Biodiversity role in Ecosystem related functions: It also plays an important role in ecosystem-related functions, which provide ancillary, regulation, and cultural services.These services are essential for human welfare. Ecological life support—biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services. Our biodiversity is very important to the well-being of our planet. Biodiversity is a community of all the living organisms on the earth and the diversity among them from all the ecosystems. Only a few major crops are feeding most of the world. Importance of Biodiversity. increased lianas in tropical forest). Let us know if you liked this article. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. We often concentrate on biological part like forest, animal, microbes etc. Many still do, but many do not. Why is Biodiversity Important? Biodiversity and the ecosystem sustainability, Areas with the highest levels of biodiversity, 10 Endangered Plants with Medicinal Properties, nature contributes to the emotional well-being, The Importance of Indigenous Knowledge for the Modern World, medicines production of food, fiber for textiles and shelter, fuel and energy, the suppression of pests and human diseases. For example, the extinction of one species may cause the extinction of another. Bio-diversity and Tourism and is interrelated to each other, and there is no denying of the fact that tourism development is directly related to healthy ecosystems. Biodiversity is important to people because we depend on other species and the ecosystems they create. Biodiversity is very important to the well-being of our planet and here’s why. If there are a great number and variety of species, the disappearance of one species for whatever reason will not have as much effect on the ecosystem as a whole than it would if the extinct species had played a critical role, that is offered a function upon which other species relied exclusively [3]. Tourism and Importance of Biodiversity; Author GPTV. Read about Biodiversity Conservation, the importance of Biodiversity, Loss of Biodiversity, and more. Biodiversity is the foundation of ecosystem services to which human well-being is intimately linked. The more links in the food chain there are, like more fish for the bear, the healthier everyone up the chain can be. Bone, hair, skin, wool of animals and birds are the raw materials for several industries. For example, our ecosystem services such as pollution breakdown and absorption and protection of water resources. Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels: the ecosystem, with food production as an ecosystem service; the species in the ecosystem and the genetic diversity w… A wide variety of species will cope better with threats than a limited number of them in large populations. Biodiversity plays an important role in ecosystem functions, which provide supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. Diversity is essential to the smooth running of any ecosystem. More genetic defects are caused by inbreeding. 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. The Pacific Northwest represents a unique ecosystem. We also need to protect our water resources, protecting soil & maintaining eco-balance. Biodiversity is important for maintaining an important balance of the ecosystem. Biodiversity is the amount of variety of life on Earth. 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 … The variation in ecosystems within a geographical location and its impact on human existence and the environment is ecosystem diversity. Climate Change Effects on the World's Biodiversity, The Loss of Biodiversity from Human Activity. Generally, a species is a group of similar individuals capable of interbreeding and producing offspring. This study evaluates the importance of biodiversity for multiple ecosystem functions in a tropical human‐modified landscape. Benefits of Biodiversity to the Ecosystem . Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity , such as birdwatching, hiking, camping and fishing. For example, A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; Greater … Energy is continually input into an ecosystem in the form of light energy, and some energy is lost with each transfer to a higher … It includes al the ecosystems, whether it … E.O. Biodiversity plays an important role in protecting the water resources. This could lead to the displacement of animals relying on the native plants for food or shelter. 1. The Census of Marine Life puts the number at 8.7 million, give or take [2]. An ecosystem will have a higher productivity rate and more robust ecological processes when more different life forms can thrive and survive. Economic Importance. Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms and their interactions with each other, i.e. Biodiversity is variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Conversely, genetic diversity is significant in helping a species adapt to changes in its environment. The diversity of species provides humans with a wide range of economic benefits: Wild plants and animals maintain a valuable pool of genetic variation. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Biodiversity is very important to the well-being of our planet and here’s why. This includes the deep feeling of being interconnected with other species on earth. One of the most important reasons we should continue to work on preserving … They also provide food, shade, construction material, medicines, and fiber for clothing and paper. All species, including human beings, are intricately linked by their interactions with each other and the environment… Changes in the composition of ecosystems have also been observed (e.g. Biodiversity plays an important role in ecosystem functions, which provide supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. The closest relations of an organism are members of its own species. Given the interconnected nature of ecosystems, where a change in one area can have far reaching effects elsewhere, it is therefore vital to maintain as great a variety of species as possible in order to ensure the continued healthy existence of the planet. Changes in biodiversity can … In either event, the unevenness will cause a domino effect of instability on all of the species in the ecosystem [20]. Species diversity then is the number of different species co-existing within a community, for example bear, humans, birds and dogs. Human life relies on our ecosystems providing the life-sustaining services of providing oxygen, detoxifying our soil and water, providing materials for clothing and shelter and providing our food and the nutrients we require. 