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Biodiversity Hot Spots Article
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Why Is Biodiversity Important- A Primer
from:Any number of people want to know “Why is biodiversity important?” One answer is that is important because it represents the almost infinite variety of plant and animal life, and the variety of the types of Earth's ecosystems that support life as we know it. It enables humans to survive in what would be otherwise be some very adverse conditions.
Any study of “why is biodiversity important” can yield fascinating results. Biodiversity is the very stuff that supports the evolution and differentiation among the varying species. It's why cats are cats and horses are horses and humans are humans. And, further, it is responsible for the differences among groups within the larger species. Look at how many seemingly different types of humans there are. Or jungle cats. Or birds.
Water, wind, and sunlight generate much of the energy we use, and the action of the planet on various substances over the course of centuries create and provide things like coal, which is used to generate heat and more energy. Energy from wind, water, sunlight, and coal heats our homes and powers all our appliances Decaying animal matter has, over the centuries created the fossil fuels we use on a daily basis to power the vehicles that make transportation relatively easy and convenient.
Without biodiversity we would be (if we existed at all) a homogeneous population, with each of us having the same vulnerabilities. This would mean that in, say an epidemic, we would all be killed since there would be no biologic differences that would enable some of us to survive and adapt. Much of our modern medicine is based on combinations of biologically diverse substances isolated from various plants (which we, therefore, label medicinal). Even before the rise of modern medicine, shamans and wise women used various plants to achieve various results. Without those plants, and the great variety of insects that pollinate and cross-pollinate them, humans would be much more vulnerable to disease.
Various industries consider the question of “why is biodiversity important,” because their industries provide lumber, granite, and marble – to name a few of the building materials much human habitation depends upon – we would largely be without shelter.
While humans are omnivorous, without biodiversity there would be virtually no variety in our diets. One reason to ask “why is biodiversity important?” is because biodiversity provides a literal treasure trove of foods, from things as common as wheat or corn to things as exotic as some of the seafood used in sushi. Further, not all the nutrients we need are in any particular food, so without a diverse base of foods to make combinations from our general health would suffer.
The most important reason for asking “why is biodiversity important?” is that biodiversity sustains the bodies we live in, and affects the lives we lead, and the societies we form.
Biodiversity Hot Spots News
Language Diversity Is Highest in Biodiversity Hotspots - Huffington Post (blog)
Language Diversity Is Highest in Biodiversity Hotspots Huffington Post (blog) We looked to see how these were distributed globally, especially in relation to the highest priority areas for terrestrial biodiversity -- the 35 biodiversity hotspots and the five high biodiversity wilderness areas that have been central to CI's ... |
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve - San Diego Reader
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve San Diego Reader These varied ecosystems in turn foster an incredible amount of plant and animal diversity and are a large reason why San Diego and much of Southern California are world-famous “biodiversity hotspots.” Several of these habitat types are easily explored ... |
'Hot spot' languages are in danger, too - Futurity: Research News
 Daily Mail | 'Hot spot' languages are in danger, too Futurity: Research News In terms of biodiversity conservation, all bets are off." (Credit: iStockphoto) PENN STATE (US) — Biodiversity hot spots are some of the most linguistically diverse regions on the planet, accounting for 70 percent of all languages on Earth. Endangered Species, Languages Linked at High Biodiversity Regions CORDIS - Study finds link between languages and high biodiversity regions Most of World's Languages Face Extinction |
New Species Top 10 List: Underworld Worm, Walking Cactus Creature, Blue ... - Science Daily (press release)
 Sky News | New Species Top 10 List: Underworld Worm, Walking Cactus Creature, Blue ... Science Daily (press release) The species holds a new record as the largest millipede (16 centimeters or about 6.3 inches) found in one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains. The new species is about 1.5 centimeter (0.6 inch) in diameter with 56 ... Sneezing monkey, SpongeBob mushroom top new species list Sneezing monkey highlights new species New Species 2012: List Includes Sneezing Monkey, Blue Tarantula And Night ... |
Biodiversity could be casualty of Myanmar openness - Seattle Post Intelligencer
Biodiversity could be casualty of Myanmar openness Seattle Post Intelligencer Positioned at the core of one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots, Myanmar is endowed with plant and animal life of the flanking Himalayas, Malay peninsula, Indian subcontinent and mainland Southeast Asia. Photo: Indo-Myanmar Conservation, ... |