One of the fundamental issues today is, without a doubt, the conservation of biodiversity. It is a topic that has become relevant in different areas of human activity, since from its understanding and study, we can develop plans for its conservation. But do we really know what biodiversity means? Various approaches have been given to it, since we can treat biodiversity from an evolutionary, ecological and even economic perspective. However, even when human beings interact with biological diversity on a daily basis and in numerous ways, it is often difficult to define its meaning.
In this article on our site we will tell you what biodiversity is, its characteristics and the types of biodiversity that exist.
What is biodiversity?
Various concepts of biological diversity or biodiversity have been proposed and the term has generally been used very broadly. We can define biodiversity as the variability of life, its composition, structure and function, and can be represented as a hierarchy of interconnected elements at various levels of biological organization. In addition, it refers to the variability at all levels of organization, from the genes that make up a population or species, to the species that make up a community, and finally, those same communities that make up the world's multiple ecosystems. So when we talk about biodiversity we mean all levels of biological variation
Biodiversity is the property of living systems to be different, that is, there is variability among all the organisms that inhabit the planet, as regards a natural and innate property of all biological systems. It is also a feature of the many ways in which all organisms adapt and integrate.
Types of biodiversity
Now that we know the definition of biodiversity, we can talk about the types into which it can be classified. We know that biological diversity encompasses the variability of all living beings from whatever source or origin, and this includes both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the ecological networks of which they are a part. That said, biodiversity is classified according to the scale on which it is focused, so it can be:
Genetic biodiversity
Genetic biodiversity refers to the diversity within each species, that is, it refers to the variability that exists within species, is the set of all its genes, and the more genetic diversity there is, the greater chance of success a species will have. In a broad sense, it is the most basic component of biodiversity and is defined as the variations that are heritable and that occur in each organism between the individuals of a population and between populations within the same species, which occur from evolutionary processes.. Therefore, knowing and understanding how these processes work is vital to be able to conserve it, since many areas depend on this type of biodiversity, such as the advancement of evolutionary genetics, human he alth, the sustainability and productivity of fields and forests and other natural ecosystems.
If you want to expand your knowledge, don't miss this other article on the animal kingdom: "Animal kingdom: classification, characteristics and examples".
Biodiversity of species
This type of biodiversity is basically the number of species that inhabit a site, be it a forest, a lake or a continent. This classification includes all the common traits that each species shares and that allows individuals of the same species to reproduce with each other.
Ecological or ecosystem biodiversity
It covers all the ecosystems that we find in the world or in a certain geographical area, and all the species that are present in them, as well as the balance that exists between them. As we talk about the interactions of the species that make up an ecosystem, this type of biodiversity can be separated into three components:
- Alpha diversity: Defined as the number of species at the local level.
- Beta diversity: refers to a more general level and is the difference in species composition between communities.
- Gamma diversity: is the number of species at the regional level, that is, taking into account a higher level.
These are levels that define different aspects of diversity and whose associated variables also differ. It is a way of hierarchically schematizing biodiversity incorporating the factor of spatial scale.
Why is biodiversity important?
The consequences of biodiversity loss are truly alarming, which is why conserving it is so important. For many years, the conservation of species and natural environments has been increasingly worrying. Its importance lies in the fact that provides various environmental or ecosystem services, that is, it provides the natural conditions and processes typical of ecosystems and through which beings Humans obtain various benefits and ultimately survive. Some of these services are the degradation of organic waste, the formation and composition of soil and the control of erosion and desiccation, the increase of food resources from crops and their production, the biological control of many pests, the pollination of species plants, climate regulation, among many more.
For all of the above, the importance of biodiversity is none other than maintaining the balance. Without it, life as we know it would gradually disappear.
Biodiversity loss: causes
In the previous section we have seen the consequences of the loss of biodiversity, which is mainly the imbalance between the different ecosystems and, therefore, the deterioration of life in general. Now what is causing this? The loss of biodiversity represents one of the most important global problems because the panorama currently reflects a growing degradation and depletion of natural systems and their biodiversity. Due to many human practices, a large part of the natural and complex ecosystems have become homogeneous and simpler environments, endangering the stability of the biological interactions that make up ecosystems and led to the extinction of many plant and animal species. Likewise, many others are in serious danger of extinction. Discover in this other article the most endangered animals in the world.
Thus, due to the growing human pressure that is constantly developing, the rapid destruction of local and regional biodiversity has been caused, often leaving natural vegetation and wildlife unprotected. On the other hand, along with the modern patterns of food production that we use, there are other factors that threaten biodiversity, such as the following:
- Alteration and overexploitation of species and habitats
- Introduction of exotic species
- Modification of environmental conditions
In this sense, the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity has contributed to establishing a political climate in which biodiversity is presented as a vital and key issue, both at the environmental and development levels, and leads us to understand that the existence and future of biodiversity depend on both biological and socio-cultural processes.
