Biodiversity

The idea

Biodiversity is the immense variety of living organisms on the Earth; every organism plays a role in keeping nature stable, and their interconnections sustain ecosystems.

Many kinds of life

Think of a forest edge, a pond and the sea. Algae, fungi, bacteria, birds, bees, bats and plants are found in such places.

Why might it matter that so many different kinds of living things share the Earth?

• Each kind has a role, and the roles are linked
• Only the biggest animals have a role
• Most kinds of life have no role

Who does what?

Open each tab to see what one group does for nature.

Everything is linked

Each group you saw does a different job, and the jobs depend on one another. Algae give oxygen, fungi and bacteria return goodness to the soil, pollinators help flowers, and plants make food. Together these links keep nature steady.

Biodiversity is the immense variety of living organisms on the Earth. Every organism plays a role in keeping nature stable, and their interconnections sustain ecosystems.

Notes

Biodiversity is the immense variety of living organisms. Every organism plays a role, and their interconnections sustain ecosystems.

Check yourself

What is biodiversity?

Which living things release most of the oxygen we breathe?

How do fungi and bacteria help the soil?

What do the interconnections between organisms do?

• The number of people living in a country. Biodiversity is about living organisms of all kinds, from microscopic ones to giant trees, not a count of people.
• The immense variety of living organisms on the Earth — correct. Yes!
• The group of animals that live in water. Biodiversity includes living organisms in many habitats, such as the snow-clad Himalayas and the coral reefs of the Andaman Sea.
• Birds, bees and bats. These pollinate flowers.
• Fungi and bacteria. These decompose fallen leaves and convert waste into manure.
• Microscopic algae in the oceans — correct. Yes!
• They decompose fallen leaves and turn waste into manure — correct. Yes!
• They pollinate flowers. Pollinating flowers is the job of birds, bees and bats.
• They capture sunlight to prepare food. Plants, not fungi and bacteria, capture sunlight to prepare food.
• Make each organism independent of the others. The interconnections show that organisms depend on one another, for example plants make food that supports nearly all life.
• Help sustain ecosystems — correct. Yes!
• Remove the need for sunlight. Plants capture sunlight to prepare food that supports nearly all life, so sunlight is still needed.