Biodiversity is basically all the different types of life you'll... Show more
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16 Jan 2026
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The Importance of Biodiversity for Our Planet
Ellah Marie Ardaniel
@ellahmri
1 / 5
What is Biodiversity and Why Should You Care?
Biodiversity refers to the millions of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms living on Earth today. It's not just about counting species though - it also includes the variety of genes within species and the different places they live, like deserts, forests, and coral reefs.
Scientists have discovered over 170 million species so far, but there are probably millions more we haven't found yet! Species diversity is essentially another way of saying biodiversity - it's about how many different types of living things you can find in one area.
Biodiversity matters because it provides ecosystem services like cleaning our water, forming soil, and keeping our climate stable. It also gives us biological resources including food, medicines, wood, and even decorative plants. Plus, it offers social benefits through recreation, tourism, and cultural values that enrich our lives.
Quick Fact: Many life-saving medicines come from plants and animals - protecting biodiversity could lead to discovering the next major medical breakthrough!
Key Terms You Need to Know
Endemic species are the real VIPs of biodiversity - they're species that exist in only one specific place on Earth and nowhere else. Think of them as nature's unique locals that you can't find anywhere else in the world.
Understanding extinction is crucial for biology exams. Extinction happens when a species completely disappears forever, while threatened species are those with uncertain survival chances. Many of these threats are anthropogenic, meaning they're caused by human activities rather than natural processes.
Evolution explains how animals and plants developed from earlier forms through gradual changes over many generations. The geological timescale helps scientists track these changes over Earth's 3+ billion year history, while radiocarbon dating lets them figure out exactly how old fossils and other remains are.
Climate change, embryology, and fossil evidence all play important roles in understanding how life has changed over time. These concepts frequently appear in exams, so make sure you can explain each one clearly.
Natural Causes of Extinction and Species Invasion
Species can disappear naturally through climate change, sea level changes, acid rain, and invasive species taking over their habitats. When new species invade an area, they go through three key stages that you should memorise for tests.
Migration is when a species first arrives in a new area. Ecesis describes how well the newcomer adapts to its new ecosystem. Finally, aggression involves the species successfully reproducing and establishing itself permanently in its new home.
Unfortunately, human interference is now the biggest threat to biodiversity. Population growth, habitat destruction, pollution, intensive agriculture, and overhunting are wiping out species faster than natural processes ever did.
Natural selection drives evolution by favouring individuals with beneficial genetic traits. When environmental conditions change, populations must adapt, migrate to more suitable areas, or face extinction - there's no middle ground.
Remember This: Tectonic plates, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ice ages, and asteroid collisions have all shaped evolution throughout Earth's history!
Evolution and How New Species Form
Geographic isolation and reproductive isolation are the two main ways new species develop. When populations get separated and can no longer breed together, they gradually become so different that they turn into completely separate species.
Geological processes like moving tectonic plates dramatically affect where life exists on Earth. As continents drift apart or collide, species either adapt to new conditions, migrate to better areas, or develop into entirely new species through natural selection.
Major climate changes and catastrophic events create evolutionary pressure that leads to both new species formation and mass extinctions. Ice ages, asteroid impacts, and other dramatic environmental shifts force rapid evolutionary changes.
Understanding keystone species (like pollinators and top predators) and foundation species (like elephants and beavers) is essential because they have enormous impacts on entire ecosystems. Keystone species are crucial for ecosystem function, while foundation species actually create or improve habitats that benefit many other organisms.
Exam Tip: Remember that natural selection acts on individuals, but evolution happens to entire populations over many generations!
Foundation Species Examples
Elephants and beavers are perfect examples of foundation species because they dramatically reshape their environments in ways that help countless other species survive and thrive.
