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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity

Biodiversity

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e

#oral reefs are amongst the most diverse ecosystems on earth$

%ainforests are an e&ample of 'iodiversity on the planet and typically possess a great dealof species diversity$ (his is the )am'ia %iver in "enegal *s iokolo+Ko'a ational Park $

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species , ecosystem , 'iome , or an entire planet $ iodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems $ iodiversity is in part a function of climate $ -n terrestrial ha'itats, tropical regions aretypically rich whereas polar regions support fewer species$

%apid environmental changes typically cause mass e&tinctions $ .ne estimate is that lessthan /0 of the species that have e&isted on 1arth are e&tant$[/] [verification needed ]

"ince life 'egan on 1arth, five ma2or mass e&tinctions and several minor events have ledto large and sudden drops in 'iodiversity$ (he Phanero3oic eon 4the last 567 millionyears8 marked a rapid growth in 'iodiversity via the #am'rian e&plosion 9a periodduring which the ma2ority of multicellular phyla first appeared $[ ] (he ne&t 677 millionyears included repeated, massive 'iodiversity losses classified as mass e&tinction events$-n the #ar'oniferous , rainforest collapse led to a great loss of plant and animal life $[;] (hePermian


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event , occurred >5 million years ago and has often attracted more attention than others 'ecause it resulted in the e&tinction of the dinosaurs $[5]

(he period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing 'iodiversityreduction and an accompanying loss of genetic diversity $ amed the !olocene e&tinction ,

the reduction is caused primarily 'y human impacts, particularly ha'itat destruction$#onversely, 'iodiversity impacts human health in a num'er of ways, 'oth positively andnegatively$[>]

(he ?nited ations designated 7//+ 7 7 as the ?nited ations @ecade on iodiversity $
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Paleogene_extinction_eventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-SalaMeyerson2009-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Decade_on_Biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Decade_on_Biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Paleogene_extinction_eventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-SalaMeyerson2009-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Decade_on_Biodiversity


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Contents / 1tymology @efinitions ; @istri'ution

o ;$/ Aatitudinal gradientso ;$ !otspots

6 1volutiono 6$/ 1volutionary diversification

5 !uman 'enefitso 5$/ Bgricultureo 5$ !uman healtho 5$; usiness and industryo 5$6 Aeisure, cultural and aesthetic valueo 5$5 1cological services

> um'er of species C "pecies loss rates D (hreats

o D$/ !a'itat destructiono D$ -ntroduced and invasive species

D$ $/ )enetic pollutiono D$; .vere&ploitationo D$6 !y'ridi3ation, genetic pollutionEerosion and food securityo D$5 #limate changeo D$> !uman overpopulation

(he !olocene e&tinction /7 #onservation // Protection and restoration techniGues

o //$/ %esource allocation / Aegal status

o / $/ -nternationalo / $ ational level laws

/; Bnalytical limitso /;$/ (a&onomic and si3e relationships

/6 "ee also /5 %eferences /> Further reading

/C 1&ternal linkso /C$/ @ocumentso /C$ Hideoso /C$; (oolso /C$6 (raining material

o /C$5 %esources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Definitionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Distributionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Latitudinal_gradientshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Hotspotshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Evolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Evolutionary_diversificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Human_benefitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Human_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Business_and_industryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Leisure.2C_cultural_and_aesthetic_valuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Ecological_serviceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Number_of_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Species_loss_rateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Threatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Habitat_destructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Introduced_and_invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Overexploitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Hybridization.2C_genetic_pollution.2Ferosion_and_food_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Climate_changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Human_overpopulationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#The_Holocene_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Conservationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Protection_and_restoration_techniqueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Resource_allocationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Legal_statushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#National_level_lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Analytical_limitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Taxonomic_and_size_relationshipshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Documentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Videoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Toolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Training_materialhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Resourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Definitionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Distributionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Latitudinal_gradientshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Hotspotshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Evolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Evolutionary_diversificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Human_benefitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Human_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Business_and_industryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Leisure.2C_cultural_and_aesthetic_valuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Ecological_serviceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Number_of_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Species_loss_rateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Threatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Habitat_destructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Introduced_and_invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Overexploitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Hybridization.2C_genetic_pollution.2Ferosion_and_food_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Climate_changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Human_overpopulationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#The_Holocene_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Conservationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Protection_and_restoration_techniqueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Resource_allocationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Legal_statushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#National_level_lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Analytical_limitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Taxonomic_and_size_relationshipshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Documentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Videoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Toolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Training_materialhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#Resources


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Etymology

(he term 'iological diversity was used first 'y wildlife scientist and conservationist%aymond F$ @asmann in the / >D lay 'ook A Different Kind of Country [C] advocatingconservation$ (he term was widely adopted only after more than a decade, when in the

/ D7s it came into common usage in science and environmental policy$ (homas Aove2oy ,in the foreword to the 'ook Conservation Biology ,[D] introduced the term to the scientificcommunity$ ?ntil then the term Inatural diversityI was common, introduced 'y (he"cience @ivision of (he ature #onservancy in an important / C5 study, I(hePreservation of atural @iversity$I y the early / D7s ( #*s "cience program and itshead, %o'ert 1$ Jenkins, [ ] Aove2oy and other leading conservation scientists at the time inBmerica advocated the use of the term I'iological diversityI$