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. 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. A food web is a more complex arrangement where some of the species have a couple different food options. If a population is minimized and must cross-pollinate or inbreed with the survivors, successive generations will have fewer different genes and it is most often the case that susceptibilities are magnified and reduced infertility occurs, so that smaller populations carry illnesses or crippling enough defects that they soon die out. Another importance of biodiversity is the availability of necessary animal products like milk, meat, curd, ghee, etc. Biodiversity is important because it boosts ecosystem productivity where each species all have an important role to play. California has prairies, deserts, lakes, forests and beach. Biodiversity is an essential part of the solution to climate change. Offer environments for recreation and tourism. 2. Biodiversity is constantly playing a vital role in the existence and sustainability of ecosystems. High biodiversity in an ecosystem, that is a large variety of species and genes in the ecosystem contribute to a stronger ecosystem. 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. There are numerous reasons deeming biodiversity significant. Describe the benefits to human health of maintaining biodiversity. The loss of an entire ecosystem can be socially disassembling. The problem is that we don’t know what we are losing, especially when it comes to life in the rainforest, where so many species have adapted amazing defenses to predators, pests, infections and diseases over thousands of years, defenses that we humans might use in our fight against cancer and other serious diseases [10]. Ecosystem diversity level: Ecosystem consists of all the animals, microorganisms, plants as well as the physical aspects of the area. 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. Based on tropical rainforests, we see why biodiversity is so crucial in maintaining an ecosystem. All species, including humans, are adversely affected by the loss of species diversity. It also provides services to entire ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity may have reverberating consequences on ecosystems because of the complex interrelations among species. Loss of biodiversity eventually threatens other species we do not impact directly because of their interconnectedness; as species disappear from an ecosystem other species are threatened by the changes in available resources. life on Earth. Most plants produce secondary plant compounds, which … There are multiple examples within any region of each category of insect, bacteria, herbivore, omnivore or carnivorous predator. Millions of species inhabit land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems. Diversity is important for species in order to maintain resilience against unexpected events, such as sudden climate changes or natural disasters, like forest fires or floods. Utilitarian values include the many basic needs humans obtain from biodiversity such as food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. This project is no longer funded and will not be updated. Biodiversity is also key for the continued provision of ecosystems services it provides, which serve both humans and the systems themselves, although the term is largely used in relation to the benefits reaped by us. Image credit: VectorMine . 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. Utilitarian values include the many basic needs humans obtain from biodiversity such as food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Further, ecosystems provide crucial services such as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests. With reduced diversity in the gene pool, the chance for extinction increases. Decisions humans make that influence biodiversity affect the well-being of themselves and others. Genes are the bits of biochemical information that partly determine how an organism looks, behaves, and live… biodiversity in nature plays a vital role in balancing natural ecosystems because each organism has a specific role to play. Because people evolve with their environments, their history and identity is embedded there. Intact or well-connected ecosystems provide habitat for native plants and animals, including humans, and provide ecosystem services such as clean water for drinking and fertile soils and oceans for production. If a fire tears through a forest where only one species exists and is wiped out by the fire, the forest ecosystem is less likely to deal with this loss than if only one out of 20 species disappeared. Biodiversity underpins a range of ecosystem services. Accordingly, no two members of the same species are exactly alike. 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. Healthy marine ecosystems are important for society since they provide services including food security, feed for livestock , raw materials for medicines, building materials from coral rock and sand, and natural defenses against hazards such as coastal erosion and inundation. Crops livestock, fishery, and forests are a rich source of food. 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. Increase ecosystem productivity; each species in an ecosystem has a specific niche—a role to play. Importance of Biodiversity There are numerous reasons deeming biodiversity significant. Coral reefs are important to the ecosystem because they are the pillars on which marine and coastal ecosystems are built. Plants, for instance, help humans by giving off oxygen. Estimates of the number of species range from 3.6 million to over 100 million species. Biodiversity is important because it boosts ecosystem productivity where each species all have an important role to play. Ø Biodiversity is very essential for: Ecological balance, Constancy of climatic features and Soil maintenance. It includes organisms from Earth’s vastly different ecosystems, including deserts, rainforests, coral reefs, grasslands, tundra, and polar ice caps. 