Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem
• Human activities like changing land use, deforestation, and peat bog destruction reduce biodiversity
• Areas like tropical rainforests have millions of different species and are very biodiverse
• Other areas like the Polar Regions have far fewer species and are less biodiverse
• Biodiversity specifically refers to the number of different species in an area
• Interdependence:

  • If the numbers of one species are affected, there are knock-on consequences
  • Ecosystems with higher biodiversity have fewer species that depend on just one other for food, shelter, and maintaining their environment
  • Ecosystems with higher biodiversity are more stable and can easily adjust to changes
• Activities that create air and water pollution are reducing biodiversity in many ecosystems
• Conservation of species and habitats by charities, governments, and individuals helps maintain biodiversity