Meaning of Biodiversity

Biodiversity The definition of "biodiversity" can be somewhat complicated, but in simple terms, "biological diversity is the variety of life and its processes; and it includes the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur." ("Scientific Definitions") While this definition contains several aspects, including the variety of species, their processes, and genetics, a major aspect of biodiversity is the communities, or ecosystems where they exist.

This aspect of biodiversity also implies that the species, or organisms in a particular area are naturally occurring; and are not what are known as "invasive species." These particular species are not part of the naturally occurring ecosystem and can also cause great harm to the naturally occurring biodiversity of an area.

According to the National Invasive Species Council (NISC), and invasive species can be defined as "a non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal or plant health." ("Invasive Species Definition") Because invasive species are non-native, they can cause a great deal of damage to the delicate balance of an ecosystem; out-competing and displacing native species, disrupting the food chain, and altering the naturally occurring ecosystem. However, simply being a non-native species does not always mean it is invasive.

To be termed "invasive," a species must cause damage to either human society or the naturally occurring ecosystem. This means that species that are non-native but non-damaging are not considered to be "invasive;" there must be damage to the biodiversity of an ecosystem.

For example, many non-native species that have escaped from human control and are considered to be "feral" are causing damage to both human society and naturally occurring ecosystems; and fall under the definition of "invasive." But the most important aspect of "invasive species," and their impact on the biodiversity of an ecosystem, comes with the environmental harm that these species can cause.

Environmental harm "includes significant changes in the ecological processes, sometimes across entire regions, which result in conditions that native species and even entire plant and animal communities cannot tolerate." ("Invasive Species Definition") In many cases, this can include disruptions in soil stabilization, deterioration of wildlife habitats, changes in wildfire patterns, decreased fish populations, and an overall alteration of entire ecosystems.

("Invasive Species Definition") Invasions by non-native invasive species have become a major problem to both man-made and naturally occurring ecosystems; changing the natural processes, killing off the natural and beneficial species, and devastating ecosystems. For an ecosystem to be healthy and thrive, it requires a variety of different species all existing in a delicate balance. This variety of life.