Biodiversity Defined

Biodiversity is a term which refers to the amount and degree of diversity found within living biology. Biodiversity is likely best measured as the sum total of the number of existent creatures, systems, and variety of creatures found within the world at large (National Geographic, 2016). In order to best understand the significance of this statement, it is necessary to codify biodiversity into three different varieties. There are ecosystems, species, and genes which comprise all of the variety found within the notion of biodiversity (National Wildlife Federation, 2016). Therefore, all that is needed to determine biodiversity is to simply add the number of each ecosystem, species, and gene variation found.

The importance and benefits of biodiversity

Biodiversity is important because of the way that different living systems found within it interact with one another. Oftentimes there is a degree of dependence between those systems. It is worth noting that the term system is used herein liberally, and can refer to the physical and biological system of an insect as well as its surrounding habit, such as the swamps in Florida, for example. As previously mentioned, biodiversity is important because certain systems are able to sustain others. The ecosystem of the ocean, for example, is able to sustain the existence of whales. Some of the benefits of biodiversity are the positive... For instance, certain tea leaves have medicinal purposes for humans, which is a boon for the latter.

Ways to measure biodiversity

There are numerous ways to measure biodiversity. Perhaps the most comprehensive is to simply tally the number of species, ecosystems, and genes (Purvis and Hector, 2000, p. 212). However, even when taking this approach it is necessary to utilize different ways to measures each of these things. Primarily, genetic diversity is measures by looking at points of variants within the genomes of particular organisms. By focusing on these variants scientists are able to ascertain which organisms have unique genetic make-ups, which is useful for measuring genes. Taxonomic diversity is likely the most effective measurement for species. This type of diversity classifies organisms in hierarchical manners (which is what taxonomies do for terms). Thus, it reveals the relationships between organisms which is helpful for measuring them. The key to measuring ecosystems is to use criteria that are consistent to determine when one ends and another begins.

Definition and causes of extinction

Extinction is the eradication of one of the three forms of biodiversity from the planet. When extinction occurs, that particular species, gene, or ecosystem no longer exists. Extinction is caused by a host of different factors, some…