Final answer:
Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life and the ecosystems they form. Human activities threaten biodiversity through habitat destruction and pollution. Measuring biodiversity and species richness helps in conserving significant areas and in maintaining ecosystem services. O biodiversity species richness relative abundance community stability
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It includes not just the number of species, but also the genetic diversity within those species, and the range of ecosystems they form. Considering the vast diversity of life on Earth, estimates suggest that there could be anywhere from 5 to 30 million different species, although only about 1.5 million species have been formally identified and named.
Impact of Human Activity on Biodiversity
Human activities have significantly impacted biodiversity, often reducing species richness in various regions. Development and pollution disrupt natural habitats, leading to a potential increase in species threatened by extinction. Coastal ecosystems, for example, are at particularly high risk, impacting a considerable portion of marine biodiversity.
Measuring Biodiversity
To measure biodiversity, ecologists may assess species richness, which is the count of different species within a habitat. These measures help conservationists focus on preserving areas with significant biological or technological value and are crucial for protecting the ecosystem services vital to human well-being.