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MODULE 8 Introduction to Biodiversity MODULE 11 Ecological Tolerance MODULE 13 Adaptations
MODULE 9 Ecosystem Services MODULE 12 Natural Disruptions to MODULE 14 Ecological Succession
MODULE 10 Island Biogeography Ecosystems

CASE STUDY

The Benefits of Biodiversity

Biodiversity , a combination of the ecosystem with higher species diver- species and ecosystem productivity
words “biological” and “diversity,” is sity can recover more quickly when rain from 600,000 sample locations around
the diversity of life forms in an envi- falls and the drought ends compared the world. Across terrestrial, freshwater,
ronment. You may have heard people to an ecosystem that has low spe- and marine biomes, they found that
talking about the importance of bio- cies diversity. While these results have sites with more species did indeed
diversity, but why should we preserve been encouraging, critics have pointed have higher productivity, which was
it around the world? We have long out that because most experiments consistent with the results of the ear-
appreciated that species in nature lier experiments. In addition, when the
provide benefits to humans including We have learned that researchers considered how variation
food, fiber, lumber, and medicines. in climatic conditions and available
We also know that collections of spe- biodiversity is critical to nutrients affected the productivity of
cies in ecosystems provide primary the proper functioning of these ecosystems, they found that bio-
productivity in the land and water, the ecosystems. diversity was a more important factor
production of clean water, and buffers than climate in half of the studies and
against natural disasters. The question a more important factor than nutrients
is, do the important benefits provided contain many fewer species than in two-thirds of the studies. In short, we
by these ecosystems critically depend actually exist in nature, we cannot be have learned that biodiversity is critical
on maintaining the biodiversity that has sure that the results apply to nature. to the proper functioning of ecosys-
historically existed, or can we enjoy the It is also possible that the productivity tems. Such conclusions make it clear
same benefits even when biodiversity of natural ecosystems is much more that we need to protect Earth’s bio-
declines due to human activities? affected by variation in climatic con- diversity so that we can continue to
For more than three decades, sci- ditions and available nutrients than by enjoy the many benefits that it provides.
entists have debated whether greater the number of species in the food web.
biodiversity provides greater ecosys- If so, the positive results of biodiversity Sources: E. Duffy et al., Biodiversity effects
tem benefits. Researchers conducting in experiments may be trivial in the nat- in the world are common and as strong
experiments in aquatic and terrestrial ural world compared to the effects of as key drivers of productivity, Nature 549
ecosystems have commonly found climate and nutrients. (2017): 261–264; D. Obura, New global
that food webs with a greater num- To determine whether having higher biodiversity goals must take these key
ber of species have a higher overall biodiversity matters in nature, we can lessons into account, The Conversation ,
productivity. The ecosystems are also examine whether natural sites with a August 16, 2021.
more stable whenever the abiotic envi- higher number of species function bet-
ronment changes. For example, during ter in terms of productivity. Research-
a drought an ecosystem may experi- ers recently compiled data from 67 Biodiversity The diversity of life forms
in an environment.

ence lower productivity. However, an studies that measured the number of

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