(he term*s contracted form biodiversity may have 'een coined 'y W$)$ %osen in / D5while planning the / D> National Forum on Biological Diversity organi3ed 'y the

ational %esearch #ouncil 4 %#8$ -t first appeared in a pu'lication in / DD when

socio'iologist 1$ .$ Wilson used it as the title of the proceedings[/7]

of that forum $[//]

"ince this period the term has achieved widespread use among 'iologists,environmentalists, political leaders, and concerned citi3ens$

B similar term in the ?nited "tates is Inatural heritage$I -t predates the others and is moreaccepted 'y the wider audience interested in conservation$ roader than 'iodiversity, itincludes geology and landforms$

Definitions

B sampling of fungi collected during summer 77D in orthern "askatchewan mi&edwoods, near Aa%onge is an e&ample regarding the species diversity of fungi$ -n this

photo, there are also leaf lichens and mosses $
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Lovejoyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nature_Conservancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Research_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Research_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceedingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceedingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fungi_of_Saskatchewan.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fungi_of_Saskatchewan.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Lovejoyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nature_Conservancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Research_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceedingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moss


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I iodiversityI is most commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and longesta'lished terms, species diversity and species richness $ iologists most often define

'iodiversity as the Itotality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a regionI$ [/ ][ /;] Bnadvantage of this definition is that it seems to descri'e most circumstances and presents aunified view of the traditional three levels at which 'iological variety has 'een identified:

species diversity ecosystem diversity genetic diversity

-n 77; Professor Bnthony #amp'ell at #ardiff ?niversity , ?K and the @arwin #entre,Pem'rokeshire , defined a fourth level: olecular @iversity $[/6]

(his multilevel construct is consistent with @asmann and Aove2oy$ Bn e&plicit definitionconsistent with this interpretation was first given in a paper 'y ruce B$ Wilco&commissioned 'y the -nternational ?nion for the #onservation of ature and atural

%esources 4-?# 8 for the / D World ational Parks #onference$[/5]

Wilco&*s definitionwas I iological diversity is the variety of life forms$$$at all levels of 'iological systems4i$e$, molecular, organismic, population, species and ecosystem8$$$I$ (he / ?nited

ations 1arth "ummit defined I'iological diversityI as Ithe varia'ility among livingorganisms from all sources, including, *inter alia*, terrestrial , marine , and other aGuaticecosystems , and the ecological comple&es of which they are part: this includes diversitywithin species, 'etween species and of ecosystemsI$ [/>] (his definition is used in the?nited ations #onvention on iological @iversity $[/>]

.ne te&t'ook*s definition is Ivariation of life at all levels of 'iological organi3ationI$ [/C]

)eneticists define it as the diversity of genes and organisms $ (hey study processes suchas mutations , gene transfer , and genome dynamics that generate evolution$ [/5]

easuring diversity at one level in a group of organisms may not precisely correspond todiversity at other levels$ !owever, tetrapod 4terrestrial verte'rates 8 ta&onomic andecological diversity shows a very close correlation$ [/D]

Distribution

B conifer forest in the "wiss Blps 4 ational Park 8$
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_richnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Larsson2001-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Davis-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembrokeshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_the_Conservation_of_Nature_and_Natural_Resourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_the_Conservation_of_Nature_and_Natural_Resourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_the_Conservation_of_Nature_and_Natural_Resourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-wilcox84-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrestrial_ecoregionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrestrial_ecoregionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_(ocean)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_(ocean)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_biologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_biologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hawksworth1996-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hawksworth1996-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneticisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneticisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-wilcox84-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrapodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Alpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_National_Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_National_Park_131.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_National_Park_131.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_richnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Larsson2001-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Davis-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembrokeshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_the_Conservation_of_Nature_and_Natural_Resourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_the_Conservation_of_Nature_and_Natural_Resourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-wilcox84-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrestrial_ecoregionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_(ocean)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_biologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_biologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hawksworth1996-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hawksworth1996-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneticisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-wilcox84-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrapodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Alpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_National_Park


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iodiversity is not evenly distri'uted, rather it varies greatly across the glo'e as well aswithin regions$ Bmong other factors, the diversity of all living things 4 'iota 8 depends ontemperature, precipitation, altitude, soils , geography and the presence of other species$(he study of the spatial distri'ution of organisms , species, and ecosystems , is the scienceof 'iogeography $

@iversity consistently measures higher in the tropics and in other locali3ed regions suchas the #ape Floristic %egion and lower in polar regions generally$ %ain forests that havehad wet climates for a long time, such as asuni ational Park in 1cuador , have

particularly high 'iodiversity$ [/ ][ 7]

(errestrial 'iodiversity is up to 5 times greater than ocean 'iodiversity$ [ /] Blthough arecent discovered method put the total num'er of species on 1arth at D$C million of which$/ million were estimated to live in the ocean$ [ ]

Latitudinal gradients

ain article: Aatitudinal gradients in species diversity

)enerally, there is an increase in 'iodiversity from the poles to the tropics $ (hus localitiesat lower latitudes have more species than localities at higher latitudes$ (his is oftenreferred to as the latitudinal gradient in species diversity$ "everal ecological mechanismsmay contri'ute to the gradient, 'ut the ultimate factor 'ehind many of them is the greatermean temperature at the eGuator compared to that of the poles$ [ ;] [ 6][ 5]

