Scientists speak of three levels of biodiversity: a. Species diversity b. Genetic diversity c. Ecosystem diversity.

In effect, these levels cannot be separated. Each is important, interacting with and influencing the others. A change at one level can cause changes at the other levels

Species Diversity

In all shape and size (tiny organisms to huge one): includes bacteria, protozoan, fungi, flowering plants, ants, beetles, butterflies, birds, reptiles and large animals.

Each species is a group of organisms with unique characteristics. An individual of a species can reproduce successfully, creating a viable offspring, only with another member of the same species. Still learning how many species exist and how they relate to each other and to their physical environment. Cannot predict the precise ripple effects that the loss of one species will have on others and on ecosystems.

Keystone species: Plays critical role in ecosystems they inhabit Affect the abundance and health of many other species. Their loss from ecosystems directly endangers the success of other species. Scientists estimate between 10 to 30 million species on Earth. Only about 1.75 million have been named and catalogued.

Most of insects, fungi and microscopic creatures remain unidentified. Their existence is a mystery.

Genetic Diversity

Every individual inherits genes from its parents and passes on to the next generation. Biodiversity is more than the variety of species. Genetic diversity everywhere (songs, feather colors, taste and texture). Genetic variation is extremely important to the survival of species. Genetic variability, responsible for these different traits, interact with local environmental conditions to determine the extent to which populations can adapt to environmental changes and survive exposure to new diseases.

Isolated populations in small patches of habitat cut off from the surrounding environment tend to have less genetic variation than populations in large, intact ecosystems. Therefore, those isolated populations are more susceptible to extinction.

Ecosystem Diversity

Populations and non-living environmental components- such as water or minerals surrounding them interact dynamically to form an ecosystem. It includes: predators consuming prey, pollinators selecting flowers and species responding to physical processes such as heavy rain. Plant and Animal communities make up many kinds of ecosystems (forest, wetlands, rangelands, mountains, deserts, terrestrial ecosystems). Species are not evenly distributed.