Biodiversity, as a biological phenomenon, denotes the variability and complexity of life across genes, species, populations, communities, and ecosystems, including their functional traits and phylogenetic relationships. It emerges from evolutionary processes such as mutation, selection, gene flow, and drift, and is structured by ecological interactions, environmental gradients, and spatiotemporal dynamics. Biodiversity influences and reflects ecosystem functioning, stability, and resilience through mechanisms like complementarity, redundancy, and trophic interactions. It is quantitatively characterized using metrics of richness, evenness, turnover, and functional or phylogenetic diversity, and its patterns are central to understanding biogeography, ecosystem processes, and responses to environmental change.
There is strong support for the global 30–30 target on biodiversity, which means that one-third of Earth's surface should be protected by 2030. This is shown in a study from the University of Gothenburg that measured public ...
Environment
Aug 28, 2025
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A team of researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new method to quantify the three-dimensional complexity of mountainous terrain. The novel tool, called the terrain ...
Ecology
Aug 21, 2025
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Biodiversity credits designed to incentivize the conservation and restoration of natural habitats need better transparency and regulation to be effective and credible.
Environment
Aug 20, 2025
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The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. It harbors immense biodiversity and plays a crucial role in the global climate system by storing vast amounts of carbon in its vegetation.
Earth Sciences
Aug 20, 2025
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Despite growing concern about biodiversity loss due to the ongoing biodiversity and climate crises, scientists have relatively little understanding of the pace and complexity of biodiversity change over the preceding millennia.
Ecology
Aug 20, 2025
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The British evolutionary biologist JBS Haldane is said to have quipped that any divine being evidently had "an ordinate fondness for beetles." This "bon mot" conveyed an important truth: the "tree of life"—the family tree ...
Evolution
Aug 20, 2025
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A new study maps the planetary boundary of "functional biosphere integrity" in spatial detail and over centuries. It finds that 60% of global land areas are now already outside the locally defined safe zone, and 38% are even ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 15, 2025
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Most trees in the Amazon (90%), the Atlantic Forest (90%), or the Cerrado, the Brazilian savanna-like biome (60%), depend on animals to disperse their seeds, ensure their reproduction, and keep the forest standing. Birds, ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 6, 2025
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Conservation should focus on protecting natural "processes"—not just specific species, researchers say. Current policies often focus on flagship animals, with priority given to rare and well-known species like pandas and ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 6, 2025
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Biodiversity is important in every ecosystem. Research has shown having a richer diversity of plant and animal species bolsters ecosystem functioning and stability, making habitats more resilient to the threats of things ...
Ecology
Aug 4, 2025
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