Preserving Biodiversity (SL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Photo by Alenka Skvarc on Unsplash 

The jungles of Costa Rica are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet

• Biodiversity is the range and variety of genes, species and habitats within a particular region
• It is made up of three components:
  • Genetic diversity
  • Species diversity
  • Habitat diversity

• Global biodiversity has a major impact on humans and all other species on the planet
• There are many reasons for maintaining biodiversity, including:
  • Ecological reasons
  • Economic reasons
  • Aesthetic reasons
  • Social reasons
  • Moral/ethical reasons
  • Environmental reasons
  • Agricultural reasons

Ecological Reasons

• Biodiversity has a major effect on the stability of an ecosystem
• A more diverse ecosystem is better able to survive and adapt to environmental changes or threats

• For example, if the temperature of a species-rich lake rises due to global warming:
• Some species of fish in the ecosystem are unable to cope with the change while others can
• The fish that are able to cope will survive, reproduce and keep contributing to the ecosystem

• Within communities there are keystone species that have a larger impact on the ecosystem than others
• When these species are lost there are several knock-on effects
• Bush elephants in the African savannah are a keystone species
• They graze in a very extreme way, knocking over and eating several species of tree
• This destruction of vegetation actually helps to maintain the ecosystem
• Elephant dung also provides a habitat for many important fungi and insect species
• When elephants were illegally hunted for their ivory, their numbers were reduced and scientists observed a major negative impact on the savannah

Economic Reasons

 

Photo by Walter Siegmund Wikimedia Commons

The pacific yew tree is a source of anti-cancer drugs

• Ecosystems have a lot of economic value
• Many of the medicines used today have originated from plants, fungi and bacteria
  • For example, the cancer-fighting drug paclitaxel is sourced from Pacific and Himalayan Yew Trees
  • The Himalayan Yew has declined in numbers due to over-harvesting for fuel and medicine
  • Due to the large number of drugs that have already been sourced from nature it is reasonable to assume that there are other drugs, yet to be found in nature, that could be used in the future

• Ecotourism is a major source of income for many countries
  • Many tourists travel to and spend money in National parks so they can see wildlife
  • Increased tourism in a country contributes to the economy and provides jobs

• Ecosystems have also made major contributions to the field of science and technology
  • The specific enzyme used in DNA sequencing was first discovered in thermophilic bacterium found in a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aesthetic Reasons

• Humans find great joy and pleasure in the beauty of nature
• It provides inspiration for creatives such as photographers, poets, musicians and artists
• There is a strong argument for preserving biodiversity because of its aesthetic benefits

Social Reasons

• Many people enjoy spending time in the natural environment
• There are many activities that people can do together in nature, e.g. birdwatching, walking, climbing
• Such environments may be lost if they are not conserved, with the loss of the social benefits that they can bring

Many people enjoy spending time in the natural environment bird watching, walking and climbing

Moral & Ethical Reasons

• Many people believe that humans have a moral obligation to prevent the loss of biodiversity that results from human activities
• Humans share the planet with millions of other species and they have no right to cause the extinction of other species
• As humans are the most intelligent species on the planet the responsibility falls upon their shoulders to protect and value all of the organisms on the planet

Environmental Reasons

• Humans need diverse ecosystems because of the essential environmental services they provide
• Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to reduce the greenhouse effect and climate change
• Microorganisms digest and break down the masses of organic waste that are produced by larger organisms
• Humans have irrigation and drinking water thanks to the transpiration of plants and their contribution to the water cycle
• Different fungi and bacteria species are a major part of the nutrient cycle that allows for nutrients to reenter the soil for further plant growth
• Plants are producers in food webs. They are both a direct and indirect energy source for humans through fruit, vegetables and meat

Agricultural Reasons

• Most of the crops that humans grow are very uniform with low genetic diversity
• The wild relatives of crops can provide a source of genetic diversity to rescue crops that are affected by disease or other disasters
• Many of the wild relative species are under threat due to habitat destruction and climate change
• All of the world's potato crop comes from a single species
• This lack of species diversity makes the crop highly susceptible to disease
• There are over 100 species of wild potatoes that grow in the Andes
• These Andean species act as a source of alleles for disease resistance
• These alleles have been introduced to the potato crop through gene technology and interbreeding

Summary of Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity

Reason	Explanation
Moral and Ethical	Humans have a responsibility to reduce their impact on the planet and other species
Ecological	Biodiversity increases the stability of ecosystems
Environmental	Organisms provide essential environmental services (water cycle, nutrient cycle and absorption of carbon dioxide)
Economic	A range of organisms contribute to medicine, ecotourism, science and technology
Aesthetic	Humans take pleasure from the visual effects of biodiversity
Agricultural	Genetically diverse wild species can rescue crops from catastrophes