biodiverse

Biodiverse is an adjective describing an area, ecosystem, or community that exhibits a high level of biodiversity—the variety and variability of life in a place. Biodiversity includes genetic diversity within species, species richness and abundance, and ecosystem diversity. A biodiverse area typically contains many species, complex ecological interactions, and a range of habitats that support resilience and adaptability.

Ecologists assess biodiversity using measures such as species richness, evenness, and indices like Shannon or Simpson. Genetic diversity is evaluated through allele diversity and population structure, while ecosystem diversity considers the variety and condition of habitat types and their connections. Biodiversity is not evenly distributed and often varies with geography, climate, and disturbance history.

Biodiverse systems provide a wide array of ecosystem services, including provisioning resources (food, medicine), regulating services (climate moderation, flood control, disease suppression), supporting services (pollination, nutrient cycling), and cultural or recreational values. They are typically more resilient to environmental changes due to redundancy and adaptive capacity.

Threats to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. Conservation and sustainable management aim to maintain or restore biodiverse conditions through protected areas, habitat restoration, sustainable land-use practices, ecological corridors, and careful monitoring. Biodiversity assessments inform policy, land planning, and conservation priorities, helping to safeguard the variety of life that underpins ecosystem health and human well-being.