The Characteristics Of Biodiversity

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The term ‘biodiversity’ refers to the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is usually studied at three levels, which are:

I. Genetic diversity. Each species is made up of individuals that have their own particular genetic composition meaning that a species may have different populations with different genetic compositions. Simply put, genetic diversity is the motley of genes within a species.

II. Species diversity. The variety of species grouped together into families in a given place according to shared characteristics.

III. Ecosystem diversity. An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their physical environment interacting together. The variety of ecosystems in a given place is referred to ecosystem diversity.

Biodiversity is crucial to the survival of all biotic organisms on earth, as every ecosystem in every nook and cranny of the earth needs biodiversity to boost efficiency. Each species within an ecosystem, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

Humans depend on functions performed by the world’s ecosystems, because these ecosystems produce oxygen, form topsoil, prevent erosion and flood damage, produce raw materials and provide us with foods and medicines, many of which functions cannot be replaced by human technology.

Different species fulfill important functions within an ecosystem. In ecosystems that have a multiplicity

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