When we talk about biodiversity, we refer to the very varied forms of life that can develop in a natural environment such as plants, animals, microorganisms and the genetic material that makes them up.. When we think of biodiversity, green Amazon rainforests or incredible coral reefs in tropical seas usually come to mind, yet even our home is full of life. Spiders and insects crawl in the nooks and crannies; molds, algae and fungi flourish on our food and in our bathrooms; grasses and weeds grow in our gardens, and birds and mammals camp in our attics, basements, and fireplaces.
Ecosystems and their species provide us with fundamental biological services
Green plants, for example, remove carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere, which serves to keep the environment healthy and fit for human life. Although we still have much to learn about the complex function of ecosystems and the critical functions that species play, we know that if a natural habitat is altered in any way, the effect will have a significant impact on the planet.
Economic arguments also provide compelling reasons for the importance of biodiversity. Different types of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms provide us with food, medicine, fuel, building materials, fibers for clothing and industrial products, among many other things.
This diversity in any natural community implies a balance of the ecosystem in question because each species fulfills and develops a certain ecological function, that is why the loss of diversity, as a consequence of the voluntary action of man through pollution, hunting of species that are in the process of extinction, among other issues, alarm very deeply and they concern those defenders of the same and also those who, although they are not, do not want to be part of a devastated and unbalanced planet due to the maneuvers and lack of awareness of some human beings in their actions. This loss of species for the reasons we mentioned will mean less regulation for the ecosystem.
It will be necessary then that the human being as a species superior to those mentioned contributes to the balance and survival of these because they are the ones that will ultimately help him to self-regulate.
The biological services that ecosystems perform.
The diverse natural habitats protect the areas from dangerous weather conditions. Vegetable cover protects soils from erosion. The forests function as a barrier against the wind, useful in agricultural areas, while the vegetation of swamps and sand dunes helps to protect the coastal areas from erosion caused by the sea and the wind.
On the other hand, ecosystems help reduce local and global climate change, by maintaining a healthy balance of gases in the atmosphere. Trees and other plants prevent the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the environment, which reduces the risk of global warming.
Nutrient recycling is another reason why biodiversity is important to our planet and bacteria and fungi play a crucial role in it, while some plants are vital for nitrogen fixation in the soil.
Species such as reeds act as natural filters, facilitating the removal of waste from surface waters and many bacteria are responsible for breaking down low-level pollutants.
With respect to animals, birds, bats and insects play important roles as pollinators of food plants, such as vegetables and fruits, and are also often the natural enemies of weeds, pests and diseases that can damage crops, helping to keep a balance.
Finally, some species monitor the health of the environment, as they can detect and indicate any changes in it. For example, breeding failure among birds of prey can point to a build-up of pesticides in the system, or lichens, such as those increasingly found on trees, can be sensitive indicators of air pollution levels. .
Preservation of biodiversity
Preserving ecosystems may seem like a simple task, considering that scientists have described and named almost 2 million species of organisms and believe that there are 10 million more that have not yet been discovered. This being the case, what could be the impact on the loss of some species? The truth is that we all coexist in a delicate balance in which we perform basic functions for life. Any alteration in this interdependent relationship brings with it critical and often irreversible consequences for our existence and that of the planet.
Photos: iStock - Rainer von Brandis / anzeletti