1ven though terrestrial 'iodiversity declines from the eGuator to the poles, [ >] somestudies claim that this characteristic is unverified in aGuatic ecosystems , especially in

marine ecosystems $[ C]

(he latitudinal distri'ution of parasites does not follow this rule$[ D]

Hotspots

B 'iodiversity hotspot is a region with a high level of endemic species that is under threatfrom humans$ (he term hotspot was introduced in / DD 'y @r$ "a'ina Hirk $[ ] [;7][ ;/] [; ] While hotspots are spread all over the world, the ma2ority are forest areas and most arelocated in the tropics $

ra3il *s Btlantic Forest is considered one such hotspot, containing roughly 7,777 plantspecies, /,;57 verte'rates, and millions of insects, a'out half of which occur nowhere

else$ (he island of adagascar , particularly the uniGue adagascar dry deciduous forestsand lowland rainforests, possess a high ratio of endemism $ "ince the island separatedfrom mainland Bfrica >5 million years ago, many species and ecosystems have evolvedindependently$ -ndonesia *s /C,777 islands cover C;5,;55 sGuare miles 4/, 76,5>7 km 8contain /70 of the world*s flowering plants, / 0 of mammals and /C0 of reptiles ,amphi'ians and 'irds 9along with nearly 67 million people$ [;;] any regions of high

'iodiversity andEor endemism arise from speciali3ed ha'itats which reGuire unusual
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biota_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Floristic_Regionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuni_National_Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuni_National_Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-dotearth-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-journal.pone.0008767-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Moraplos-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitudinal_gradients_in_species_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitudeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-MoraRobertson2003-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ecosystemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ecosystemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_ecosystemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-MorandKrasnov2010-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabina_Virk&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabina_Virk&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabina_Virk&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-McKee2004-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_dry_deciduous_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_dry_deciduous_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biota_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Floristic_Regionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuni_National_Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-dotearth-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-journal.pone.0008767-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Moraplos-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitudinal_gradients_in_species_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitudeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-MoraRobertson2003-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ecosystemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_ecosystemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-MorandKrasnov2010-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabina_Virk&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-McKee2004-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_dry_deciduous_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat


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adaptations, for e&ample alpine environments in high mountains , or orthern 1uropean peat 'ogs $

Bccurately measuring differences in 'iodiversity can 'e difficult$ "election 'ias amongstresearchers may contri'ute to 'iased empirical research for modern estimates of

'iodiversity$ -n /C>D %ev$ )il'ert White succinctly o'served of his "el'orne, !ampshire Iall nature is so full, that that district produces the most variety which is the moste&amined$I[;6]

Evolutionain article: 1volution

Bpparent marine fossil diversity during the Phanero3oic [;5]

iodiversity is the result of ;$5 'illion years of evolution $ (he origin of life has not 'eendefinitely esta'lished 'y science, however some evidence suggests that life may alreadyhave 'een well+esta'lished only a few hundred million years after the formation of the1arth $ ?ntil appro&imately >77 million years ago, all life consisted of archaea , 'acteria ,

proto3oans and similar single+celled organisms $

(he history of 'iodiversity during the Phanero3oic 4the last 567 million years8, starts withrapid growth during the #am'rian e&plosion 9a period during which nearly every

phylum of multicellular organisms first appeared$ .ver the ne&t 677 million years or so,inverte'rate diversity showed little overall trend, and verte'rate diversity shows anoverall e&ponential trend$ [/D] (his dramatic rise in diversity was marked 'y periodic,massive losses of diversity classified as mass e&tinction events$[/D] B significant lossoccurred when rainforests collapsed in the car'oniferous$ [;] (he worst was the Permo+(riassic e&tinction, 5/ million years ago$ Herte'rates took ;7 million years to recoverfrom this event$ [6]

(he fossil record suggests that the last few million years featured the greatest 'iodiversityin history $[/D] !owever, not all scientists support this view, since there is uncertainty as tohow strongly the fossil record is 'iased 'y the greater availa'ility and preservation ofrecent geologic sections$ "ome scientists 'elieve that corrected for sampling artifacts,modern 'iodiversity may not 'e much different from 'iodiversity ;77 million years ago$,[;>] whereas others consider the fossil record reasona'ly reflective of the diversification oflife$[/D] 1stimates of the present glo'al macroscopic species diversity vary from million
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selection_biashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selection_biashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selbornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selbornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-34http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Rosing2010-35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protozoanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-celled_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phanerozoichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrian_explosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylum_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicellular_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicellular_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-SahneyBentonFerry2010RainforestCollapse-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-SahneyBenton2008RecoveryFromProfoundExtinction-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_recordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_recordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phanerozoic_Biodiversity.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phanerozoic_Biodiversity.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selection_biashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selbornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-34http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Rosing2010-35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protozoanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-celled_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phanerozoichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrian_explosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylum_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicellular_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-SahneyBentonFerry2010RainforestCollapse-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-SahneyBenton2008RecoveryFromProfoundExtinction-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_recordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Sahney.2C_S._2010-18