These animals are like ecosystem engineers - they create and maintain habitats that wouldn't exist without them, supporting entire communities of other plants and animals.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The Importance of Biodiversity for Our Planet
Ellah Marie Ardaniel
@ellahmri
Biodiversity is basically all the different types of life you'll find on Earth - from tiny bacteria to massive elephants, and everything in between. Understanding how species evolve, survive, and sometimes disappear is crucial for protecting our planet's incredible variety... Show more
What is Biodiversity and Why Should You Care?
Biodiversity refers to the millions of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms living on Earth today. It's not just about counting species though - it also includes the variety of genes within species and the different places they live, like deserts, forests, and coral reefs.
Scientists have discovered over 170 million species so far, but there are probably millions more we haven't found yet! Species diversity is essentially another way of saying biodiversity - it's about how many different types of living things you can find in one area.
Biodiversity matters because it provides ecosystem services like cleaning our water, forming soil, and keeping our climate stable. It also gives us biological resources including food, medicines, wood, and even decorative plants. Plus, it offers social benefits through recreation, tourism, and cultural values that enrich our lives.
Quick Fact: Many life-saving medicines come from plants and animals - protecting biodiversity could lead to discovering the next major medical breakthrough!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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Key Terms You Need to Know
Endemic species are the real VIPs of biodiversity - they're species that exist in only one specific place on Earth and nowhere else. Think of them as nature's unique locals that you can't find anywhere else in the world.
Understanding extinction is crucial for biology exams. Extinction happens when a species completely disappears forever, while threatened species are those with uncertain survival chances. Many of these threats are anthropogenic, meaning they're caused by human activities rather than natural processes.
Evolution explains how animals and plants developed from earlier forms through gradual changes over many generations. The geological timescale helps scientists track these changes over Earth's 3+ billion year history, while radiocarbon dating lets them figure out exactly how old fossils and other remains are.
Climate change, embryology, and fossil evidence all play important roles in understanding how life has changed over time. These concepts frequently appear in exams, so make sure you can explain each one clearly.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Natural Causes of Extinction and Species Invasion
Species can disappear naturally through climate change, sea level changes, acid rain, and invasive species taking over their habitats. When new species invade an area, they go through three key stages that you should memorise for tests.
Migration is when a species first arrives in a new area. Ecesis describes how well the newcomer adapts to its new ecosystem. Finally, aggression involves the species successfully reproducing and establishing itself permanently in its new home.
Unfortunately, human interference is now the biggest threat to biodiversity. Population growth, habitat destruction, pollution, intensive agriculture, and overhunting are wiping out species faster than natural processes ever did.
Natural selection drives evolution by favouring individuals with beneficial genetic traits. When environmental conditions change, populations must adapt, migrate to more suitable areas, or face extinction - there's no middle ground.
Remember This: Tectonic plates, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ice ages, and asteroid collisions have all shaped evolution throughout Earth's history!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Evolution and How New Species Form
Geographic isolation and reproductive isolation are the two main ways new species develop. When populations get separated and can no longer breed together, they gradually become so different that they turn into completely separate species.
Geological processes like moving tectonic plates dramatically affect where life exists on Earth. As continents drift apart or collide, species either adapt to new conditions, migrate to better areas, or develop into entirely new species through natural selection.
Major climate changes and catastrophic events create evolutionary pressure that leads to both new species formation and mass extinctions. Ice ages, asteroid impacts, and other dramatic environmental shifts force rapid evolutionary changes.
Understanding keystone species (like pollinators and top predators) and foundation species (like elephants and beavers) is essential because they have enormous impacts on entire ecosystems. Keystone species are crucial for ecosystem function, while foundation species actually create or improve habitats that benefit many other organisms.
Exam Tip: Remember that natural selection acts on individuals, but evolution happens to entire populations over many generations!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
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Foundation Species Examples
Elephants and beavers are perfect examples of foundation species because they dramatically reshape their environments in ways that help countless other species survive and thrive.
These animals are like ecosystem engineers - they create and maintain habitats that wouldn't exist without them, supporting entire communities of other plants and animals.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user