Biodiversity is the variety of all living organisms within an area as well as their interactions with each other and the environment.
Why is biodiversity important?
A strong biodiversity means a resilient and resistant ecosystem is present or possible, while low biodiversity can create a collapse in a natural environment. Biodiversity determines the health of an ecosystem. We can consider its importance locally, regionally, and globally by recognizing the value of each individual species, their niche, their range and their abundance. Many species can only be found within certain natural areas, and are not easily found in fractured ecosystems or outside of their native range. For these reasons, it is important to play an active role in protecting biodiversity.
In order to access my study area, I needed to purchase my "Restore the Wild" membership through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) - more on this soon. Every bit of my membership purchase goes directly to support habitat projects to maintain local biodiversity such as the pollinator gardens at Lake Shenandoah. Two main biodiversity efforts of the DWR at this particular lake is to remove invasive species and to offer controlled burns every few years. These burns encourage growth of native grasses and forbs which provide food and habitat for local wildlife and help to remove invasive species.
Note: Turn up the volume to hear the beautiful sounds of a biodiverse ecosystem.
Resource:
Hancock, Lorin. “What Is Biodiversity and Why Is It under Threat?” World Wildlife Fund, 2022, www.worldwildlife.org/pages/what-is-biodiversity. Accessed 23 May 2023.
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