The Importance of Biodiversity

The Importance of Biodiversity

Nicole Harris

BIO/280

02/17/2014

Shameema Sarker

The Importance of Biodiversity

          Conservation biology is the study of nature and the status of biodiversity   E.O. Wilson

describes biodiversity as “the totality of all inherited variation in the life forms of Earth, of which

we are one species.”   Biodiversity means that there is an abundance of different species in a

particular region and because many species depend on one another for their survival, it is

important to maintain a healthy, diverse ecosystem.  The aim of conservation biology is to

protect flora and fauna and to help maintain and restore their habitats.  Conservation biologists

study population and distribution of plants and animals, analyze their needs, and help restore

degrading ecosystems to help maintain the biodiversity needed for survival.

     Many species, which are groups of individuals that can, or have potential, to interbreed in

order to produce offspring, are disappearing at an accelerated rate due to habitat destruction,

pollution, and the introduction of invasive species.   Hundreds, if no thousands, of species are

considered threatened or endangered and many thousands more are already extinct.  A

“threatened” species is one that is likely to become endangered in the future.  An example of a

threatened species is the New Zealand Fur Seal.  These seals are listed as threatened in Tasmania

because of their low numbers.  They are restricted to one breeding site near the Tasmanian

waters.  According to the Parks and Wildlife Management of Tasmania, the female seals are

slow reproducers and only produce one pup a year with 15% of those pups dying before they

reach two months of age.  Their low numbers are also a result of net entanglements at sea and

fisherman shooting them for interfering with their fishing gear.

     Endangered species are those in immediate danger of becoming extinct.  With possibly as few

as 100 animals left in isolated populations, the Sumatran Rhino is one among many endangered

animals.  Once widespread across Southeast Asia, they have been lost almost entirely due to

poaching for their horn and habitat destruction.  There are more recent demands for rhino horns

from countries like Vietnam where rhino horn is believed to cure cancer and these horns can

fetch thousands of dollars for just an ounce.

     Extinct species are those that have died out and can never be returned.  Passenger Pigeons,

who’s numbers were once in the billions, are now extinct.  Over-hunting, the clearing of forests

for agricultural purposes, and possibly other factors doomed the species.  “The last nesting birds

were reported in the Great Lakes region in the 1890’s. The last reported individuals in the wild