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Biodiversity
In simple terms the word biodiversity can be described as the variety of plants and animals (species) and the places they live (ecosystem). It is the immense variety and richness of life on Earth. Biodiversity is vital for supporting all life on Earth. It provided all of our food and many industrial products and medicines. It includes:
- The diversity of genes within all living organisms.
- The diversity of species. For example, morel, corn, rainbow trout, praying mantis and humans are all different species.
- The diversity of ecosystems (coral reefs, prairies, forests, wetlands, etc.)
Our planet is so rich with life that scientists don’t even know for sure how many different kinds of organisms may exist. So far, they’ve identified and named more than 1.7 million species, including:
- 950,000 species of insects
- 270,000 species of plants
- 19,000 species of fish
- 10,500 species of reptiles and amphibians
- 9,000 species of birds
- 4,000 species of mammals.
But scientists think that millions more species, mostly microorganisms and invertebrates, such as insects and worms, are yet to be discovered
Biodiversity is the foundation of healthy, functioning ecosystems upon which all life depends. Biodiversity helps with:
Our growing population and increasing consumption of natural resources places enormous stresses on natural ecosystems and species within them. Loss of and damage to habitats, over-harvesting, introduction of non-native species to new areas, and climate change are major causes of species extinction and endangerment. Scientists estimate that species extinctions are occurring100 to 1000 times faster than without human influence. Without a change in our actions half of the world's species may be lost by 2100.
12,259 species are threatened to some extent, including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and fish.
Animals that are in danger:
Giant Panda Rhinoceros Seal Whale
Facts and Figures
- More than 7000 species of plants are cultivated or harvested from the wild.
- In the past 250 years of research, about 1.78 million species of animals, plants and microorganisms have been identified and named. But the total number of species is unknown and probably between 5 and 30 million.
- About 15,000 new species are discovered every year.
- Trends of some 3,000 wild populations of species show a consistent decline in average species abundance of about 40% between 1970 and 2000. Species present in rivers, lakes and marshlands have declined by 50.
- In the North Atlantic, fish have declined by 66% in the last 50 years.
- Since 2000, 6 million hectares of primary forest have been lost each year.
- In the Caribbean region, hard coral cover has declined from 50% to 10% in the last three decades.
- The value of global ecosystem services is estimated at $16-$64 trillion.
What Can You Do
- Put up a birdhouse in your yard. This will encourage birds to stay in your neighbourhood
- Attract wildlife to your yard by providing running and dripping water. Poke a hole in the bottom of the bucket
- Be aware of buying exotic animals from per stores and breeders. Make sure they were not collected from the wild.
- Never bring home animals and plant collected in the wild. You could be harming wild populations and the natural ecosystem where they were collected.
- When travelling, avoid products like pursues, wallets, boots and belts that are made from reptile skins.
- Cover your soil with layer of mulch to prevent soil erosion and to conserve soil moisture.
Referencs:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/education/BiodiversityTeachersGuide.pdf
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/iboy/biomonth/biofacts.html
http://www.seethebiggerpicture.org/biodiversity-project-facts.php
http://www.biodiversity911.org/default.html