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to /77 million, with a 'est estimate of somewhere near million, [ ] the vast ma2orityarthropods $[;C] @iversity appears to increase continually in the a'sence of naturalselection$[;D]

Evolutionary diversification

(he e&istence of a Iglo'al carrying capacityI, limiting the amount of life that can live atonce, is de'ated, as is the Guestion of whether such a limit would also cap the num'er ofspecies$ While records of life in the sea shows a logistic pattern of growth, life on land4insects, plants and tetrapods8shows an e&ponential rise in diversity$ Bs one author states,I(etrapods have not yet invaded >6 per cent of potentially ha'ita'le modes, and it could

'e that without human influence the ecological and ta&onomic diversity of tetrapodswould continue to increase in an e&ponential fashion until most or all of the availa'leecospace is filled$I [/D]

.n the other hand, changes through the Phanero3oic correlate much 'etter with the

hyper'olic model 4widely used in population 'iology , demography and macrosociology , as well as fossil 'iodiversity8 than with e&ponential and logistic models$ (he lattermodels imply that changes in diversity are guided 'y a first+order positive feed'ack 4more ancestors, more descendants8 andEor a negative feed'ack arising from resourcelimitation$ !yper'olic model implies a second+order positive feed'ack$ (he hyper'olic

pattern of the world population growth arises from a second+order positive feed'ack 'etween the population si3e and the rate of technological growth$ [; ] (he hyper'oliccharacter of 'iodiversity growth can 'e similarly accounted for 'y a feed'ack 'etweendiversity and community structure comple&ity$ (he similarity 'etween the curves of

'iodiversity and human population pro'a'ly comes from the fact that 'oth are derivedfrom the interference of the hyper'olic trend with cyclical and stochastic dynamics$[; ] [67]

ost 'iologists agree however that the period since human emergence is part of a newmass e&tinction, named the !olocene e&tinction event , caused primarily 'y the impacthumans are having on the environment$ [6/] -t has 'een argued that the present rate ofe&tinction is sufficient to eliminate most species on the planet 1arth within /77 years$ [6 ]

ew species are regularly discovered 4on average 'etween 5


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Human benefits

"ummer field in elgium 4!amois8$ (he 'lue flowers are Centaurea cyanus and the redare Papaver rhoeas $

iodiversity supports ecosystem services including air Guality, [6;] climate 4e$g$,#. seGuestration8, water purification, pollination , and prevention of erosion $[6;]

"ince the stone age , species loss has accelerated a'ove the prior rate, driven 'y humanactivity$ 1stimates of species loss are at a rate /77+/7,777 times as fast as is typical in thefossil record$ [66]

on+material 'enefits include spiritual and aesthetic values, knowledge systems and thevalue of education$ [66]

griculture

"ee also: Bgricultural 'iodiversity

Bma3on %ainforest in "outh Bmerica

#rop diversity aids recovery when the dominant cultivar is attacked 'y a disease or predator:

(he -rish potato 'light of /D6> was a ma2or factor in the deaths of one million people and the emigration of another million$ -t was the result of planting onlytwo potato varieties, 'oth vulnera'le to the 'light$ [citation needed ]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurea_cyanushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaver_rhoeashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-nature.com-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-nature.com-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hassan2005-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hassan2005-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Rainforesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_(Ireland)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amazon_Manaus_forest.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amazon_Manaus_forest.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Field_Hamois_Belgium_Luc_Viatour.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Field_Hamois_Belgium_Luc_Viatour.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurea_cyanushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaver_rhoeashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-nature.com-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-nature.com-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hassan2005-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Hassan2005-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Rainforesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_(Ireland)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed


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When rice grassy stunt virus struck rice fields from -ndonesia to -ndia in the/ C7s, >, C; varieties were tested for resistance$ [65] .nly one was resistant, an-ndian variety, and known to science only since / >> $[65] (his variety formed ahy'rid with other varieties and is now widely grown$ [65]

#offee rust attacked coffee plantations in "ri Aanka, ra3il, and #entral Bmerica

in / C7$ B resistant variety was found in 1thiopia$[6>]

Blthough the diseases arethemselves a form of 'iodiversity$

onoculture was a contri'uting factor to several agricultural disasters, including the1uropean wine industry collapse in the late / th century, and the ?" "outhern #orn Aeaflight epidemic of / C7$ [6C]

Blthough a'out D7 percent of humans* food supply comes from 2ust 7 kinds of plants,[citation needed ] humans use at least 67,777 species$ [citation needed ] any people depend on thesespecies for food, shelter, and clothing$ [citation needed ] 1arth*s surviving 'iodiversity providesresources for increasing the range of food and other products suita'le for human use,

although the present e&tinction rate shrinks that potential$[6 ]

Hu!an health

(he diverse forest canopy on arro #olorado -sland , Panama, yielded this display ofdifferent fruit

iodiversity*s relevance to human health is 'ecoming an international political issue, as

scientific evidence 'uilds on the glo'al health implications of 'iodiversity loss$[6D][6 ][ 57]

