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reasons to maintain biodiversity - Coggle Diagram
reasons to maintain biodiversity
aesthetic
patients recover more rapidly when exposed to pleasing natural environments
nature provides inspiration and enriches our lives
reducing biodiversity exposes the soil and changes the landscape
deforestation has been linked to severe flooding
rainfall can erode soil and wash it downstream, depositing it and reducing drainage
flooding can be quickly followed by drought
economic
economic value of natural systems: $33 x10^12
natural ecosystems recycle nutrients, pollinate crops and purify fresh water etc- all of these factors impact food production
loss of biodiversity depletes soil
soils subjected to continuous monoculture become increasingly less fertile and agricultural yields decline
when a monoculture is grown, the plants always take the same minerals and consequently remove them from the ecosystem
loss of country's ability to grow crops can lead to dependence on other countries
non-sustainable removal of resources can lead to collapse of industry
loss of biodiversity can mean species with potential economic importance may become extinct before even discovered
highly biodiverse areas promote tourism in the region
ecological
wild animals and plants may hold the answers to problems caused by climate change
genetic engineering to produce transgenic species could be used to good effect
number of potential new medicines and vaccines to be found in native plants, animals, fungi and bacteria is unknown
any of these molecules could be of value in developing a new and effective pharmaceutical product
when one species if affected by human activity and its numbers decline, this will affect other species
habitats with higher species diversity tend to be more stable and can withstand a certain amount of damage
keystone species: one that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance
the decline of a keystone species can have a dramatic effect on the habitat
keystone species can help to determine the species richness and evenness in the community