Thoughts on Biodiversity
Thoughts on Biodiversity
In the previous post I explained my definition of biodiversity and how it can both broad and small in scope. Biodiversity at all levels is important, and as E.O. Wilson said, "it is the foundation of the world we know" (NPS, 2022).
At a local level biodiversity plays a role in the culture of an area and helps to keep the regions we know and love functioning. Regionally, biodiversity becomes even more broad as we would now be including a whole state area. For example, I am from Austin, Texas, but currently live in Houston. The ecosystems and organisms differ from my local Houston area to the regional Texas areas (including Austin). The importance of this is the balance of the state. Biodiversity and the interconnections of life and ecosystems is what makes a place what it is. Then, add culture and history to it and the importance of biodiversity becomes even more prevalent.
On a national level, biodiversity can differ greatly from place to place. However, the biodiversity of a country as a whole is what helps to differentiate areas of the world, and parts of the country itself. The same principle applies to biodiversity on an international level. If one aspect of biodiversity were to fail, all connecting parts of that system would be impacted (Smithsonian, n.d.). This is true not only locally but worldwide as the earth is made up of interwoven systems.
Aspects of biodiversity can be broken down into genetic, species, and ecosystem subsections (Smithsonian, n.d.). Each subsection is connected to and influences the other. At local, regional, national, and international levels there is an unimaginable number of systems at play that make our world what it is. The importance of biodiversity is that it is connected and through those connections we have the world. This notion makes it all the more important to promote conservation of biodiversity. For some that may be starting locally, but national and global biodiversity efforts should also be encouraged.
References:
Smithsonian. (n.d.). What Is Biodiversity? | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Naturalhistory.si.edu. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/what-biodiversity
NPS. 2022, January 28. Dr. E.O. Wilson’s Biodiversity Legacy Lives on at Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service). Www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/articles/e-o-wilson-biodiversity.htm
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