Biodiversity is the wide variety of life forms (animals and vegetables) that are found in the most different environments. The word biodiversity is formed from the union of the Greek root “bio” (which means life) plus the word “diversity” (which means variety).
Biodiversity is formed by living species that comprise plants, animals and micro-organisms, which inhabit from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountains. It is composed of a huge diversity of species understood as similar individuals, with the capacity to reproduce among themselves and naturally.
The number of plant and animal species is most concentrated in tropical areas of the planet. It is estimated that in Brazil 2/3 of the species of plants and animals existing on the Earth's surface are concentrated, constituting the region with the greatest biodiversity in the world.
Biodiversity is responsible for ensuring the balance of species around the world, and the close link that exists between beings and the environment results in complex systems, ecosystems, which bring together living factors (animal plants - including humans and micro-organisms) and by non-living factors (light, water, air, sun, etc.) that relate to each other in balance, exchanging energy and of matter. Forests, caatinga, tunda, cerrados, rivers, oceans, lakes are some examples of ecosystems. The sum of all existing ecosystems on Earth forms the biosphere (layer of the atmosphere that encompasses living beings).
Threat to biodiversity
The biggest threat to biodiversity is human action, which has been transforming nature. The clearing of the forest for the practice of agriculture and livestock and the exploitation of wood causes impacts on the environment, such as changes in the food chain, with the extinction of animal and plant species, soil erosion, atmospheric pollution by burning forests, soil and water pollution with the use of pesticides and many other attacks on ecosystems.
