When we speak of biodiversity we are not referring to the "biological diversity" suffered by all living and organic beings over time and with respect to what surrounds them. This is a topic of extreme importance and that many people are unaware of, which is why today we are going to talk about the characteristics of biodiversity that you must know to understand everything about this important topic.
What is biodiversity?
In the year 1988 was when it was talked about for the first time about what is biodiversity, who brought this to the world and made it known was EO Wilson, however, this term has been studied since the mid-nineteenth century, but it is now that more can be heard about it and much more is known about the subject.
La definition of biodiversity not only talks about the changes that living beings can undergo. This theory tells us extensively about all the topics related to changes and mutations, especially it focuses on the evolution and ecology of the entire planet Earth.
This tells us that when we refer to diversity, we are not only speaking quantitatively in the number of existing species, but we are even referring to how the systematic and hierarchical classification of living beings participates in this, whether they are animals, plants or cellular organisms.
During the existence of Aristotle, biodiversity has been known and studied by those interested in knowing how it works. Since time is time, there has been a strong interest in knowing exactly what all living beings are like and thus being able to create a hierarchical system where they are organized in a classificatory way, however, in those times, the philosophers did this order unfairly. This is how the classifications and learning of diversity begin scientifically.
Characteristics of biodiversity
Now we are going to know what are the characteristics of biodiversity, these are several and we will have to know them in order to fully understand the subject, since it is divided into several types of diversities that together form the definitive theory of biodiversity.
Next, we will begin to explain everything about the different types of biodiversity that exist and what each of them consist of:
genetic diversity
Biological diversity can be analyzed in several different ways, one of them is through genetics, this is because every living being is made up of a unique DNA that is found at the cellular level and that is systematically categorized, such that neither is identical to the other.
Precisely the fact that genetically each living being will be completely different, explains the meaning of biodiversity. The different aspects of genes that we observe are known as “alleles”. We must emphasize that there is a very small number of living beings that have a gene that changes between them in a little perceptive way, that is to say that they are genetically very similar.
The differences at the gene level that we can observe within the same species are due to the various mutations that they have suffered over the years, since these changes, whether in habitat, climate, food, have greatly influenced the evolution of the species causing that even genetically there is a metamorphosis.
Genetic variability is the ground that sustains evolution when a living being must make an adaptation for its survival. As long as a living group presents a good adaptive capacity, it will be able to survive the changes that occur in the environment and its species as such will not suffer large-scale losses. However, if, on the contrary, their adaptability is little or null, they will die reaching the point of Species extinction. Hence the importance of knowing and accepting to adapt.
Speaking of humans who study the conservation of species, we must highlight the fact that they must know how much that species must adapt in order to survive, in this way they can intervene and help by facilitating the conditions. This will be essential if such a group is to remain in existence.
individual diversity
When we study the clarifying part we can notice that there are some differences in the anatomical and physiological aspect, especially when we talk about the habit of an individual. Well, each living being as such presents diversities in its physical, internal form and behavior, even when they belong to the same species and present they have gone through the same adaptability.
Population diversity
When we refer to "population" in the field of biology, we are talking about groups of specimens that belong to the same species and share the same environment, this means that they can be affected together, both positively and negatively.
Talking about the group of inhabitants of the same place, leads us to know that each individual presents a variation at the genetic level, this being, as we have already mentioned before, the foundation of adaptability. One of the best examples of biodiversity that we can put would be that of the human being, because, although we are a large population belonging to the same species, each and every one of us has differences at the genetic and physical level.
Every living being that is not variable at the gene level and that as a whole is equal to each other, runs a great risk of perishing, since they would not be able to adapt to climatic, environmental changes and even those variations that the human being creates. in the habitat where they can coexist. Hence the importance of accepting and learning that adapting is the best way to survive.
Diversity at the species level
When we refer to the diversity between the same species, we would already be entering into issues related to ecology and the general preservation of the same species. This is something that will be studied by those biologists specialized in this area and who will be able to understand how this complex process is that encompasses the species in general and not just an individual.
