance because without it nature loses its ability to perform major functions needed for life on Earth, as it is oxygen production. Trough this investigation, two different ecosystems will be explored and

Loss of Biodiversity will affect the life cycle of several species which depend on each other for survival. This dependence determines the survival of species and the change of our environment. Exploiting the biodiverse species to extinction will result in desertification, rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, increased pollution, increased droughts, increase in loss of items that we derive from nature for our own survival such as honey, fruits, vegetables, medicines etc. The greed to exploit will result in our ultimate extinction If a sustainable solution isn’t provided to prevent loss of biodiversity. If we continue the path we are on without taking steps to balance the equation the planet will

One of the most important parts about of earth is the vast biodiversity. As defined by the American Museum of Natural History biodiversity “refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life. Biodiversity includes not only species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered but also every living thing – from humans to organisms we know little about, such as microbes, fungi, and invertebrates.”(1) The biodiversity of our planet is a fundamental part of every ecosystem that exists. Without biodiversity, crucial parts of our ecosystems are lost. The value of biodiversity extends beyond just what the types of life on earth are, but each and every species possess a role in their ecosystem, whether that be as a predator, prey, or performing certain activities that stabilize their ecosystem. As humans, we depend heavily on biodiversity as a means of food, for materials, medicine, along with many other direct and indirect purposes. In this day and age, at my biodiversity conservation organization, I am interested in the biodiversity of Australia. The continent of Australia is home to more than 80% of wildlife that is unique to their continent. Australia being the 6th largest country in the world, has many unique ecosystems and biodiversity that must be conserved.

Biodiversity is vital to the survival of an ecosystem. However, the increase of extinct and endangered animal and plant species has weakened the diversity and sustainability of the ecosystem. Human activity is the leading cause of the high extinction rate of species; about ninety-nine percent of endangered species are at risk due to human activities (biological diversity). However, humans do not think what we are doing to the environment is immoral. Why do humans act like everything we do is morally correct and acceptable? This is because humans believe every action we carry out would benefit our societies and encourage us to advance further. When we advance further, we will improve the living conditions of all creatures with advanced medicine and optimal habitat. However, we did not realize that we are paving the pathway toward destruction by driving species extinction at a rate of 100 to 1000 times faster than natural rate(ncbi).

Franck and Brownstone define biological diversity as 'the variety and variability of living organisms and the biological communities in which they live' (36). Decades of progress in both the scientific and political arenas have advanced environmental legislation to protect biodiversity at not only the ecosystem level, but for specific species and genetic material as well. Research has shown the importance of every organism and their role in the global ecosystem, and legislation has gradually matured to protect not only species which may become endangered, but the habitats they need to survive as well. Growing consciousness surrounding environmental issues has enabled these protections to be