BIODIVERSITY

• Biodiversity


  The degree of variation of life that can be found in the Earth and in the local communities they form
• Biodiversity


  • Strength in numbers
• Species Diversity


  Refers to the variety of individual species
• Genetic Diversity


  Refers to the variety of genes contained in plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms
• Ecosystem Diversity


  Refers to the variety of different habitats like tundra, deserts, forests, and rivers
• Levels of Diversity


  • Species Diversity
  • Genetic Diversity
  • Ecosystem Diversity
• Loss of biodiversity is not limited to extinction
• Extinction is simply the final step of a long process of degradation
• Extinction might NOT even affect biodiversity, at least in terms of numbers, as new species may replace the original ones
• Causes of Biodiversity Loss


  • Natural disasters (volcanic eruptions, floods, forest fires)
  • Habitat loss due to land use (industries, agriculture)
  • Overhunting/Poaching
  • Pollution
  • Climate Change
• Biodiversity loss can be caused by natural disasters that damage habitats, like volcanic eruptions, floods, or more recently, forest fires
• Biodiversity loss is caused by human activities such as habitat loss due to land use, overhunting/poaching, pollution, and climate change