biodiversity
Ecosystem species richness
Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular environment or on Earth as a whole—the range of species, genetic variation within species, and diversity of ecosystems.
The term emerged in conservation science to name what's lost when habitats shrink: Deforestation threatens biodiversity.
High biodiversity generally indicates ecosystem health; low biodiversity signals vulnerability.
Organism's natural environment
- biomeMajor ecological community
- floraPlants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- ecologyStudy of environmental relations
niche · food web · symbiosis · keystone species · biotic · abiotic · decomposers · detritivores
Zones with legal conservation status
- wildlife reservesProtected areas for wild animals
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- habitat restorationReviving degraded natural environments
- species reintroductionReleasing animals where extirpated
wildlife corridors · national parks · marine sanctuaries · ecotourism · seed banks · captive breeding · CITES · conservation biology
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
divergence · genetic drift · gene flow · alleles · genotype · phenotype · mutation · cladistics
Ample supply, overflowing
- organismsIndividual living entities
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- biotaRegional living organisms
phenotypes · morphology · endemic · native species · invasive species · flagship species · threatened species · extinct species
Restoring natural ecosystems
- revegetationRestoring lost plant cover
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- native plantingUsing locally-evolved species
- reforestationReplanting depleted woodlands
Statutes protecting natural systems
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
- environmental assessmentAnalysis of ecological consequences
- Endangered Species ActLaw conserving threatened wildlife
- biosafetyProtection from biological hazards
habitat
Organism's natural environment
ecology · niche · food web · symbiosis · keystone species · biotic · abiotic · decomposers · detritivores · wetlands
protected areas
Zones with legal conservation status
- wildlife reservesProtected areas for wild animals
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- habitat restorationReviving degraded natural environments
species reintroduction · wildlife corridors · national parks · marine sanctuaries · ecotourism · seed banks · captive breeding · CITES · conservation biology · habitat fragmentation
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
phylogeny · divergence · genetic drift · gene flow · alleles · genotype · phenotype · mutation · cladistics · ancestry
abundance
Ample supply, overflowing
- organismsIndividual living entities
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
biota · phenotypes · morphology · endemic · native species · invasive species · flagship species · threatened species · extinct species · subspecies
rewilding
Restoring natural ecosystems
- revegetationRestoring lost plant cover
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- native plantingUsing locally-evolved species
environmental law
Statutes protecting natural systems
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
- environmental assessmentAnalysis of ecological consequences
- Endangered Species ActLaw conserving threatened wildlife
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- AmazonAmazon, river, Amazon River, Amazon rainforest, rainforest
- marine ecologyhabitat, kelp forest, coral reef, tide pool, estuary
- rainforest ecologyrainforest, jungle, canopy, understory, epiphyte
- wildlife conservationhabitat protection, game warden, species protection, wildlife officer, wildlife refuges
- desert conservationwater management, habitat restoration, endangered species, native plants, invasive species
biodiversitymonoculture
Single-crop agricultural system
monocropping · industrial agriculture · factory farming · intensive farming · clear-cutting
biodiversitymass extinction
Large-scale species elimination
species extinction · biodiversity loss · ecosystem collapse · ecological degradation · habitat loss
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- ocean biodiversitySea ecosystem species variety
- biodiversity hot spotsAreas with concentrated endemic species
- urban biodiversitySpecies richness in cities
- global biodiversityEarth's variety of life
- biodiversity hotspotsEndemic-rich areas under threat
diverse, diversity, biological, diversification, biosphere, biodiverse, genetic diversity, biological diversity