The term biodiversity is used to refer to different types of organisms present in an area. This term includes animals, plants, fungi and other organisms. In essence, biodiversity includes all organisms, from very tall plants to microscopic organisms that can only be perceived with the help of powerful microscopes (National Geographic Society). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There is a special connection between all organisms on this planet. Forests are a home for many animals and the plants within these forests also provide them with food. On the other hand, plants need soil with sufficient nutrients to grow. Fungi break down organisms and release nutrients into the soil, making it fertile. Insects such as bees facilitate reproduction in plants by carrying pollen from one plant to another (National Geographic Society). If biodiversity declines, the shared connection between organisms weakens, harming organisms in a given ecosystem. An ecosystem with rich diversity is stronger and more resistant to adversity than one with a smaller variety of organisms. Additionally, a diverse ecosystem helps humans in various ways, such as using oxygen, building materials, medicine, food, and shelter. There are three ways that scientists can use to get a measure of biodiversity in a given ecosystem. One way would be to obtain the total count of all species present in a given environment. Tropical areas are bound to have the highest proportion of diverse organisms as they are warm all year round. Temperate areas are bound to have less diversity due to the presence of a cold winter and a hot summer. Second, a measure of biodiversity can be obtained by examining the species widespread within a given location. For example, the floristic area of South Africa has more than 6,200 different species of plants that do not exist elsewhere (National Geographic Society). Regions consisting of a large variety of prevalent species are known as biodiversity hotspots. Furthermore, a measure of biodiversity can be obtained by evaluating ecosystems. This process involves examining the communities in which organisms are clustered and the environment in which these clusters are found (National Wildlife Federation). Finally, biodiversity can be enumerated by examining genetic multiplicity. Genes are the building blocks of organisms. Diversity is decreasing due to extinction. Extinction can be defined as the process by which some organisms die while new ones undergo evolution. Currently, organisms are facing extinction due to human activities such as habitat degradation, overexploitation, and the prevalence of diseases (National Geographic Society). Other activities indirectly cause species extinction such as pollution and climate change. As a result, countries such as the United States have enacted the Endangered Species Act which is intended to protect species in danger of extinction due to human activities. Enforcement of this law will likely cause a decline in the sale of some rare mushrooms that are a delicacy in high-end hotels. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay based on on the map of life, a measurement of the diversity of the montana region of america provides some interesting insights into the diversity of organisms. In the area of..
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