(his issue is closely linked with the issue of climate change, [5/] as many of the anticipatedhealth risks of climate change are associated with changes in 'iodiversity 4e$g$ changes in

populations and distri'ution of disease vectors, scarcity of fresh water, impacts onagricultural 'iodiversity and food resources etc$8 (his is 'ecause the species most likelyto disappear are those that 'uffer against infectious disease transmission, while survivingspecies tend to 'e the ones that increase disease transmission, such as that of West ileHirus, Ayme disease and !antavirus, according to a study done co+authored 'y Felicia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_grassy_stunt_virushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_rusthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxy_corn#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxy_corn#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxy_corn#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Wilson2002-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barro_Colorado_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-biodiversity1-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Forest_fruits_from_Barro_Colorado.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Forest_fruits_from_Barro_Colorado.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_grassy_stunt_virushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-RGSV-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_rusthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxy_corn#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxy_corn#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-Wilson2002-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barro_Colorado_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-biodiversity1-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-51


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Keesing, an ecologist at ard #ollege, and @rew !arvell, associate director for1nvironment of the Btkinson #enter for a "ustaina'le Future 4B#"F8 at #ornell?niversity $[5 ]

(he growing demand and lack of drinka'le water on the planet presents an additional

challenge to the future of human health$ Partly, the pro'lem lies in the success of watersuppliers to increase supplies, and failure of groups promoting preservation of waterresources$[5;] While the distri'ution of clean water increases, in some parts of the world itremains uneGual$ Bccording to 200 !orld Population Data "heet , only > 0 of leastdeveloped countries are a'le to access clean water$ [56]

"ome of the health issues influenced 'y 'iodiversity include dietary health and nutritionsecurity, infectious disease, medical science and medicinal resources, social and

psychological health$ [55] iodiversity is also known to have an important role in reducingdisaster risk, and in post+disaster relief and recovery efforts$ [5>][5C]

iodiversity provides critical support for drug discovery and the availa'ility of medicinalresources$[5D] B significant proportion of drugs are derived, directly or indirectly, from 'iological sources: at least 570 of the pharmaceutical compounds on the ?" market arederived from plants, animals, and micro+organisms , while a'out D70 of the world

population depends on medicines from nature 4used in either modern or traditionalmedical practice8 for primary healthcare$ [6 ] .nly a tiny fraction of wild species has 'eeninvestigated for medical potential$ iodiversity has 'een critical to advances throughoutthe field of 'ionics $ 1vidence from market analysis and 'iodiversity science indicates thatthe decline in output from the pharmaceutical sector since the mid+/ D7s can 'eattri'uted to a move away from natural product e&ploration 4I'ioprospectingI8 in favor ofgenomics and synthetic chemistry= meanwhile, natural products have a long history of

supporting significant economic and health innovation $[5 ][ >7]

arine ecosystems are particularly important, [>/] although inappropriate 'ioprospecting can increase 'iodiversityloss, as well as violating the laws of the communities and states from which the resourcesare taken$[> ][ >;] [>6]

Business and industry

Bgriculture production, pictured is a tractor and a chaser 'in

any industrial materials derive directly from 'iological sources$ (hese include 'uildingmaterials, fi'ers, dyes, ru''er and oil$ iodiversity is also important to the security of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkinson_Center_for_a_Sustainable_Futurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkinson_Center_for_a_Sustainable_Futurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-55http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-56http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-57http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-58http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-organismshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-organismshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-biodiversity1-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-59http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-59http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-60http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-61http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioprospectinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioprospectinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-62http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-63http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-64http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaser_binhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ueberladewagen_%28jha%29.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ueberladewagen_%28jha%29.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkinson_Center_for_a_Sustainable_Futurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-55http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-56http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-57http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-58http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-organismshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-biodiversity1-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-59http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-60http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-61http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioprospectinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-62http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-63http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-64http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaser_bin


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resources such as water, tim'er, paper, fi'er, and food$ [>5][>>][>C] Bs a result, 'iodiversityloss is a significant risk factor in 'usiness development and a threat to long termeconomic sustaina'ility$ [>D][> ]

Leisure" cultural and aesthetic value

iodiversity enriches leisure activities such as hiking , 'irdwatching or natural historystudy$ iodiversity inspires musicians , painters, sculptors, writers and other artists$ anycultures view themselves as an integral part of the natural world which reGuires them torespect other living organisms$

Popular activities such as gardening , fishkeeping and specimen collecting stronglydepend on 'iodiversity$ (he num'er of species involved in such pursuits is in the tens ofthousands, though the ma2ority do not enter commerce$

(he relationships 'etween the original natural areas of these often e&otic animals and

plants and commercial collectors, suppliers, 'reeders, propagators and those who promote their understanding and en2oyment are comple& and poorly understood$ (hegeneral pu'lic responds well to e&posure to rare and unusual organisms, reflecting theirinherent value$

Philosophically it could 'e argued that 'iodiversity has intrinsic aesthetic and spiritualvalue to mankind in and of itself $ (his idea can 'e used as a counterweight to the notionthat tropical forests and other ecological realms are only worthy of conservation 'ecauseof the services they provide$ [citation needed ]

Ecological services

"ee also: 1cological effects of 'iodiversity

1agle #reek , .regon hiking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-65http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-66http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-67http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-68http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-69http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdwatchinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardeninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishkeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_effects_of_biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Creek_(Multnomah_County,_Oregon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eaglecreek-28July2006.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eaglecreek-28July2006.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-65http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-66http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-67http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-68http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-69http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdwatchinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardeninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishkeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_effects_of_biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Creek_(Multnomah_County,_Oregon)