How is biodiversity measured?
There is a wide variety of ways to measure biodiversity. Scientists have a way to do this counting through biological diversity numbering. This is done in such a way that they can be categorized into groups other than practical and ideological diversity.
One of the ways to measure diversity is by studying the variability of genes, families and the environment. The basis of this study focuses on the hierarchical difference attributing the distinctive "alpha, beta and gamma". In addition to this, there is also the possibility of carrying out a variety study based on the physical differences that exist between each of the individuals.
Statistics are fundamental for the study of the diversity of species, since with them a quantitative response can be known through population samples that is close to the exact thing that is being studied.
Alpha, beta and gamma diversity
This diversity was proposed by Robert H. Whittaker, a renowned ecologist in 1960. This form of ranking diversity has been recognized by the IUCN and is still used today for the study of biodiversity, whether of a species in general as population.
When we talk about alpha diversity we refer to the study of a population of species that share the same environment, that is, they live within the same ecosystem. Beta diversity refers to the comparison made between two or more populations of the same species. Finally, gamma diversity encompasses the entire species, that is, it shows us at a general level the adaptability of the species, regardless of its location or habitat.
However, this type of gamma study has serious disadvantages at the moment, it is that it is wanted to delimit the species that is intended to be studied, since it is not carried out taking into account the territorial policy, or geology, since part of the habitat of the species could be lost. to study as they do not always live in the same region or even country.
Therefore, of these three divisions of diversity, the one that is most used, and exact, would be the alpha diversity, since it is only carried out on a specific group that lives in a specific environment, so it will be much easier to be able to evaluate its adaptability and diversity.
Species diversity indices
Diversity indices are often of the utmost importance when studying biodiversity as it is one of the easiest ways to mathematically calculate what is being studied.
This diversity index can be determined as a statistical synthesis that takes an entire species that lives within the same location but whose habitat is different, and makes a complete count of it in order to define the amount of sample that is there.
Shannon Diversity Index
This index is responsible for the specific evaluation of biodiversity. This can be symbolized by means of an H' and it only shows positive values, this means that it does not count those samples that perish during the measurement. The tendency of the environment to study will almost always be appreciated with measurements from 2 to 4.
When some values appear that are less than 2, it is said that the sample has little diversity, this could be seen in the case of desert ecosystems. On the other hand, when values that exceed 3 appear, it means that a large number of diversities can be observed, an example for these cases could be reefs.
To obtain the index, the values that indicate how many types of species are going to be studied and the total sum of the same must be known. When these two studies are taken and a final result is obtained, this can be between 0 and 5. Being 5 the indicator that there is a great variety of species and 0 would tell us that in the studied environment there is only one local species.
Simpson diversity index
This is represented by a D, and is responsible for studying whether the samples that have been taken indiscriminately belong to the same group of specimens or if, on the contrary, they belong to a completely different group.
This index can be valued with 0 and 1, in this case it would let us know what probability exists that the samples that were selected are not part of the same species, but rather are different.
Its representation can be observed in two ways: 1 – D or 1/D. Where 1 refers to the fact that there is no diversity in the sample. If the value increases from 1, this will indicate that, depending on the number displayed, there is a diversity of species within that population studied.
Today there are various indices that are used to collect biodiversity data, however, these mentioned are the most common and the most used by biologists.
Why should we quantify biodiversity?
Earlier we talked about the different ways in which you can keep track of the diversity of species. Scientists have a wide range of instruments that can be used to accomplish this task. However, many will wonder about the reason why a mathematical calculation of biodiversity should be made.
These counts are very important to be able to carry out the study on the diversity that is generated as changes in the environment occur, whether by the hand of the human being or by nature itself. Knowing this will be essential to be able to understand and evaluate which species are ready to adapt to the change that occurs and which may be in danger because their adaptation and diversity is very low or null.
