What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity includes variation among genes, species and ecosystems.
How it works and key principles
Levels and measurement: Genetic differences within a species, local species richness and habitat variety are distinct dimensions. Species counts alone do not reveal abundance or ecological roles. Sampling methods and effort affect comparisons, and microorganisms are especially difficult to inventory.
Evidence, examples and limits
Value and conservation: Diversity relates to pollination, food webs and responses to change. Habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change are major pressures. Conservation addresses habitats, connectivity and genetic variation; increasing one species does not solve every ecosystem problem.
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