James Smith
Earth is home to millions of discovered species of plants and animals, with many more yet to be known. They all play vital roles in each other, their ecosystems and the overall health of the planet and constitute what is known as biological diversity.
But what exactly is biodiversity? It is a shortened version of two scientific terms – biological diversity. Essentially all this means is having a variety of living things. There are three main levels of biodiversity that scientists typically refer to, according to the Smithsonian, including species, genetic and ecosystem diversity. In these categories, researchers seek to identify how many and what types of species there are, what the genetic makeup of those individual species is and the transmission from generation to generation, and what the populations of species are in various environments, such as waterways and forests.
“These levels cannot be separated,” says the Smithsonian. “Each is important, interacting and influencing the others. Changes on one, changes on other levels.”
Why is biodiversity important?
The ability of a species to thrive is not only essential for its survival, but, in many cases, for the survival of other species as well. One of the clearest examples of this are drones. According to US Department of Agriculture, there are 49 species of bees in the US, and they all move from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen as they go. Not only does this help feed individual bees, but transporting nectar and pollen also helps plant species thrive.
However, studies have found that climate change is threatening their survival, with researchers finding that the likelihood of survival of a bee population has increased. decreased by an average of 30% within a single generation of humans.
Bees they also play a vital role in biodiversity. The USDA says they pollinate US$15 billion in harvests every year, helping to sustain the lives of more than 130 agricultural products. The honey they produce, which humans have learned to love and enjoy, is also worth millions.
What is biodiversity loss?
As important as biodiversity is, it has arrived under significant threat. In 2019, a United Nations One report concluded that around 1 million species of plants and animals may be threatened with extinction, while a more recent report found an even more dire state – up to 6 million species going extinct in the next 50 years.
“Main direct threats to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution, and global climate change,” says the American Museum of Natural History. “The underlying causes of biodiversity loss, such as human population growth and overconsumption, are often complex and arise from many interrelated factors.”
How many species are there?
Scientists estimate that there are about 8.7 million species of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms on Earth, including about 2.2 million species that live in the world’s oceans. But even that number is low for the true amount of life on the planet.
“Despite 250 years of taxonomic classification and more than 1.2 million species already cataloged in a central database, our results suggest that around 86% of species on Earth and 91% of species in the ocean still await description. ,” investigators said in a statement. 2011 study. “Renewed interest in further exploration and taxonomy is needed if this significant gap in our knowledge of life on Earth is to be closed.”
But new species are constantly discovered. In 2023, scientists at the Natural History Museum in London claim to have discovered 815 new species, from geckos to algae and swamp eels. And that’s just one group of scientists.
Thousands of other species have been discovered since Earth Day 2023, including more than 5,500 species in a single area, the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico. The researchers also found new species of hedgehogsThe cat shark in deep waterone “electric” blue tarantulait is a deep sea octopus.
“The bad news, however, is that biodiversity is in decline,” says the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) Red Listthe world’s most comprehensive list of species conservation status.
The Red List contains more than 157,100 species, including 44,000 that the group says are threatened with extinction – more than a quarter of all species assessed by the IUCN.
How to help and protect biodiversity
While species decline remains a serious and ongoing problem, there are things everyone can do to help with what’s happening in their own backyard.
If you have a garden, for example, opting for native plants and wildflowers can be a huge boost to the local ecosystem. Native plants, which grow naturally in a region, are vital to an area’s biological web, help reduce the amount of fertilizers and pesticides needed, and provide ample pollination opportunities. According to National Audobon SocietyThey also require less water to maintain and can help store greenhouse gases, which are a major driver of climate change when they are in the atmosphere.
If you like to go hiking or spend time outdoors, it is also essential to respect nature. Following walking paths and trails is not only for your safety, but also for the safety of the species around you. Constantly disturbing habitats or trampling on plants can stain an ecosystem.
Reducing and reusing materials is also key, as landfills and pollution can be harmful to life on Earth, especially marine life. Consider purchasing secondhand items, and instead of throwing away old clothes or things around the house, find a way to repurpose, sell, or donate them.
Essentially, it’s about taking care of the home outside of the home.
“It is within our power to change our actions to help ensure the survival of species and the health and integrity of ecological systems,” says the American Museum of Natural History. “…Although we may not be able to avoid all negative effects human impacts on biodiversityWith knowledge we can work to change the direction and shape of our effects on the rest of life on Earth.”
Li Cohen