Biodiversity as a result of evolution: how is biological diversity generated?
Cellular organisms have been on our planet for millions of years, calculating approximately 3.5 billion years. Since that time these organisms have been evolving and adapting to changes. Today we can appreciate them in different forms and species, these are all the animals, plants and living beings that we know.
Evolution is the cause of the existence of the enormous amount of diversity of species that exist today. A clear example would be the crocodile, an animal that comes from the Mesozoic Era (Era of the dinosaurs) and that evolved little by little until it became the animal it is today, before being part of the Aquatic Dinosaurs. In this way there is a great variety of living beings that have evolved over the years.
There are courses of evolution which are responsible for creating the diversity that we know today. These are:
• Liberation of competition
• Ecological divergence
• Coevolution
Now we will explain a little about these evolutionary processes.
Release of competition
Knowledge of biology shows us that, after evaluating the species, whether they are alive or those that have already become extinct, that all living or non-living organisms can learn to diversify rapidly, this occurs when the environment has the necessary resources to do so. This is known as “vacant niches”.
At the time that these organisms arrive, or are introduced, in an environment where they are not in danger, that is to say that they do not have natural hunters, they will be able to begin the diversification process and will take as their own those "vacant niches" that the environment offers them. This development is known as "adaptive radiation".
Returning to the dinosaurs as an example, when they suffered their extinction, the niches they occupied were vacant, ready for mammals to take these places over time.
ecological divergence
Adaptability can influence whether organisms are able to take over empty niches. Being organisms that are within the same field of adaptability, they are found in an environment that is very similar to that of the others. Due to this closeness, and to the fact that two different species coexist within the same area, competition becomes much stronger between the different species found there.
Studies show that when two species coexist, competition will start with both at the same level, but over time one will take advantage of the other, thus creating hierarchy and dominance. In some other cases it is observed that one of the two species decides to find another environment that benefits it so that competitiveness is less and both can coexist without putting themselves at risk. We call this adaptability.
This is how the different species that share a habitat learn to find other ways to feed, survive and even learn to live in new environments, this contributes to the diversity growing and increasing over the years.
coevolution
There are cases where the coexistence of two different species leads to what happened with one of them affecting the evolution of the other, this makes them part of biological diversity. A clear example are those species that in one way or another help another that shares the same habitat. This means that when the one that brings the resource begins a process of diversity, the other also does so as a result of the adaptability that it must learn to continue taking advantage of the help of the other.
Another ideal example for this case is that of hunters and their food (prey), because when the hunter adapts a new way of getting his prey, it is also forced to go through an adaptive process that helps it take advantage and be able to escape. We can see this when watching a pack of lions hunt impalas. If the lion learns a new way to hunt the impala, it will be successful at first, however, the prey will begin to adapt to this change and you will learn new ways to avoid the lion and save its life.
Importance of biodiversity
For human beings, biodiversity is very important in different ways. Well, we are dependent on it since without the evolutionary process or adaptation we could not survive in the different scenarios that we now occupy. This means that humanity could not exist in extremely cold or hot areas. If the human being were not diverse, he would not be able to survive the climatic changes that we are experiencing today. Therefore, it is essential that one of the Characteristics of the Human Being be precisely the adaptation.
And not only the human being, every organism will depend on biological diversity in order to survive. The human being decides to move and live in a different scenario than the one he was used to before, in many cases this new environment brings with it different climates, demographics and even cultures to which he must adapt in order to emerge. The same happens with other living beings, with the difference that in many cases they are forced to change their habitat, so adaptability is much more important for them to survive in their new environment.
At present, the process of adaptation of animals is very important due to the risk of extinction that many of them run. It is for this reason that today there are a large number of biologists and ecologists who study the different ways of adapting a species to environments other than the original in order to introduce them to safer ones where they can prosper and proliferate again, thus avoiding the extinction of the whole species. This also happens with the plant species that is in constant danger of disappearing.