Biodiversity is a term that encompasses all species, all ecosystems, and all of the interactions that occur in our world. The maintenance of biodiversity is a crucial component in the sustainability of the earth. Every interaction that takes place is part of the grand scheme of things, and though it may not be apparent in our daily lives, biodiversity surrounds us and impacts us continuously. Decreasing biodiversity can cause many problems. The endangerment of one species can set off a chain reaction. Rob McDonald of the Nature Conservancy said it best when he wrote about the effect of sea otters on their ecosystem. Sea otters in California were hunted vigorously for their fur. Because of the decreased number of sea otters, sea urchins (the natural prey of sea otters) flourished. Because of their increased numbers, they ate a larger portion than usual of the kelp forests, which reduced the number of other species that depended on the kelp forests. The impact of a reduction in biodiversity is not always as clear as this, and can have other unforeseen complications. We need to be careful of our actions, because they could have irreparable consequences for the biodiversity of earth.Sources:
