These same seed companies, however, have participated in the decline of the number of varieties available as they focus on selling fewer varieties in more areas of the world replacing traditional local varieties. It primarily summarizes the latest research on the state of biodiversity, at EU-level and globally. Here are ten reasons: #1. And people also value nature of itself. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Biodiversity is not easily defined, but may be thought of as the number and/or evenness of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region.This definition includes genetic diversity, or the diversity of genes within a species, species diversity, or . Loss of diversity in pest enemies will inevitably make it more difficult and costly to grow food. However, a large number of useful products still come from wild plants and . The level of biodiversity is a good indicator of our relationship with other living species. The loss of an ecosystem means the loss of the interactions between species and the loss of biological productivity that an ecosystem is able to create. Conventional Farming. Essay on Biodiversity - Biodiversity is the presence of different species of plants and animals on the earth. by Berta Martin-Lopez, Social-Ecological Systems Institute, Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University of Lneburg, Germany. In order to understand the effects that changes in biodiversity will have on ecosystem functioning, it is important to define some terms. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2013 2 ISSN 2250-3153 www.ijsrp.org decreased by about 40%. These rainforests are the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and are being destroyed rapidly by deforestation. Other toxins under investigation come from mammals, snakes, lizards, various amphibians, fish, snails, octopuses, and scorpions. It is estimated that honeybee pollination within the United States brings in $1.6 billion per year; other pollinators contribute up to $6.7 billion. Spending time in nature is increasingly understood to lead to improvements in peoples physical and mental health. According Novek [10], the first step in the educational process is important, and in this case it is to assess student teachers' understanding of biodiversity [10]. Biodiversity is important to most aspects of our lives. The potatoes grown in that region belong to seven species and the number of varieties likely is in the thousands. Humans are not the only animals to use plants for medicinal reasons. International day for biodiversity Through the diverse animal and plant species, the nature shows us different colors of life. The work of biogeographers is critical to understanding our physical environment, how the environment affects species, and how changes in environment impact the distribution of a species. We've answered some of your most popular questions about biodiversity. In recent years, animal venoms and poisons have excited intense research for their medicinal potential. There will be more of pandemic concerns like the outbreak of Coronavirus. The recorded number of frog species is \(5000.\). Biologists recognize that human populations are embedded in ecosystems and are dependent on them, just as is every other species on the planet. The diversity is driven by the diverse demands of the dramatic elevation changes, the limited movement of people, and the demands created by crop rotation for different varieties that will do well in different fields. That biodiversity creates the conditions under which crops are able to grow through what are known as ecosystem servicesvaluable conditions or processes that are carried out by an ecosystem. NAVIGATION. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have healthy ecosystems. Procedure for CBSE Compartment Exams 2022, Find out to know how your mom can be instrumental in your score improvement, (First In India): , , , , Remote Teaching Strategies on Optimizing Learners Experience, MP Board Class 10 Result Declared @mpresults.nic.in, Area of Right Angled Triangle: Definition, Formula, Examples, Composite Numbers: Definition, List 1 to 100, Examples, Types & More. The individual components of biodiversitygenes, species, and ecosystemsprovide society with a wide array of goods and services. These wild forms are often the source of new gene variants that can be bred with existing varieties to create varieties with new attributes. Conditions within the vault are maintained at ideal temperature and humidity for seed survival, but the deep underground location of the vault in the arctic means that failure of the vaults systems will not compromise the climatic conditions inside the vault. How does deforestation affect biodiversity? Another possible explanation is the greater energy the tropics receive from the sun. However, a concept of biodiversity also must encompass understanding the interactions and functions on . Biodiversity is the richness of biological variation. Soil is teeming with microbes that are vital for liberating nutrients that plants need to grow, which are then also passed to us when we eat them. Finally, humans compete for their food with crop pests, most of which are insects. For example, potatoes were domesticated beginning around 7,000 years ago in the central Andes of Peru and Bolivia. The people in this region traditionally lived in relatively isolated settlements separated by mountains. Other key ecosystem services related to food production are plant pollination and crop pest control. The people in this region traditionally lived in relatively isolated settlements separated by mountains. Many medications are derived from natural chemicals made by a diverse group of organisms. In addition to humans losing the food source, these alterations affect many other species in ways that are difficult or impossible to predict. For