Biodiversity and ecosystem stability

An ecosystem contains species that depend on one another for resources and suitable conditions. Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms in an area. High biodiversity can make an ecosystem more stable because a species may be less dependent on any one other species.

For example, if an animal can obtain food from several species, the loss of one food source may not leave it without food. Similarly, several species may provide shelter or help maintain the physical environment. When more than one species can contribute to a role, the loss of one is less likely to disrupt the ecosystem severely.

High biodiversity does not mean that losing a species has no effect, or that an ecosystem is guaranteed to remain stable. The effect depends on the species lost and on whether other species can still support the roles it performed.

Biodiversity and human survival

Humans depend on functioning ecosystems for resources and environmental conditions, including food and clean water. If biodiversity is reduced, ecosystems may become less able to continue providing these things.

Many human activities reduce biodiversity, potentially weakening the ecosystems on which humans depend. In recent times, measures have been introduced to try to stop biodiversity loss, helping to maintain the ecosystems needed for human survival.