Every 22nd of May, we celebrate the International day for Biological Diversity. It's a day set aside to remind us of the importance of each living organism in the ecosystem and how they all contribute to sustaining life on Earth.
Biological Diversity is also known as Biodiversity. This refers to the variety of life on Earth at all levels comprising from the tiniest form of life to complex and larger organisms. It is largely dependent on the various ecological, evolutionary, cultural, and climatic processes that sustain life.
In 1980, Thomas Lovejoy introduced the term "biodiversity" to the scientific community in a book and this explains that biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic species and ecosystems level. Without the level of diversity of ecological systems, it would be rather impossible to sustain life on Earth as the ecosystem relies on all, even the tiniest microorganism to support life. Hence the reason why Biodiversity is very vital.
There are four major types of biodiversity and they include ecological diversity, species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Here are simple explanations of these types of diversity:
1. Ecological diversity refers to variation in plants and animals in connection to food chains and food webs. For example the diverse contribution of living organisms in the various ecosystem by providing and consuming.
2. Species diversity refers to the variety of different types of species found in a particular area. This is the most basic level of biological diversity. Did you know that the most diverse living organisms are humans? Species diversity is common to all living organism as no two individuals of the same species have entirely the same characteristics.
3. Genetic diversity has to do with the genetic components that make living things different from one another. This is why an individual organism can be differentiated from another. This also explains why species are different even if they may belong to the same family originally.
4. Ecosystem diversity is evident in ecosystems such as the Desert, Savannah, Arid lands, and Forest areas, when they have large numbers of organisms which can adapt to such places. Hence, this constitutes the biological diversity of the place.
Biological diversity is important because it helps in conservation. It is so useful in sustaining various forms of life. Beautiful display of Biological Diversity is also commonly used as a source of tourist attraction. The more diverse organisms are in a particular habitat, the more living organisms interact to obtain ecological stability.
Today, Biodiversity is depleting at a faster rate than before because of human pollution of nature and urban activities.
Hence days like this are set aside to talk about and proffer solutions to threats to increasing biodiversity.
Biodiversity is dependent on temperature, altitude, precipitation, and other climatic conditions of a place and the relationship between living organisms. We can thus achieve increased biodiversity by protecting endangered habitats.
We hope every 22nd of May you remember that biological diversity is of great importance and we should work towards achieving increased and improved biodiversity to achieve a very stable ecosystem.
References
Lovejoy, T. E. (1980). Discontinuous wilderness: minimum areas for conservation. Parks, 5(2), 13-15.
Lovejoy, T. E. (1997). Biodiversity: what is it. Biodiversity II. Understanding and protecting our biological resources, 7-14.
— Henrietta Awah
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