Healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity: How do we replace lost biodiversity? To be considered sustainable an ecosystem must be able to maintain these processes over time and in the face of external stresses that may occur like fires or pollution. High biodiversity in an ecosystem, that is a large variety of species and genes in the ecosystem contribute to a stronger ecosystem. > Biodiversity role in Ecosystem related functions- It also plays an important role in ecosystem-related functions, which provide ancillary, regulation, and cultural services. 17 December, 2019 0 Comments "Tourism and Importance of Biodiversity . An analysis on the importance of biodiversity in an ecosystem as shown by the gray wolf extirpation and reintroduction in Yellowstone Park The extirpation of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Yellowstone Pak is a prime example of the impact of biodiversity loss, specifically a keystone species, on a terrestrial ecosystem. biodiversity in nature plays a vital role in balancing natural ecosystems because each organism has a specific role to play. For example, A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; Greater … For UPSC 2021 preparation, follow BYJU'S. Wilson, the noted biologist and author who coined the term “biodiversity,” explains it as “the very stuff of life.” For at least 3.8 billion years, a complex web of life has been evolving on Earth. For instance, the role of native insects in pollination, which is critical for agriculture, has been highlighted in recent years. The term biodiversity (from the phrase “biological diversity”) 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. It acts as a catalyst in the role of species in an ecosystem. Why is Biodiversity Important? Biodiversity loss also means that we are losing, before discovery, many of nature's chemicals and genes, of the kind that have already provided humankind with enormous health benefits. Access to a sufficiency of a nutritious variety of food is a fundamental determinant of health. Biodiversity is the variety of all living things: the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the different genetic information they contain, and the varied ecosystems they form. The diversity linked to micro-organisms, different plants and animals is included in biodiversity. Biodiversity is important because it boosts ecosystem productivity where each species all have an important role to play. Biodiversity is a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals. This means we value biodiversity both for what it provides to humans, and for the value it has in its own right. With more variations in the genes it is more likely that a member of the species has genes that are well-suited or resistant to the changes being faced, whether it is a poorer air quality or a spreading disease. A nice example of species diversity can be found when looking at a lake. Further, ecosystems provide crucial services such as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests. Generally, a species is a group of similar individuals capable of interbreeding and producing offspring. They also provide food, shade, construction material, medicines, and fiber for clothing and paper. Scientists examine the amount of biodiversity of life at three levels: the genetic level; the species level; and, at the level of ecosystems sustaining the life within them. They clean up our water and protect our coasts. This can be done by recycling & storage of nutrients, controlling pollution, & stabilizing climate. Or a dominant species could be an invasive plant that will overtake the native plants in the competition for soil. An aesthetic appreciation of biodiversity itself has also been documented. The closest relations of an organism are members of its own species. Loss of biodiversity threatens these ecosystem services and risks making food production more expensive or impossible. Biodiversity is important in human-managed as well as natural ecosystems. Biodiversity was discussed by the Commission on Sustainable Development on several occasions, and was one of the themes of the 2012/2013 two-year cycle. The most detailed scientific study of the world’s greatest biodiversity was compiled by The Center for Tropical Forest Science, a consortium of forestry agencies, universities, research institutes and other nongovernmental agencies and published by the Smithsonian Institution in 2002. The lake may be important to humans as a food source, an income source from for example, a kayak rental business and as a source of recreation. Preserving biodiversity at any level may not seem like a big deal -- at first. The depletion of biodiversity will have profound consequences for the functioning of ecosystem services. Biodiversity plays a crucial role in human nutrition through its influence on world food production, as it ensures the sustainable productivity of soils and provides the genetic resources for all crops, livestock, and marine species harvested for food. If our ecosystems fail, if too many species become extinct or disabled from performing their functions, then humans will not be able to survive on earth. The more links in the food chain there are, like more fish for the bear, the healthier everyone up the chain can be. These services are essential for human welfare. Increase ecosystem productivity; each species in an ecosystem has a specific niche—a role to play. Genes carry traits and characteristics. More formally, biodiversity is comprised of several levels, starting with genes, then individual species, then communities of creatures and finally entire ecosystems, such as forests or … It may have cattails that filter and clean the water. Changes in biodiversity can … High biodiversity in an ecosystem, that is a large variety of species and genes in the ecosystem contribute to a stronger ecosystem. Decisions humans make that influence biodiversity affect the well-being of themselves and others. In either event, the unevenness will cause a domino effect of instability on all of the species in the ecosystem [20]. The importance of biodiversity for numerous industries across Australia has not been quantified, but recent issues exemplify our ongoing reliance on functioning ecosystems to maintain key processes that, in the past, may have been taken for granted. Stories abound of the discovery of life-saving plant-derived drugs just before the last of the species was eliminated by deforestation. Bio-diversity is the diversity among living organisms, including marine, terrestrial, and other aquatic ecosystems. 