Importance of Biodiversity
It's important to understand what biodiversity is. The term, short for biological diversity, is used to describe the variety of life found on Earth. The three main levels of biodiversity are genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. They are all generally self-explanatory; genetic diversity refers to variation in genetics within a species, species diversity refers to variation of species within an area and ecological diversity refers to the various habitats, its organisms and the connections between them. Biodiversity maintains the success and the productivity of an ecosystem by ensuring the production of resources for all organisms. Also the interaction of different organisms helps the exchange of energy from the most basic form to the most complex, ensuring all organisms have survival necessities. For example bacteria will extract nitrogen by breaking down organic matter, then the plants use the bacteria for nutrients and take in this nitrogen. As herbivores eat the plants they will store this nitrogen in their tissues which will then be consumed by carnivores such as the felidae. As you can see, biodiversity helps all organisms reach the resources they need.
In their ecological niches, the felidae are considered to be top-down predators, meaning they control populations of organisms lower on the food chain. In addition, felidae are often keystone species meaning they have a large effect on their environment and have a critical role in maintaining their ecological balance. Let’s get into more detail about the felidae diversity in the three main groups.
In their ecological niches, the felidae are considered to be top-down predators, meaning they control populations of organisms lower on the food chain. In addition, felidae are often keystone species meaning they have a large effect on their environment and have a critical role in maintaining their ecological balance. Let’s get into more detail about the felidae diversity in the three main groups.
Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity is the smallest level of diversity found within a species. It involves the sum of all the variations of genes within a particular species. It is often discussed that genetic diversity is the key to a species’ survival. For example, 12, 000 years ago, with the ice age, the cheetah population went through a genetic bottleneck and lost much of its diversity. This now causes the cheetahs to have very similar characteristics such as poor sperm quality and susceptibility to the same infectious disease. At the moment, if there were to be a lethal disease, all the cheetah population would rapidly decrease as none of them have the adaptations to properly fight the disease. However, if there is genetic diversity, some cheetah would die, but the variation would allow for others to survive and continue survival of the cheetah species. So, it is obvious that genetic diversity is the foundation for specie’s survival in changing conditions.
|
Species Diversity
Species diversity is the next largest area of diversity. It involves the variety of species living within a given area. Species diversity is important in maintaining the survival and success of all organisms in an area and how they help and interact with each other in a given ecosystem. They can also serve as a population control to ensure that no given species becomes over aggressive and begins to take over vital resources. For example, lions serve as an herbivore population control. As lions consist of the majority of herbivore predation, they hunt on buffalo, zebras and wildebeest. Lions make sure that there is no abundance of herbivores since if there were, the resources for other herbivores and omnivores would significantly decrease making their survival and success much more difficult. As a result, we see that a variation of species is needed within an ecosystems population in order to keep balance for all the organisms and ensure the ecosystem meets maximum survival and success rate.
|
Ecosystem Diversity
This is one of the broadest ranges of diversity as it contains the relation and interaction of different habitats and organisms within them. The interaction of various organisms plays a key role for circulating resources throughout many ecosystems and ensuring all organisms have the resources to survive. For example, in the grasslands, the tiger hunts various terrestrial herbivores. When they hunt, the tiger leaves behind some remains of its prey such as the bones and some meet. These remains decompose and provide nutrients such as nitrogen and sugars to the plants and herbs of the region. As a result, the tall grass that feeds off the remains of the tigers prey is healthier and attracts more herbivores to come eat them. In turn, the tiger will hunt the herbivore again, restarting the cycle.
Similar cycles and interactions are occurring all the time through different ecosystems with different organisms. This makes sure that with a variety of organisms, the resources are available to the organisms that need it. With biodiversity, all organisms are directly and indirectly helping one another to help each other survive. Certain species will act as extractors of resources and provide it to those organisms that have more difficulty reaching that certain resource but are still in need of it. As a result, biodiversity creates a balance of interactions between all organisms tying all the different species, organisms and ecosystems together to help nourish and ensure the success of all the organisms on Earth.
Similar cycles and interactions are occurring all the time through different ecosystems with different organisms. This makes sure that with a variety of organisms, the resources are available to the organisms that need it. With biodiversity, all organisms are directly and indirectly helping one another to help each other survive. Certain species will act as extractors of resources and provide it to those organisms that have more difficulty reaching that certain resource but are still in need of it. As a result, biodiversity creates a balance of interactions between all organisms tying all the different species, organisms and ecosystems together to help nourish and ensure the success of all the organisms on Earth.