Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a term that captures the awe-inspiring spectrum of life on Earth, ranging from tiny organisms to entire biomes. From the individual genes that identify species to the broad ecosystems that span the globe, biodiversity is a tapestry made up of these diverse threads. In the light of adaptation, variation is the name of the game; genetic change allows species to evolve in reaction to their surroundings. For example, imagine a plant community in which some plants are resistant to a killing disease. If the disease demolishes the whole community only these resistant plants will remain, however, reproduce, producing progeny that are likewise resistant to the disease. Species diversity also encompasses places where they flourish; the tropical rainforest has a variety of millions of plant and animal species. Finally, the planet itself is composed of a collection of ecosystems each with its personality, a mosaic of forests, rainforests, deserts, high deserts, and other types.