biodiversity
BY-oh-dy-VER-suh-tee
/ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈvɜːrsəti/
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Often used as a measure of the health of an ecosystem; higher biodiversity usually means greater resilience.
The story behind the word. The term is a contraction of 'biological diversity'. It was coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1985 during a planning meeting for the National Forum on BioDiversity.
Word relationships
- biological diversity: The full, non-shortened version of the term.
- monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop or organism in a given area.
Commonly confused with
- abundance: Abundance is the number of individuals; biodiversity is the number of different types.
Word family
- diverse (adjective): Showing a great deal of variety.
- diversify (verb): To make or become more diverse.
Collocations
- preserve biodiversity
- loss of biodiversity
- rich biodiversity
- biodiversity hotspot
Example sentences
- "Biodiversity is the key to the resilience of our planet's life-support systems." Scientific paper on the rainforest.
- "The loss of biodiversity is as much a threat to humanity as climate change." Global environmental report.
Memory hook
Bio (Life) + Diversity (Variety) = Variety of Life. Bio-Diversity: Life's variety.
When not to use
Do not use to simply mean 'a lot of animals'; it specifically refers to the variety of species, genetics, and ecosystems.
Fun facts
- There are three levels of biodiversity: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Related words
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 → Eco-Tourism & Travel
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Organic Farming Practices
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