How did life on Earth become so diverse?

How did life on Earth become so diverse?

Life on earth is incredibly diverse. Biological diversity is the variety of life on earth. Biological diversity is constantly changing. It is increased by new genetic variation and reduced by extinction and habitat degradation.

What is natural cause of extinction?

Extinction occurs when species are diminished because of environmental forces (habitat fragmentation, global change, natural disaster, overexploitation of species for human use) or because of evolutionary changes in their members (genetic inbreeding, poor reproduction, decline in population numbers).

How important are the diverse species in our lives?

Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. Ecological life support— biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services.

Is the earth diverse?

Life on Earth is amazingly diverse, and exhibits striking geographical global patterns in biodiversity. Although mountain regions cover only 25 percent of Earth’s land area, they are home to more than 85 percent of the world’s species of amphibians, birds, and mammals, and many of these are found only in mountains.

What is the variety of life found on earth?

Biodiversity, also called biological diversity, the variety of life found in a place on Earth or, often, the total variety of life on Earth. A common measure of this variety, called species richness, is the count of species in an area.

How diverse is our planet?

Our Diverse Planet Did you know that we share Earth with an estimated 5.3 million – 1 trillion different species? Our planet is so diverse that it makes it impossible to give an exact amount – who knows what is left to be discovered!

What is diversity planet?

The term biodiversity (from “biological diversity”) refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.

Where is biodiversity highest?

Brazil

What are the 3 types of biodiversity?

Usually three levels of biodiversity are discussed—genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

What are the threats to biodiversity?

Threats to Biodiversity

• Habitat Fragmentation. Ecosystem conversion and ecosystem degradation contribute to habitat fragmentation.
• Exotic Species Introductions. Infestation by alien species, such as the Codling Moth, is also a major threat to BC ecosystems.
• Pollution.
• Global Climate Change.
• Corridors and Connectivity.

What are the 5 main threats to biodiversity?

Five main threats to biodiversity are commonly recognized in the programmes of work of the Convention: invasive alien species, climate change, nutrient loading and pollution, habitat change, and overexploitation.

What are the 5 factors that affect biodiversity?

Important direct drivers affecting biodiversity are habitat change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution (CF4, C3, C4. 3, S7).

What are the major causes of biodiversity loss?

CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

• Climate change.
• Pollution.
• Destruction of habitats.
• Invasive alien species.
• Overexploitation of the natural environment.
• Extinction of species.
• Threat to human beings.
• Proliferation of pests.

How does loss of species affect humans?

Biodiversity loss can have significant direct human health impacts if ecosystem services are no longer adequate to meet social needs. Indirectly, changes in ecosystem services affect livelihoods, income, local migration and, on occasion, may even cause or exacerbate political conflict.

What are the values of biodiversity?

Biodiversity is essential for preserving ecological processes, such as fixing and recycling of nutrients, soil formation, circulation and cleansing of air and water, global life support, maintaining the water balance within ecosystems, watershed protection, maintaining stream and river flows throughout the year.

What is the meaning of loss of biodiversity?

Likewise, biodiversity loss describes the decline in the number, genetic variability, and variety of species, and the biological communities in a given area. This loss in the variety of life can lead to a breakdown in the functioning of the ecosystem where decline has happened.

Why is the loss of biodiversity a problem?

Biodiversity loss disrupts the functioning of ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to perturbations and less able to supply humans with needed services. To stop ecosystem degradation, the full contribution made by ecosystems to both poverty alleviation efforts and to national economies must be clearly demonstrated.

How does the loss of biodiversity affect the environment?

Loss of biodiversity appears to affect ecosystems as much as climate change, pollution and other major forms of environmental stress, according to results of a new study by an international research team. Studies over the last two decades demonstrated that more biologically diverse ecosystems are more productive.

What are the causes and consequences of loss of biodiversity?

The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the world’s ecosystem, In fact human beings have deeply altered the environment, and have modified the territory, exploiting the species directly, for example by fishing and hunting, changing the biogeochemical cycles and …

What 3 factors are most important in causing extinction rates to climb?

Species endangerment and extinction have three major anthropogenic causes—overhunting or overharvesting; introduction of nonnative species, including the spread of disease; and habitat degradation or loss. All three causes probably were factors in prehistoric as well as modern times.

How can we prevent biodiversity decline?

Attract “good” insects by planting pollen and nectar plants. Maintain wetlands by conserving water and reducing irrigation. Avoid draining water bodies on your property. Construct fences to protect riparian areas and other sensitive habitats from trampling and other disturbances.