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iodiversity supports many ecosystem services that are often not readily visi'le$ -t playsa part in regulating the chemistry of our atmosphere and water supply $ iodiversity isdirectly involved in water purification , recycling nutrients and providing fertile soils$1&periments with controlled environments have shown that humans cannot easily 'uildecosystems to support human needs= for e&ample insect pollination cannot 'e mimicked,

and that activity alone represents tens of 'illions of dollars in ecosystem services per yearto humankind$ [citation needed ]

@aisyworld simulations, supported 'y evidence from scientific studies, has proven the positive co+relation of 'iodiversity with ecosystem sta'ility , protecting against disruption 'y e&treme weather or human e&ploitation $[C7]

Number of speciesain article: "pecies

?ndiscovered and discovered species

Bccording to the )lo'al (a&onomy -nitiative [C/] and the 1uropean @istri'uted -nstitute of(a&onomy, the total num'er of species for some phyla may 'e much higher than whatwas known in 7/7:

/7


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(he num'er of micro'ial species is not relia'ly known, 'ut the )lo'al .cean"ampling 1&pedition dramatically increased the estimates of genetic diversity 'yidentifying an enormous num'er of new genes from near+surface plankton samples at various marine locations, initially over the 776+ 77> period$ [CC] (hefindings may eventually cause a significant change in the way science defines

species and other ta&onomic categories$[CD][C ]

"ince the rate of e&tinction has increased, many e&tant species may 'ecome e&tinct 'efore they are descri'ed$ [D7]

Species loss rates

# o longer do we have to 2ustify the e&istence of humid tropical forests on thefee'le grounds that they might carry plants with drugs that cure human disease$)aia theory forces us to see that they offer much more than this$ (hrough theircapacity to evapotranspirate vast volumes of water vapor, they serve to keep the

planet cool 'y wearing a sunshade of white reflecting cloud$ (heir replacement 'y cropland could precipitate a disaster that is glo'al in scale$ $

9 James Aovelock # in Biodiversity 41$ .$ Wilson $%d&&[D/]

@uring the last century, decreases in 'iodiversity have 'een increasingly o'served$ -n77C, )erman Federal 1nvironment inister "igmar )a'riel cited estimates that up to;70 of all species will 'e e&tinct 'y 757$ [D ] .f these, a'out one eighth of known plantspecies are threatened with e&tinction$[D;] 1stimates reach as high as /67,777 species peryear 4'ased on "pecies+area theory 8$[D6] (his figure indicates unsustaina'le ecological

practices, 'ecause few species emerge each year$ [citation needed ] Blmost all scientists

acknowledge that the rate of species loss is greater now than at any time in humanhistory, with e&tinctions occurring at rates hundreds of times higher than 'ackgrounde&tinction rates$[D;] Bs of 7/ , some studies suggest that 50 of all mammal speciescould 'e e&tinct in 7 years$ [D5]

Threats

-n 77> many species were formally classified as rare or endangered or threatened =moreover, scientists have estimated that millions more species are at risk which have not

'een formally recogni3ed$ B'out 67 percent of the 67,/CC species assessed using the-?# %ed Aist criteria are now listed as threatened with e&tinction 9a total of />,// $[D>]

Jared @iamond descri'es an I1vil LuartetI of ha'itat destruction, overkill, introducedspecies, and secondary e&tinctions$ [DC] 1dward .$ Wilson prefers the acronym !-PP.,standing for ha'itat destruction, invasive species, pollution, human overpopulation, andover+harvesting$[DD][D ] (he most authoritative classification in use today is -?# *s#lassification of @irect (hreats [ 7] which has 'een adopted 'y ma2or international
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conservation organi3ations such as the ?" ature #onservancy , the World WildlifeFund , #onservation -nternational , and irdlife -nternational $

Habitat destruction

@eforestation and increased road+'uilding in the Bma3on %ainforest are a significant

concern 'ecause of increased human encroachment upon wild areas, increased resourcee&traction and further threats to 'iodiversity$ain article: !a'itat destruction

!a'itat destruction has played a key role in e&tinctions, especially related to tropicalforest destruction$[ /] Factors contri'uting to ha'itat loss are: overpopulation ,deforestation ,[ ] pollution 4air pollution , water pollution , soil contamination 8 and glo'alwarming or climate change$ [citation needed ]

!a'itat si3e and num'ers of species are systematically related$ Physically larger speciesand those living at lower latitudes or in forests or oceans are more sensitive to reduction

in ha'itat area$[ ;]

#onversion to ItrivialI standardi3ed ecosystems 4e$g$, monoculture following deforestation 8 effectively destroys ha'itat for the more diverse species that preceded the conversion$ -n some countries lack of property rights or la& lawEregulatoryenforcement necessarily leads to 'iodiversity loss 4degradation costs having to 'esupported 'y the community8$ [citation needed ]

B 77C study conducted 'y the ational "cience Foundation found that 'iodiversity andgenetic diversity are codependent9that diversity among species reGuires diversity withina species, and vice versa$ I-f any one type is removed from the system, the cycle can

