Biodiversity
Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth, including the diversity of species, ecosystems, and genetic variation within species.
Levels of Biodiversity:
- Species Diversity: Variety of species within a habitat or ecosystem.
- Genetic Diversity: Variation of genes within a species.
- Ecosystem Diversity: Variety of ecosystems within a region.
How Biodiversity Contributes to Ecosystem Resilience
- Ecosystem Stability: Biodiverse ecosystems are better able to withstand and recover from disturbances (e.g., climate change, and natural disasters).
- Redundancy and Adaptation: More species mean that if one species declines, others can take over its role, ensuring the ecosystem continues functioning.
- Nutrient Cycling and Productivity: A diverse range of species contributes to more efficient nutrient cycling and overall higher productivity.
Simpson's Reciprocal Index
- Definition: A measure of biodiversity that quantifies the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to different species.
- Formula: D = [N(N - 1)]/ (sum of n)(n - 1)
Where N is the total number of species in the population and n is the number of individuals of a single species
- Interpretation: Higher values indicate greater biodiversity; a value of 1 means no diversity and higher values indicate greater diversity.
How Knowledge of Biodiversity Helps Develop Management Strategies
- Conservation Planning: Identifying and prioritizing areas that need protection to preserve biodiversity hotspots.
- Sustainable Resource Use: Managing natural resources in a way that maintains biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- Ecosystem Restoration: Using biodiversity data to guide reforestation, habitat restoration, and wildlife management.
