What is Biodiversity?

The sum total of all living plants, animals and microbes is what is called biodiversity. The term has come to the fore-front because large-scale habitat destruction and alteration has led to the extinction of a large number of species. For a biologist biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of all living forms on earth. Some of this diversity is essential, in that mankind is dependent on other species for the maintenance of the biosphere and the supply of basic necessities, particularly food.

            Any description of biodiversity involves large and uncertain numbers. Estimates suggest that there are about 5 to 30 million living species, of these only 1.4 million have been described. On the other hand, species extinction rates are estimated at approximately 10,000 to 20,000 per year.

            Conserving this biodiversity is of immediate importance to humans because plants and animals hold in them a lot of unknown treasures like cures for diseases and genes to increase the yield of our food crops.

            The highest level of biodiversity is found in the warm tropical regions. Tropical rain forests and coral reefs are two areas that are extremely rich in species composition.