Biodiversity is the species diversity in any given ecosystem. This diversity enables the ecosystem to work efficiently and work well. Without biodiversity, many ecosystems could not function because there is nothing stopping one species from being dominant and exploiting that ecosystem. Biodiversity is extremely important and measures need to be taken to conserve it.
There are two major aspects of biodiversity: species richness and species evenness. Species richness is the amount of species in any given location/ecosystem. Species evenness, on the other hand, is the distribution of each species. Are the species even throughout or is there a lot of one species and not too much of the others? These are the components that are used to decide the biodiversity of an area. There is also a third factor that can come into consideration when looking at the conservation of an area. This factor is endemism. For a species to be endemic it can only occur in that area and nowhere else. For example, the Florida scrub jay is endemic to Florida. Not all species are found everywhere and it is important to note this fact when conservation an area.
But why must we conserve biodiversity? It can be an economic answer where a particular species can hold the cure for cancer. For example, many rainforest plants have shown anti-cancer properties. But it can also be a moral answer. We need to conserve just for the sake of conservation – the sake of the species.
For me it is a moral thing. Who are we, as humans, to decide which species lives or dies? Who are we to destroy an ecosystem for the sake of the economy – for the sake of building a mall or skyscraper? Who are we to say that we own this Earth and can do anything to it no matter the consequences? This is where the tragedy of the commons comes into play. So many species have been lost at the hands of humans – not nature. A great example of this is the passenger pigeon, which was once the most numerous bird in the world. We basically killed off the species in less than a century.
I am going to devote my life to the conservation of species, particularly birds. No one has to do that to help conserve, they can do something in their community. Sometimes it’s the small things that really help the big picture.
