Geography · Ch 20 — Biodiversity and Conservation
Ecological Role of Biodiversity
Ecological Role of Biodiversity
Every species in an ecosystem performs some function or the other. Nothing in nature exists without a role, and this is the core of the ecological role of biodiversity. The web of life is built on these countless interactions, and we humans are just one species within it.
This fact carries a deep ethical weight. Because every species has an intrinsic right to exist, it is morally wrong to voluntarily cause the extinction of any species. We must live and let other species live their lives too. Our ethical responsibility is to recognise that each and every species, along with us, has a place in the natural order.
The level of biodiversity in an area is a good indicator of the state of our relationships with other living species. When biodiversity thrives, it reflects a healthy, balanced coexistence. When it declines, it signals that our actions are harming the web of life around us. …
Species of many kinds perform some function or the other in an ecosystem. Nothing in an ecosystem evolves and sustains without any reason. That means, every organism, besides extracting its needs, also contributes something of useful to other organisms. Species capture and store energy, produce and decompose organic materials, help to cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix atmospheric gases and help regulate the climate. These functions are important for ecosystem function and human survival. The more diverse an ecosystem, better are the chances for the species to survive through adversities and attacks, and consequently, is more productive. Hence, the loss of species would decrease the ability of the system to maintain itself. Just like a species with a high genetic diversity, an ecosystem with high biodiversity may have a greater ch …