Types of Biodiversity

Biodiversity usually makes our planet beautiful, keeps the planet balanced, and helps it to function accordingly. In particular, biodiversity refers to the variability of life on Earth. As there are different types of biodiversity, perhaps the greatest value of biodiversity is yet unknown. Many of the Earth's biodiversity is disappearing at an increasingly alarming rate, even before we know what is missing. However, scientists and researchers worldwide are working on finding the actual cause and eliminating or slowing down the loss rate.

Species diversity

The species' diversity refers to a group of similar organisms that typically mate to produce offspring. They commonly share the same lineage. Species diversity is the most basic classification unit and includes all species ranging from plants to various microorganisms. Additionally, two different individuals from the same species group are also not exactly similar; they have diversity. For instance, two other human beings are not the same. Apart from this, people situated in entirely different regions have a significant level of diversity.

As species diversity is seen in natural and agricultural ecosystems, the total numbers of different species of plants and animals located in an area form this type of diversity. It is believed that there are about 5-10 million species in the world; however, only 1.75 million of those species have been named scientifically so far on Earth. Some areas have more species than others. Areas with more species diversity are generally referred to as 'hotspots' of diversity. The more species found within the area, the more biodiverse the area is called, making the more biodiverse ecosystem.

Genetic Diversity

It refers to differences between the genetic resources of organisms. Each individual of a particular species differs from the other in its genetic cons titution. That is why every human is different from another. Similarly, the species of rice, wheat, maize, barley, etc., have different varieties.

Each member of any animal or plant species differs widely from other individuals in its genetic makeup because many combinations of genes are possible that give specific characteristics to each individual. This genetic variability is essential for the healthy reproduction of a species.

Today, the diversity of nature is being exploited more by using wild relatives of crop plants to create new varieties of more productive crops and breed better domestic animals. Modern biotechnology manipulates genes to develop better types of drugs and a variety of industrial products. Although all species have come from a single or common ancestor, species diverge and produce new unique characteristics over time, thus contributing to biodiversity.

Ecological Diversity

Ecological diversity is the complex network of different species present in local ecosystems and the dynamic interactions. An ecosystem consists of organisms of many several species living in a region and their connections through the flow of energy, nutrients, and matter. Those relationships occur as organisms of different species interact with each other. The primary source of energy in almost every ecosystem is the Sun. The radiant energy of the Sun is converted into chemical energy by plants. This energy flows from those systems when animals eat plants and are then consumed by other animals in return. Fungi get energy by decomposing organisms, which release nutrients back into the soil.

Thus, an ecosystem comprises living components (microbes, plants, animals, and fungi) and non-living components (climate and chemicals) connected by energy flow and interact with each other. Ecological biodiversity is associated with plant and animal species living together and connected by the food chain and food webs. Diversity in various ecosystems, such as deserts, rainforests, mangroves, etc., also includes ecological diversity. It is generally observed between different ecosystems in a region.