Chapter 5, Problem 40A

Summary Introduction

To write:

The importance of preserving biodiversity

Introduction:

Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area. The loss of an entire species in a food web is not an imaginary situation. Entire species permanently disappear from the biosphere when the last member of the species dies in a process called extinction. Biodiversity maintains a healthy biosphere and provides direct and indirect value to humans. Biodiversity is often lost in an environment due to which the abiotic and biotic factors that required a healthy ecosystem are no longer available.

Explanation of Solution

Several reasons are present to preserve biodiversity. In additions, there are aesthetic, economic, and scientific reasons for preserving biodiversity and they are-

• Maintaining biodiversity has a direct and indirect economic value to humans. Human depends on plants and animals to provide food, clothing, energy, medicine, and shelter. So preserving the species for genetic diversity would help to represent beneficial genes that might be required in the future, since most food crops come from a few species only.
• Healthy ecosystems provide protection against floods and drought, generate and preserve healthful fertile soils, detoxify and decompose wastes, and regulate local climates.
• The maintaining of biodiversity and healthy ecosystem also helps in providing aesthetic and scientific values.

Conclusion

Therefore, for future generations, attempts should be made to conserve and protect the ecosystems on Earth, as biodiversity offers direct and indirect benefits to humans.