Why Biodiversity Matters More Than Ever

Biodiversity refers to the richness and diversity of life on Earth.

It encompasses species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance, providing ecosystem services, promoting scientific research, and fostering cultural diversity.

What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the diversity and variability of all organisms on Earth, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they inhabit. This includes genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
"Biodiversity" can be defined from three perspectives:
①Genetic diversity: The sum of all genetic information carried by organisms on Earth. Genetic diversity is the foundation for the evolution of life and species differentiation.
②Species diversity: The abundance of species of animals, plants, microorganisms, and other organisms on Earth. Species diversity is an objective indicator of the richness of biological resources in a given area.
③Ecosystem diversity: The degree of diversity within an ecosystem, including the diversity of its composition, functions, and ecological processes.

The Importance of Biodiversity
  1. Maintaining Ecological Balance: Biodiversity plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Species within an ecosystem are interdependent and influence each other, forming complex food chains and material circulation chains. Changes in the population of a particular species can have a ripple effect on the entire ecosystem, disrupting the ecological balance. 2. Providing Ecological Services: Biodiversity provides numerous important ecological services to humanity. For example, forests provide oxygen and water, wetlands purify water and prevent floods, and bees and other insects play a vital role in pollination and pest control. Without biodiversity, these ecological services would not function properly.
  2. Protecting Genetic Resources: Biodiversity encompasses genetic diversity, which refers to the genetic differences between individuals within a species. This genetic diversity is a crucial foundation for breeding new varieties and improving disease resistance, and is of great significance in fields such as agriculture and drug development.
  3. Promoting Scientific Research: Biodiversity provides a vast field for scientific research. Studying the characteristics and relationships of different species can provide insights into the origins of life on Earth, its evolutionary processes, and the workings of ecosystems, providing an indispensable foundation for human scientific progress.
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