example, if the population of a certain type of plant starts to grow, then the population of an animal that . Biodiversity is important to the survival and welfare of human populations because it has impacts on our health and our ability to feed ourselves through agriculture and harvesting populations of wild animals. Many of the species survive, but the hugely productive ecosystem that was responsible for creating our most productive agricultural soils is now gone. The chief proponent of this idea is famed entomologist E. O. Wilson. Examples that we use directly include the genes that plant breeders use . Give Space to Nature. Each time that a plant or animal species becomes extinct, the prospects of valuable medicinal harvesting as well as possible future medical discoveries are affected. Biodiversity is all the living things on our planet from the smallest bacteria to the largest plants and animals. Loss of wild species related to a crop will mean the loss of potential in crop improvement. Every species performs a particular function within an ecosystem. However, many extinctions will affect species that biologists have not yet discovered. Without pollinators we would not have apples, cherries, blueberries, almonds and many other foods we eat. This cultural transition has made it difficult for humans to recognize their dependence on living things other than crops and domesticated animals on the planet. However, biologists are using different measures of biodiversity, including genetic diversity, to help focus efforts to preserve the biologically and technologically important elements of biodiversity. This means we value biodiversity both for what it provides to humans, and for the value it has in its own right. Agriculture began after early hunter-gatherer societies first settled in one place and heavily modified their immediate environment. The Importance Of Biodiversity call Development. This cultural transition has made it difficult for humans to recognize their dependence on living things other than crops and domesticated animals on the planet. Traditionally, ecologists have measured biodiversity by taking into account both the number of species and the number of individuals of each species (known as relative abundance). The greater age provides more time for speciation,the evolutionary process of creating new species. It is not yet clear why biodiversity increases closer to the equator, but hypotheses include the greater age of the ecosystems in the tropics versus temperate regions, which were largely devoid of life or drastically impoverished during the last ice age. In addition to humans losing the food source, these alterations affect many other species in ways that are difficult or impossible to predict. Our ecosystems provide us with food, medicine, clean air and water,recreation, and spiritual and aesthetical inspiration. Truly grasping the importance of biodiversity means diving down into the microscopic organisms in our soils and out to human social . 'Define Biodiversity and using examples, explain why it is important' Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. Another five drugs are undergoing clinical trials and at least six drugs are being used in other countries. The role and dynamics of biodiversity are central themes when addressing climate change, earth and universe sciences or sustainable use of natural resources. Between 1970 and 2011, almost 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest was lost. It controls pollution, flood, and soil erosion.d. Importance of Biodiversity: The value of biodiversity is of major importance as without it, life would not sustain on earth. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. It does not store any personal data. However, biologists are using different measures of biodiversity, including genetic diversity, to help focus efforts to preserve the biologically and technologically important elements of biodiversity. Yet the science behind delimiting the natural world into "species" is often neglected, misunderstood or even derided in some quarters. Pollinators such as birds, bees and other insects are estimated to be responsible for a third of the worlds crop production. For about one billion people, aquatic resources provide the main source of animal protein. Between 1970 and 2011, almost 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest was lost. Students will be researching why biodiversity helps: contribute to the evolution of species, the sustainability of food webs, and the importance to human society. Importance Of Marine Biodiversity. Our biodiversity is very important to the well-being of our planet. Genetic material is the end product of millions of years of evolution, and hence the preservation of biodiversity is essential. Describing species is a complex process by which biologists determine an organisms unique characteristics and whether or not that organism belongs to any other described species. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There are also high numbers of endemic species. The work of biogeographers is critical to understanding our physical environment, how the environment affects species, and how changes in environment impact the distribution of a species. That number has probably decreased to about 10 percent as natural plant ingredients are replaced by synthetic versions of the plant compounds. Biologists estimate that species extinctions are currently 5001000 times the normal, or background, rate seen previously in Earths history. It is estimated that, at one time, 25 percent of modern drugs contained at least one plant extract. 3. The work of biogeographers is critical to understanding our physical environment, how the environment affects species, and how changes in environment impact the distribution of a species. 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