European Union Forums

[JackieDRhodes]

What is the impact of biodiversity on our environment? As species become more diverse, are effects taking a good or bad turn?

Is the impact different in different kinds of ecosystem? If yes, in what way?

How do you relate the effects of biodiversity in relation to evolution?

[RosaJMoors]

Kind of an odd way of phrasing the question but in essence the more diverse a system the more stable it will be.

Here's an example :

One farmer grows corn. Another grows corn, beans, squash and grains.

The guy growing just the corn will be ruined if a corn parasite or disease comes along and wipes out his crop. Also the corn will eventually exhaust the nutrients in the soil and he will have to move his operation.

The farmer who grows several types of food has things to fall back on if one crop fails. Also the legumes will help fix nitrogen in his soil and if he rotates his crops properly he may never have to move.

This is a very simple example of bio-diversity. A more complex one would describe how the thousands of species of insects, plants, and animals interact in, say a acre of Amazon rain forest. However that would take ages to describe.

[CharlotteBMartinez]

your question is very complex: from the beginning of time, more and more species had appeared and disappeared (the second most) and had a major impact on the ecosystems they lived in. In your question, you asked about the effects; well, the effects can be of both types, positive and negative, but mainly if a new specie is put or born in an ecosystem, it will probably adapt, instead of ruining it. Genetics offer a new perspective upon life and i think that if man can create a specie that is stronger and healthier than its original and if that specie can fit perfectly in an ecosystem,that would be a step towards evolution.

[OriginatingfromFlanders]

EAT MY SHORTS ..MAN

See my movie on July 27th, 2007...

Don't have a cow.. man

[Frequenter]

Such a broad question...when we say biodiveristy, it has something to do with balancement, a well distribution of life in its ecosystem. In all aspect all of life on earth should have its place as well as a good function. Well distribution of life in our ecosystem helps our enviroment to be balanced.

[SandraJPulido]

Mimik gives you a good example: The farmers with more biodiversity in their farms would have less risks... but the farmers have to concentrate in few items to maximize the production and reduce the machinery.
If you live in a city, the biodiversity means nothing for you, but when you go to the grocery, you enjoy the food diversity. That is the impact in your environment.

Yes. The biodiversity impact in different ecosystem is different. There are ecosystems that can hold more biodiversity. The rain-forest need the diversity to be stable, without an explosive growing of few species. The desert rejects an excessive diversity.

The evolution becomes faster with the more diversity of species. The Australian mammals are the result of an evolution with less biodiversity. This ecosystem (Australian) is fragile. The marsupials are less evolved mammals.

[JohnHBartos]

Greater the diversity, greater is the interaction between forms.
Diverse species in a locality adds to richness of life and advantages accruing therefrom. You benefit from a variety of plants and animals.
In an ecosystem, diversity adds to the food chain and food web and thus the functional component of the ecosystem is made stronger.
Biodiversity may help biotechnology. Biodiversity signifies genetic diversity and the genes are repositories of characteristics that may be exploited for human good.