1. Why Is It Important to Conserve Biodiversity? Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Conversely, genetic diversity is significant in helping a species adapt to changes in its environment. The Sustainable Development Goal 15 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is devoted to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.. At the Rio+20 Conference, Member States reaffirmed, through paragraphs 197- 204 of the … Many still do, but many do not. With reduced diversity in the gene pool, the chance for extinction increases. Read about Biodiversity Conservation, the importance of Biodiversity, Loss of Biodiversity, and more. Why Is Biodiversity Important? The damage already done to these unique and essential biomes could be a sign of a … Another importance of biodiversity is the availability of necessary animal products like milk, meat, curd, ghee, etc. Biodiversity is a community of all the living organisms on the earth and the diversity among them from all the ecosystems. Biodiversity is categorized into species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity. For example, an ecosystem being studied may be as small as a patch of lichen on a rock or patch of moss on a tree trunk or it could be an entire coral reef and all of the life that it sustains and that sustain it [16]. Biodiversity is what allows ecosystems to work and flourish. Biodiversity is defined as "the variety of life and it's processes," which can be thought of as the diverse and richness of life that exists on earth. A diverse ecosystem is more productive and can withstand environmental stress. Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms and their interactions with each other, i.e. Importance/Significance of biodiversity: Ø Biodiversity indicates variations of life forms (species, ecosystem, biome) Ø Biodiversity indicate the health of ecosystem Key Takeaways Key Points. The largest scale of biodiversity generally examined is ecosystem diversity. life on Earth. Since rainforests have huge ranges of plants, many insects or animals will have more diverse preys. Before getting into Tourism and Biodiversity, it is crucial to know what is tourism and Bio-diversity. increased lianas in tropical forest). California has prairies, deserts, lakes, forests and beach. The Gulf Coast of Florida is another unique ecosystem with different characteristics. 3. And yet it is so complex that most of the species within it, close to 90 percent [1], remain undiscovered. Biodiversity underpins a range of ecosystem services. For example, our ecosystem services such as pollution breakdown and absorption and protection of water resources. Ecosystem function is important for supporting plant and animal communities, and ensuring the long-term survival of human populations. When we talk about ecosystem and biodiversity we need to focus both bio and non-bio (physical) factors. All forms of life from microbes to plants to humans contain genes. One overriding importance is that biodiversity is responsible for the continuity of the planet because it supports majority of the vital environmental life cycles such as the oxygen cycle, the water cycle , and the nitrogen cycle just to mention a few. And the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans are considered to have the most diverse marine environments [19]. Ecosystems are all of the animals, plants, and micro-organisms as well as physical aspects of the area. Should a drought, pest or disease threaten one of these crops, the entire world’s food supply will diminish appreciably. Energy is continually input into an ecosystem in the form of light energy, and some energy is lost with each transfer to a higher … Biodiversity is an essential part of the solution to climate change. Biodiversity works in much the same way, with each organism and each ecosystem working together as part of one larger living system. For example, a coral reef generally has a very great variety of life within it, a greater ecosystem diversity than say Antarctica, which is covered by a sheet of ice [17]. "Biodiversity influences ecosystem services, that is, the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, that contribute to making human life … Biodiversity is measured not only by the richness of an area in the number of diverse species living there, but it also considers the evenness of the species. Members of a species share genes. It is commonly believed that the more diversity of life within an ecosystem the stronger it is and the better able it is to sustain itself in the face of external stresses. Sustainability is the ability of the ecosystem to maintain its ecological processes, the composting of debris into soil, the exchange of carbon and air, the production of rainfall, photosynthesis, the life-giving processes required to maintain life as we know it on earth. All species, including human beings, are intricately linked by their interactions with each other and the environment… For example, the extinction of one species may cause the extinction of another. For example, our ecosystem services such as pollution breakdown and absorption and protection of water resources. Download the Biodiversity notes PDF for IAS Exam. Human beings benefit in many ways from biodiversity. Species diversity then is the number of different species co-existing within a community, for example bear, humans, birds and dogs. Wild food sources are mainly aquatic, but few are being managed for sustainability. These species will also look more similar. Only a few major crops are feeding most of the world. A food web is a more complex arrangement where some of the species have a couple different food options. An analysis on the importance of biodiversity in an ecosystem as shown by the gray wolf extirpation and reintroduction in Yellowstone Park The extirpation of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Yellowstone Pak is a prime example of the impact of biodiversity loss, specifically a keystone species, on a terrestrial ecosystem. One overriding importance is that biodiversity is responsible for the continuity of the planet because it supports majority of the vital environmental life cycles such as the oxygen cycle, the water cycle, and the nitrogen cycle just to mention a few.