Importance of Biodiversity to Ecosystems
Biodiversity is vital in maintaining viable ecosystems. Without it, there would be no control over population within the area, no ability for species to adapt to changing effects, and the low possibility for species to evolve.
CONTROL OF ENVIRONMENT
Naturally, animals in their environment try to sustain a balance of species so none would overpopulate, nor under populate. This is done when animals of a specific species located higher on the food chain would kill those lower in the chain and so on. For example, snow leopards. Being the top predator in its region, snow leopards are keystone species that control the population of ungulate animals that are found in their ecosystem. The overpopulation of animals can cause the loss of the species below it and the under population of animals can cause an extreme abundance of the species below it, destroying the balance within the ecosystem. For example, if the area in which the cheetah inhibits increases in the population of gazelles, one of its main foods, the amount of cheetahs in that area would increase despite the fact that they don’t live in groups. Nevertheless, if the amount of gazelles were to dramatically decrease, some cheetahs would emigrate while others compete for the territory as they know they can’t all stay. With this, they ensure there is a good symbiotic relationship between the predator and the prey within the ecosystem.
INABILITY TO ADAPT
Other than genetic diversity, species diversity allows environmental changes to occur without affecting the ecosystem from things like diseases and drought. Since each species can survive certain circumstances while others die, it allows animals that do survive to have the possibility of another prey/predator relationship so they won’t be extinct too due to lack of food. For example, if a disease broke out within the deer population in the otter and jaguars’ ecosystem but the two weren’t affected, jaguars have a possibility to still live if they adapt to otters as a food replacement for the meat they use to receive from deer (since they’re carnivores).
NO EVOLUTION FOR SURVIVAL
With no biodiversity and genetic variation, species cannot evolve. Species overtime don’t adapt to one set of characteristics, but instead evolve and differentiate via mutation of the DNA or sexual reproduction. This becomes useful when unfortunate events, such as plagues or the increase in mortality of certain species occurs, leaving a few different types of species. With any chance, the endangerment of the species can be avoided if two somewhat similar, yet different animals sexually reproduce creating a new type of specie with partial traits from both parents. Take the lion and the tiger for instance. With the help of zookeepers, the two different cats in the same family were able to reproduce and form a new species of cats called a liger.