biodiversity
Sign in to savethumb|An example of the biodiversity of fungi in a forest in North Saskatchewan (in this photo, there are also leaf [[lichens and mosses).]]
AI overview
Biodiversity refers to the variety of different living organisms—such as fungi, plants, lichens, and mosses—that exist in a particular environment like a forest. It matters because this diversity of life helps ecosystems function and provide essential services that support all living things, including humans.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
39 sectionsContents
- Definitions
- Number of species
- Current biodiversity loss
- Distribution
- Latitudinal gradients
- Biodiversity Hotspots
- Evolution over geologic timeframes
- Diversification
- Species diversity in geologic time frames
- Role and benefits of biodiversity
- Ecosystem services
- Provisioning services
- Regulating services
- Agriculture
- Human health
- Business and industry
- Cultural and aesthetic value
- Measuring biodiversity
- Analytical limits
- Biodiversity changes (other than losses)
- Natural seasonal variations
- Introduced and invasive species
- Hybridization and genetic pollution
- Conservation
- Protection and restoration techniques
- Protected areas
- National parks and wildlife sanctuaries
- Forest protected areas
- Role of society
- Transformative change
- Citizen science
- Legal status
- International
- European Union
- National level laws
- History of the term
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|An example of the biodiversity of fungi in a forest in North Saskatchewan (in this photo, there are also leaf [[lichens and mosses).]]
Biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels, for example, genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distributed evenly on Earth—it is greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and high primary productivity in the region near the equator. Tropical forest ecosystems cover less than one-fifth of Earth's terrestrial area and contain about 50% of the world's species. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity for both marine and terrestrial taxa.