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. Biodiversity has direct economic benefits. The goal is to save the seeds of crops best able to provide high yield of nutritional content and to survive climate change and pests and disease [14]. Introduction 1.1 Background Biodiversity is the term used to encompass the variety of all living organisms on Earth, including their genetic diversity, species diversity and the diversity of ecosystems. The Importance Of Biodiversity 704 Words | 3 Pages . That is the reason for parks in urban areas. Ecosystem Ecology looks at energy transformations and biogeochemical cycling within ecosystems. In short, a population has a better chance of survival if there is more genetic diversity. Why Is It Important to Conserve Biodiversity? Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. Before getting into Tourism and Biodiversity, it is crucial to know what is tourism and Bio-diversity. 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. Ecological diversity within an ecosystem is more diverse when it contains varied topography, allowing more places for shelter and for escape, a lot of sunlight and rainfall, allowing for more rapid growth of plants as a food source and stable temperatures, making adaptation easier for species. With less biodiversity, these connections weaken and sometimes break, harming all the species in the ecosystem… Biodiversity is important to people in many ways. When species reproduce, the genes of each mate contribute to the characteristics of the progeny. Learning Objectives. Nutritional impact of biodiversity. Key Takeaways Key Points. High biodiversity in an ecosystem, that is a large variety of species and genes in the ecosystem contribute to a stronger ecosystem. These species will also look more similar. Genetic erosion of crops is an issue of concern today. The earth itself has ecosystem diversity: for example, it has forests, oceans, deserts, wetlands and grasslands. Provide more medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs. Quick Navigation for The Importance of Biodiversity, [1] Wilson, Edward O., The Future of Life, A.A. Knopf, NY, NY 2002, p.3. Importance of Biodiversity. But the findings showed that in fact there was a greater number of diverse species in tropical forests over a greater distance in Panama [18]. | Greentumble It may have cattails that filter and clean the water. When species are examined for biodiversity, three elements are looked at: The greater the variety of species, the healthier the ecosystem is. This can be done by recycling & storage of nutrients, controlling pollution, & stabilizing climate. It is the number of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Human Health and Biodiversity. While heavy machinery keeps spraying #monocrops with #pesticides and #fertilizers, millions of #family #farmers are applying agroecological approaches to redress those impacts and revive #rural areas. Maintaining biodiversity of natural ecosystems is one of the most important problems and tasks for people in the 21st century. In a landmark study published in … Such changes may affect ecosystem function and the ecosystem services they provide. Since each species has a role to play, a diverse ecosystem allows them to interact and reach symbiosis. Biodiversity is the variety of all plants and animals (species of different flora, fauna and micro-organisms and their genes) and the ecosystem (terrestrial and aquatic) in which they live. They clean up our water and protect our coasts. Should a drought, pest or disease threaten one of these crops, the entire world’s food supply will diminish appreciably. "Biodiversity influences ecosystem services, that is, the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, that contribute to making human life … Biodiversity is the ‘library’ of species and genetic information that allows the Earth’s systems to function. Healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity: How do we replace lost biodiversity? Ninety percent of the world’s food supply is from only 100 crops and three: rice, maize and wheat account for almost 70 percent of the calories people derive from plants [13]. 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. An entire rain forest may be examined for the adverse effects on human life of its deforestation. And the soil may then travel to a place where these nutrients are absorbed and used, perhaps by plants which then exhale oxygen and enrich our air. An excellent article. Members of a species share genes. Biodiversity And Ecosystem Stability Biodiversity is important for the health of an ecosystem. Other benefits of biodiversity include cultural, spiritual and recreational values. Biodiversity is important in human-managed as well as natural ecosystems. Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life on Earth—from genes and species to ecosystems and the valuable functions they perform. Its aquatic life may contribute to the quality of the soil by aerating it and enriching it with its waste and carcasses. When there is a large population from which to reproduce, there can be more combinations of genes in the offspring. What is the key to their success?https://t.co/179Z5AnYTw pic.twitter.com/Qw7hXuBBQK. A healthy ecosystem stems from rich biodiversity. We value biodiversity for many reasons, some utilitarian, some intrinsic. Nature also provides many opportunities for recreation from ziplining to canoeing. Having a rich variety of ecosystems, what biologists call ecosystem diversity, constitutes another important level of biodiversity. Ecosystem diversity looks at the number and variability of ecosystems in an area. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. 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 connectedness of ecosystems and biomes means that all organisms in any given system must work together and balance each other in order to maintain a healthy system. Ecosystem diversity is also used to refer to the number and variety of interactions in a certain area. 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