biodiversity
by-oh-dih-VER-sih-tee
/ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/
The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or in the world as a whole.
It doesn't just mean 'lots of animals'; it refers to the complexity and health of the genetic and species-level variety.
The story behind the word. This is a relatively new word, coined as a contraction of 'biological diversity' in 1985 by Walter G. Rosen during a planning meeting for a national forum. It quickly became the standard term for the richness of life on Earth.
Word relationships
- biological diversity: The full, non-contracted form of the word.
- monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop or species in a given area.
Commonly confused with
- ecosystem: An ecosystem is the community of organisms and their environment; biodiversity is the variety within that community.
Word family
- biodiverse (adjective): Containing many different types of plants and animals.
Collocations
- loss of biodiversity
- protect biodiversity
- rich biodiversity
- biodiversity hotspot
Example sentences
- "Biodiversity is the totality of all inherited variation in the life forms of Earth." A scientific definition by a famous biologist. (E.O. Wilson)
- "The construction of the mega-resort threatened the local biodiversity by destroying the nesting grounds of several rare bird species." Discussing the impact of a new resort.
Memory hook
Bio (Life) + Diversity (Variety) = Life Variety. Biodiversity = The spice of life.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe a large number of the same species; that is 'population density,' not biodiversity.
Fun facts
- Tropical rainforests contain more than half of the world's biodiversity despite covering only 6% of Earth's land surface.
Also appears in
- Technology → Ecology & Climate Science
- Nature → Ecology & Ecosystems
- Nature → Environmental Conservation
- Nature → Biodiversity & Species Conservation
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Deforestation & Habitat Loss
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Sustainable Agriculture & Farming
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Marine Ecology
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Organic Farming Practices
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