We explain what biodiversity is and what are the factors that make up biodiversity. Also, why it is necessary to protect it.
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What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the plurality of living beings , more precisely microorganisms, plants and animals, which interact with each other. It is estimated that the variety of species that inhabit the planet Earth exceeds thirty million. This huge number of species are the product of evolution, where living beings harmoniously relate to the environment in which they are present.
Biodiversity acquires great importance since the dependence of living beings on each other is elementary for their subsistence . The linking of living beings is not only with their habitat, but also towards other individuals of the same or other species. In case of the disappearance of a particular species, it puts at risk the existence of many others, including ours.
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How is biodiversity composed?
Biodiversity is considered to be made up of three factors:
- Diversity of ecosystems In the first place, these are the systems where life is conceived, some examples are ecosystems and biomes .
- Genetic diversity. Second, this diversity includes the set of genes, be it of a particular species or individual. Some examples are races or subspecies.
- Taxonomic diversity Finally you can name the taxonomic diversity, which refers to the various species, to name a few examples, classes, genera and kingdoms.
It is known that biodiversity is constantly subject to change , more precisely to evolution, both individuals in particular, and the species as a whole.
The changes are considered to be inherent to the species , to reach the current evolutionary levels they were subjected to millions of years of evolution. Some of the reasons why they are subject to change are other species or individuals, soils , climate and other natural issues.
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Why should we protect biodiversity?
Certain changes can adversely affect biodiversity . One of the reasons why biodiversity is affected are the modifications or extinctions of certain habitats . This situation causes the death of hundreds of individuals or even species that cannot migrate.
The destruction is usually caused by man , whether by the creation of infrastructure, indiscriminate felling of trees, mega mining, dismantled forests , pollution , among other human activities.
Some of the ways to preserve biodiversity are to control the environments that must be protected and the number of individuals that inhabit it, stop carrying out any type of production activity that can affect natural resources , be they soil, water , air , etc. Ideally, find a way to produce it in a sensitive and supportive way with the environment .
On the other hand, prohibit the inclusion of species belonging to other habitats without the necessary controls, raise awareness among the population about the importance of biodiversity and the risk we face if the necessary measures are not taken. It is also important to protect those species that are threatened and reintroduce animals that have been bred in captivity, whether in gardens, zoos or aquariums.
