Human interactions |
Biodiversity: the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. |
Biodiversity exists on three levels: ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity. Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes in the biosphere.
Species diversity is the number of different species in the biosphere, or in a particular area. Biologists have identified and named more than 1.8 million species, and they estimate that at least 30 million more are yet to be discovered. Much of this diversity exists among single-celled organisms. But new species of vertebrates are still being found as well.
Genetic diversity it the sum total of all different forms of genetic information carried by a particular species, or by all organisms on Earth. Within each species, genetic diversity refers to the total of all different forms of genes present in that species. In many ways, genetic diversity is the most basic kind of biodiversity. It is also the hardest kind to see and appreciate. Yet, genetic diversity is vitally important to the survival and evolution of species in a changing world.
The reason biodiversity is important is that it is one of the Earth’s greatest natural resources. Even though you can’t touch, smell, or eat biodiversity, most people don’t think of it as a natural resource. There are many examples of biodiversity. In medicine the plant foxglove has compounds called digitalin that are used to treat heart disease. In agriculture most crops have wild relatives like the potato. The wild plants may carry genes that we can use to transfer disease or pest resistance or other useful traits, to crop plants. In ecosystem services the number of species in an ecosystem can influence that ecosystem’s stability, productivity, and value to humans. Sometimes one major species, like the buffalo can completely change the nature of life in an ecosystem.
Human interactions within the temperate grasslands are both positive and negative. One of the bad human interactions within the temperate grassland biome is hunting. The American bison population has taken a major down fall. The bison population was so devastated that the American bison almost went extinct. One positive human interaction is national parks have been developed around grasslands, and some organizations replant areas of depleted grassland.
Species diversity is the number of different species in the biosphere, or in a particular area. Biologists have identified and named more than 1.8 million species, and they estimate that at least 30 million more are yet to be discovered. Much of this diversity exists among single-celled organisms. But new species of vertebrates are still being found as well.
Genetic diversity it the sum total of all different forms of genetic information carried by a particular species, or by all organisms on Earth. Within each species, genetic diversity refers to the total of all different forms of genes present in that species. In many ways, genetic diversity is the most basic kind of biodiversity. It is also the hardest kind to see and appreciate. Yet, genetic diversity is vitally important to the survival and evolution of species in a changing world.
The reason biodiversity is important is that it is one of the Earth’s greatest natural resources. Even though you can’t touch, smell, or eat biodiversity, most people don’t think of it as a natural resource. There are many examples of biodiversity. In medicine the plant foxglove has compounds called digitalin that are used to treat heart disease. In agriculture most crops have wild relatives like the potato. The wild plants may carry genes that we can use to transfer disease or pest resistance or other useful traits, to crop plants. In ecosystem services the number of species in an ecosystem can influence that ecosystem’s stability, productivity, and value to humans. Sometimes one major species, like the buffalo can completely change the nature of life in an ecosystem.
Human interactions within the temperate grasslands are both positive and negative. One of the bad human interactions within the temperate grassland biome is hunting. The American bison population has taken a major down fall. The bison population was so devastated that the American bison almost went extinct. One positive human interaction is national parks have been developed around grasslands, and some organizations replant areas of depleted grassland.