Introduction
Biological diversity, also known as biodiversity, is the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur.
This diversity is evidenced by differences in the morphology of living organisms which make them suitably adapted to various ecosystems. The following paragraphs discuss the importance of biodiversity on our planet and some of the different aspects of biodiversity.
Importance of biodiversity
As mentioned above, biodiversity is important because ecosystems that support life on earth have various characteristics that make them only suitable for specific species. Each organism has a specific role to play in an ecosystem.
The human species derive multiple benefits from a diverse biological ecosystem that we can not imagine how life would be sustained without biodiversity.
Natural products from plants and animals are used by human beings to provide food, medicine extracts such as penicillin, fertilizers, and pesticides. Plants and trees use carbon dioxide giving out oxygen which is used by human beings.
Diversity in plants and animals form the basis for scientific inquiry into different realms such as evolutionary science, anatomy, and ecology.
Last but not least biodiversity is beautiful, many recreational facilities benefit from biodiversity; hence biodiversity is often the subject of aesthetic interest (Wilson, 2008, p. 32s).
Loss of biodiversity will have a disastrous effect on the human species. Food security will be compromised in case of species become extinct; this will lead to malnutrition and eventually death.
Trees are a cheap energy source for many poor communities in developing countries around the world. Loss of trees will make such communities vulnerable to disease and malnutrition due to lack of heat to cook food and boil water.
Continued deforestation and destruction of water bodies will decrease the amount of clean water that is needed to support life.
Oxygen levels will decrease drastically leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide gas which will cause severe breathing conditions eventually death (Wilson, 2008, p. 57).
Aspects of biodiversity
Aspects of biodiversity fall under three major categories namely genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecological diversity. Genetic diversity is a term used to refer to the dissimilitude of organisms of the same species. Species diversity is used to refer to dissimilitude of organisms in a given region.
Species diversity presents the richness of a variety of species on a single region. Ecological diversity is a variety of biological communities or ecosystems in a given area (Wilson, 2008, p. 53).
For example varieties of biological communities that interact with one another and with their physical and chemical environments.
All the aspects of biodiversity promote better species which are more resilient to diseases; genetic biodiversity reduces relatedness within the same species in a given region such as colonies ensuring long term survival of species.
Species diversity ensures better utilization of available resources in an ecosystem thus maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Ecological diversity ensures better coordination of species in their physical and environmental locations (Wilson, 2008, p. 64). Thus most species have been successfully conserved by biological diversity.
Conclusion
As discussed above, biodiversity is essential. It is particularly important in the sustenance of species. Species are preserved by their interrelation.
Evidence of the dependence of man on biodiversity is everywhere, but the most useful benefit of biodiversity is the provision of oxygen and clean water which enables all the organisms to thrive on earth without which there could be no life.
Reference List
Wilson, E. (2008). Biodiversity. California. Barnes & Noble.