Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the multiple and varied species of a particular environment. The more diverse any given habitat the more likely that environment will survive a change. Biodiversity preserves nature’s balance and helps prevent the extinction of many species. But as humans (and pollution) encroach upon an environment, vital species die out or are driven away.
Scientists have classified some 2.5 million species but estimate more than 25 million additional species may remain unclassified. As new species are discovered, even more die out. As many environments are destroyed or deforested (especially in the tropical rainforests where the majority of unclassified species live) scientists and environmentalists alike fear a great reduction in the numbers and diversity of species.
Sources:
-- “Biological Diversity,” Columbia Encyclopedia on Bartleby.com. http://www.bartleby.com/65/bi/biologDiv.html
