Question
What is biodiversity? Discuss different types of biodiversity.
Answer
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity. It encompasses the diversity of all living things, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
There are three main types of biodiversity:
- Species diversity: This refers to the variety of species present in an ecosystem or on the planet as a whole. This includes the number of different species, as well as their distribution and abundance.
- Ecosystem diversity: This refers to the variety of ecosystems and habitats found on Earth, including forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, and oceans. Each of these ecosystems supports a unique set of species and plays an important role in the functioning of the planet’s ecosystems.
- Genetic diversity: This refers to the variation of genes within a species. Genetic diversity is important for the adaptation and evolution of species, and helps to ensure that species are able to survive and thrive in changing environments.