'reak down, and the community 'ecomes dominated 'y a single species$I [ 6] Bt present,the most threatened ecosystems are found in fresh water , according to the illennium

1cosystem Bssessment 775, which was confirmed 'y the IFreshwater Bnimal @iversityBssessmentI, organised 'y the 'iodiversity platform , and the French -nstitut de recherche pour le dMveloppement 4 ! P8$ [ 5]

#o+e&tinctions are a form of ha'itat destruction$ #o+e&tinction occurs when the e&tinctionor decline in one accompanies the other, such as in plants and 'eetles$ [ >]

%ntroduced and invasive species
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_Conservancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_Conservancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wildlife_Fundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wildlife_Fundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdlife_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Rainforesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_destructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-91http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-91http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-92http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-92http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_contaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_contaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-93http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Foundationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-enn-94http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Ecosystem_Assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Ecosystem_Assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Ecosystem_Assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBIFhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_de_recherche_pour_le_d%C3%A9veloppementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_de_recherche_pour_le_d%C3%A9veloppementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-95http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-96http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amazonie_deforestation.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amazonie_deforestation.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_Conservancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wildlife_Fundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wildlife_Fundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdlife_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Rainforesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_destructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-91http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-92http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_contaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-93http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Foundationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-enn-94http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Ecosystem_Assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Ecosystem_Assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBIFhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_de_recherche_pour_le_d%C3%A9veloppementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_de_recherche_pour_le_d%C3%A9veloppementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-95http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-96


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ain articles: -ntroduced species and -nvasive species(his section does not cite any references or sources $ Please help improve thissection 'y adding citations to relia'le sources $ ?nsourced material may 'echallenged and removed $$'ay 20((&

ale )ophura nycthemera 4"ilver Pheasant 8, a native of 1ast Bsia that has 'eenintroduced into parts of 1urope for ornamental reasons

arriers such as large rivers , seas , oceans , mountains and deserts encourage diversity 'yena'ling independent evolution on either side of the 'arrier, via the process of allopatricspeciation $ (he term invasive species is applied to species that 'reach the natural 'arriersthat would normally keep them constrained$ Without 'arriers, such species occupy newterritory, often supplanting native species 'y occupying their niches, or 'y usingresources that would normally sustain native species$ "uch invasions can thereforesu'stantially reduce diversity$ !uman activities have freGuently 'een the cause ofinvasive species circumventing their 'arriers, 'y introducing them for food and other

purposes$ !uman activities therefore allow species to migrate to new areas 4and thus 'ecome invasive8 occurred on time scales much shorter than historically have 'eenreGuired for a species to e&tend its range$

ot all introduced species are invasive, nor all invasive species deli'erately introduced$-n cases such as the 3e'ra mussel , invasion of ?" waterways was unintentional$ -n othercases, such as mongooses in !awaii , the introduction is deli'erate 'ut ineffective4nocturnal rats were not vulnera'le to the diurnal mongoose8$ -n other cases, such as oil

palms in -ndonesia and alaysia, the introduction produces su'stantial economic 'enefits, 'ut the 'enefits are accompanied 'y costly unintended conseGuences $

Finally, an introduced species may unintentionally in2ure a species that depends on thespecies it replaces$ -n elgium , Prunus spinosa from 1astern 1urope leafs much soonerthan its West 1uropean counterparts, disrupting the feeding ha'its of the (hecla 'etulae

'utterfly 4which feeds on the leaves8$ -ntroducing new species often leaves endemic andother local species una'le to compete with the e&otic species and una'le to survive$ (hee&otic organisms may 'e predators , parasites , or may simply outcompete indigenousspecies for nutrients, water and light$

Bt present, several countries have already imported so many e&otic species, particularlyagricultural and ornamental plants, that their own indigenous faunaEflora may 'eoutnum'ered$
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduced_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing/1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Pheasanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopatric_speciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopatric_speciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_musselhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_musselhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnalityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_palmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_palmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecla_betulaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecla_betulaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Male_Silver_Pheasant.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Male_Silver_Pheasant.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduced_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing/1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Pheasanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopatric_speciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopatric_speciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_musselhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnalityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_palmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_palmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecla_betulaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite


18/34

&enetic pollution

ain article: )enetic pollution

1ndemic species can 'e threatened with e&tinction[ C] through the process of genetic

pollution , i$e$ uncontrolled hy'ridi3ation , introgression and genetic swamping$ )enetic pollution leads to homogeni3ation or replacement of local genomes as a result of either anumerical andEor fitness advantage of an introduced species$ [ D] !y'ridi3ation andintrogression are side+effects of introduction and invasion$ (hese phenomena can 'eespecially detrimental to rare species that come into contact with more a'undant ones$(he a'undant species can inter'reed with the rare species, swamping its gene pool $ (his

pro'lem is not always apparent from morphological 4outward appearance8 o'servationsalone$ "ome degree of gene flow is normal adaptation, and not all gene and genotype constellations can 'e preserved$ !owever, hy'ridi3ation with or without introgressionmay, nevertheless, threaten a rare species* e&istence$ [ ][ /77]

