Species diversity is the number of different species that are represented in a given community (a

dataset).

Species diversity consists of three components: species richness, taxonomic or phylogenetic

diversity and species evenness. Species richness is a simple count of species, taxonomic or
phylogenetic diversity is the genetic relationship between different groups of species,whereas
species evenness quantifies how equal the abundances of the species are.

Species diversity is a measurement of an ecosystem’s species richness and species

evenness. If an ecosystem has poor species diversity, it may not function properly or
efficiently. A diverse species assemblage also contributes to ecosystem diversity.

Species Richness
Species richness is the number of different species an ecosystem. Environments that
can support large numbers of species, such as tropical areas, tend to have greater
species richness.

Species Evenness
The Encyclopedia of Earth defines species evenness as “the variation in the
abundance of individuals per species within a community.” If a community has a large
disparity between the number of individuals within each species it has low evenness. If
the number of individuals within a species is fairly constant throughout the community
it has a high evenness. If community A has 10 individuals divided between two
species, but species 1 represents nine individuals, while species 2 has only one, then
community A has a low evenness and lower species diversity. If community B has ten
individuals divided between two species, with species 1 having four individuals and
species 2 having six, then community B has high evenness and higher species
diversity. The more even the number of animals per species within an ecosystem, the
greater the species diversity.

Species diversity is only one part of biodiversity.

genetic diversity that exists within species, as well as the diversity of entire habitats and
ecosystems.

Genetic biodiversity is the variation in genes that exists within a species.

Ecological biodiversity is the diversity of ecosystems, natural communities, and habitats. In

essence, it’s the variety of ways that species interact with each other and their environment.

Facts on Biodiversity
Researchers have estimated that there are between 3 and 30 million species
on Earth, with a few studies predicting that there may be more than 100
million species on Earth. Currently we have identified only 1.7 million species,
so we have a long way to go before we can come close to figuring out exactly
how many species are on Earth.

There is more biodiversity within tropical ecosystems than temperate or boreal

ecosystems. In fact, tropical rain forests have the most diversity. The most
diverse group of animals are invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without
backbones, including insects, crustaceans, sponges, scorpions, and many
other kinds of organisms. Over half of all the animals already identified are
invertebrates. Of these, beetles are some of the most numerous species.

Biodiversity's Importance
Biodiversity is extremely important to people and the health of ecosystems.
Biodiversity allows us to live healthy and happy lives. It provides us with an
array of foods and materials, and it contributes to the economy. Without a
diversity of pollinators, plants, and soils, our supermarkets would have a lot
less produce.

Most medical discoveries to cure diseases and lengthen life spans were made
because of research into plant and animal biology and genetics. Every time a
species goes extinct or genetic diversity is lost, we will never know whether
research would have given us a new vaccine or drug.

Biodiversity is also an important part of ecological services that make life

livable on Earth. They include everything from cleaning water and absorbing
chemicals, which wetlands do, to providing oxygen for us to breathe—one of
the many things that plants do for people.

Biodiversity allows for ecosystems to adjust to disturbances like fires and

floods. Genetic diversity even prevents diseases and helps species adjust to
changes in their environment.
Threats to Biodiversity
Extinction is a natural part of life on Earth. Over the history of the planet, most
of the species that ever existed evolved and then gradually went extinct.
Species go extinct because of natural shifts in the environment that take place
over long periods of time, such as ice ages.

Today species are going extinct at an accelerated and dangerous rate

because of non-natural environmental changes caused by human activities.
Some of the activities have direct effects on species and ecosystems, such
as habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation (such as overfishing), and
the spread of non-native species and diseases. Some human activities have
indirect but wide-reaching effects on biodiversity as well, including climate
change and pollution.

All of these threats have put a serious strain on the diversity of species on
Earth. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
globally about one third of all known species are threatened with extinction.
That includes 29 percent of all amphibians, 21 percent of all mammals, and 12
percent of all birds. If we do not stop the threats to biodiversity, we could be
facing another mass extinction with dire consequences to the environment,
and human health and livelihood.

Ecoregions
Ecoregions are areas that have similar climate, geology, and soils. These
abiotic (non-biological) factors determine what plants and animals can live in
the ecosystem. Even though two places might be far apart, if they are part of
the same ecoregion, we can predict they will have similar species.

For example, a mixed deciduous-coniferous forest in Maine will have similar

plants and animals to a mixed deciduous-coniferous forest in Minnesota. By
using an ecoregion map, we can gain a lot of clues into the ecology of
different places in the United States and the world.
Greater biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and individuals leads to greater stability. For
example, species with high genetic diversity and many populations that are adapted to a wide
variety of conditions are more likely to be able to weather disturbances, disease, and climate
change. Greater biodiversity also enriches us with more varieties of foods and medicines.

Species diversity is determined not only by the number of species within a

biological community—i.e., species richness—but also by the relative
abundance of individuals in that community. Species abundance is the
number of individuals per species, and relative abundance refers to the
evenness of distribution of individuals among species in a community.
Two communities may be equally rich in species but differ in relative
abundance. For example, each community may contain 5 species and 300
individuals, but in one community all species are equally common (e.g., 60
individuals of each species), while in the second community one species
significantly outnumbers the other four.

Global gradients also affect species richness. The most obvious gradient
is latitudinal: there are more species in the tropics than in the temperate or
polar zones. Ecological factors commonly are used to account for this
gradation. Higher temperatures, greater climate predictability, and longer
growing seasons all conspire to create a more inviting habitat, permitting a
greater diversity of species. Tropical rainforests are the richest habitat of all,
tropical grasslands exhibit more diversity than temperate grasslands, and
deserts in tropical or subtropical regions are populated by a wider range of
species than are temperate deserts.

Another factor affecting the species richness of a given area is the distance or
barrier that separates the area from potential sources of species. The
probability that species will reach remote oceanic islands or isolated valleys is
slight. Animal species, especially those that do not fly, are less likely than
plant species to do so.
Small changes in an organism may actually improve the interaction—a
random genetic mutation allowing a plant to utilize a nutrient that has been
present but previously unusable by the plant will increase the organism’s
ability to survive.