Biodiversity first

Biodiversity First

Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life on Earth —
from genes and species to ecosystems and the valuable functions they perform. E.O. Wilson,
the noted biologist and author who coined the term “biodiversity,” explains it as “the very stuff of life.”

For at least 3.8 billion years, a complex web of life has been evolving on Earth.

Millions of species inhabit land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems.

All species, including human beings, are intricately linked by their interactions with each other
and the environments they live in.

Biodiversity — short for biological diversity — is the variety of all living things and their interactions.

Over time Biodiversity changes over time as extinction occurs and new species evolve.

Scientists often speak of three levels of diversity: species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity.

In fact, these levels cannot be separated. Each is important, interacting with and influencing others.

Changes at one level can cause changes at other levels.

What Is a Species?

Species come in all shapes and sizes, from organisms so small they can only be seen
with powerful microscopes to huge redwood trees.

They include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, flowering plants, ants, beetles, butterflies, birds, fishes,
and large animals such as elephants, whales, and bears.

Each species is a group of organisms with unique characteristics.

An individual of a species can reproduce successfully, creating viable offspring, only with another member of that species.

Source: National Museum of National History