'vere(ploitationain article: .vere&ploitation

.vere&ploitation occurs when a resource is consumed at an unsustaina'le rate$ (hisoccurs on land in the form of overhunting , e&cessive logging , poor soil conservation inagriculture and the illegal wildlife trade $ Joe Walston, director of the Wildlife#onservation "ociety*s Bsian programs, called the latter the Isingle largest threatI to

'iodiversity in Bsia$ [/7/] (he international trade of endangered species is second in si3eonly to drug trafficking$ [/7 ]

B'out 50 of world fisheries are now overfished to the point where their current 'iomassis less than the level that ma&imi3es their sustaina'le yield$ [/7;]

(he overkill hypothesis e&plains why earlier megafaunal e&tinctions occurred within arelatively short period of time$ (his can 'e connected with human migration $[/76]

Hybridi)ation" genetic pollution/erosion and food security

(he ecoro wheat 4right8cultivar is sensitive to salinity, plants resulting from a hy'ridcross with cultivar W6 /7 4left8 show greater tolerance to high salinity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-97http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-97http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introgressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introgressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genomeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genomeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genomeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-98http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_poolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_flowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genotypehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genotypehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-99http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-100http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overexploitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overhuntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overhuntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logginghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_conservationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_tradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_tradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-101http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-102http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-103http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overkill_hypothesishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overkill_hypothesishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megafaunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megafaunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_migrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_migrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-104http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wheat_selection_k10183-1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wheat_selection_k10183-1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-97http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introgressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genomeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-98http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_poolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_flowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genotypehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-99http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-100http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overexploitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overhuntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logginghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_conservationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_tradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-101http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-102http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-103http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overkill_hypothesishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megafaunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_migrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-104http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivar


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"ee also: Food "ecurity and )enetic erosion

-n agriculture and animal hus'andry , the )reen %evolution populari3ed the use ofconventional hy'ridi3ation to increase yield$ .ften hy'ridi3ed 'reeds originated indeveloped countries and were further hy'ridi3ed with local varieties in the developing

world to create high yield strains resistant to local climate and diseases$ Aocalgovernments and industry have 'een pushing hy'ridi3ation$ Formerly huge gene pools ofvarious wild and indigenous 'reeds have collapsed causing widespread genetic erosion and genetic pollution$ (his has resulted in loss of genetic diversity and 'iodiversity as awhole$[/75]

4) organisms8 have genetic material altered 'y genetic engineering procedures such asrecom'inant @ B technology $ ) crops have 'ecome a common source for genetic

pollution, not only of wild varieties 'ut also of domesticated varieties derived fromclassical hy'ridi3ation $[/7>][ /7C][ /7D][/7 ] [//7]

)enetic erosion coupled with genetic pollution may 'e destroying uniGue genotypes,there'y creating a hidden crisis which could result in a severe threat to our food security $@iverse genetic material could cease to e&ist which would impact our a'ility to furtherhy'ridi3e food crops and livestock against more resistant diseases and climatic changes$[/75]

Cli!ate change

ain article: 1ffect of climate change on plant 'iodiversity

Polar 'ears on the sea ice of the Brctic .cean , near the orth Pole $ #limate change hasstarted affecting 'ear populations$

)lo'al warming is also considered to 'e a ma2or threat to glo'al 'iodiversity$ [///] Fore&ample coral reefs +which are 'iodiversity hotspots+ will 'e lost in 7 to 67 years ifglo'al warming continues at the current trend $[// ]

-n 776, an international colla'orative study on four continents estimated that /7 percentof species would 'ecome e&tinct 'y 757 'ecause of glo'al warming$ IWe need to limitclimate change or we wind up with a lot of species in trou'le, possi'ly e&tinct,I said @r$Aee !annah, a co+author of the paper and chief climate change 'iologist at the #enter forBpplied iodiversity "cience at #onservation -nternational$ [//;]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-bulletin28-105http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recombinant_DNA_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recombinant_DNA_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-106http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-106http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-107http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-108http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-109http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-110http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-bulletin28-105http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_climate_change_on_plant_biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Polehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-111http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-112http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-112http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-113http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_bears_near_north_pole.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_bears_near_north_pole.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-bulletin28-105http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recombinant_DNA_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-106http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-107http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-108http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-109http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-110http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-bulletin28-105http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_climate_change_on_plant_biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Polehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-111http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-112http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity#cite_note-113


20/34

Hu!an overpopulation

From / 57 to 7//, world population increased from $5 'illion to C 'illion and isforecast to reach a plateau of more than 'illion during the /st century$ [//6] "ir @avidKing , former chief scientific adviser to the ?K government, told a parliamentary inGuiry:

I-t is self+evident that the massive growth in the human population through the 7thcentury has had more impact on 'iodiversity than any other single factor$I [//5] [//>]

The Holocene extinctionain article: !olocene e&tinction

%ates of decline in 'iodiversity in this si&th mass e&tinction match or e&ceed rates of lossin the five previous mass e&tinction events in the fossil record $[//C][ //D][ // ][ / 7][ / /] Aoss of

'iodiversity results in the loss of natural capital that supplies ecosystem goods andservices $ From the perspective of the method known as atural 1conomy the economicvalue of /C ecosystem services for 1arth*s 'iosphere 4calculated in / C8 has anestimated value of ?"N ;; trillion 4;$;&/7 /; 8 per year$[/ ]

Conservationain