The term biodiversity is used to refer to various types of organisms found in an area. This term includes animals, plants, fungi and other organisms. Essentially, biodiversity covers all organisms, from very tall plants to microscopic organisms that can only be seen using powerful microscopes (National Geographic Society). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay There is a special bond between all organisms on this planet. Forests are home to many animals and the plants found there also provide them with food. On the other hand, plants need soil with enough nutrients to grow. Fungi break down organisms and release nutrients into the soil, making it fertile. Insects such as bees facilitate plant reproduction by carrying pollen from one plant to another (National Geographic Society). If biodiversity decreases, the shared bond between organisms weakens, harming the organisms in a given ecosystem. An ecosystem rich in diversity is stronger and more resilient to adversity than one with a lesser variety of organisms. Additionally, a diverse ecosystem helps humans in various ways, including providing oxygen, building materials, medicine, food, and shelter. Scientists can use three methods to obtain a measure of biodiversity in a given ecosystem. One solution would be to obtain a total count of all species found in a given environment. Tropical areas are necessarily home to the greatest proportion of different organisms since they are warm all year round. Temperate zones necessarily have less diversity due to the presence of a cold winter and a hot summer. Second, it is possible to obtain a measure of biodiversity by looking at the widespread species in a given location. For example, the South African Floristic Zone has over 6,200 different plant species that do not exist elsewhere (National Geographic Society). Regions composed of a wide variety of widespread species are known as biodiversity hotspots. Additionally, a measure of biodiversity can be obtained by assessing ecosystems. This process involves examining the communities in which organisms are grouped and the environment in which these groupings are found (National Wildlife Federation). Finally, biodiversity can be counted by examining genetic multiplicity. Genes are the building blocks of organisms. Diversity is decreasing due to extinction. Extinction can be thought of as the process by which some organisms die while new ones evolve. Currently, organisms are facing extinction due to human activities such as habitat degradation, overexploitation, and the prevalence of disease (National Geographic Society). Other activities indirectly cause the extinction of species such as pollution and climate change. As a result, countries like the United States have enacted the Endangered Species Act, which aims to protect species at risk of extinction due to human activities. Implementation of the law is likely to result in a drop in the sale of some rare mushrooms that are a delicacy in high-end hotels. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized EssayBased on the Life Map, a measure of..