11.7 reason for mantaining biodiversity

What are the three main reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Ecological, economic and aesthetic reasons.

What is an ecological reason for maintaining biodiversity?

Protecting keystone species and maintaining the interdependence of organisms.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

Why is protecting keystone species important?

Their loss can disrupt food webs and cause major changes to the ecosystem.

Why is maintaining biodiversity important for genetic resources?

It preserves genetic variation that may be useful for future breeding and adaptation.

What is an economic reason for maintaining biodiversity?

Reducing soil depletion caused by continuous monoculture.

How does continuous monoculture contribute to soil depletion?

Repeatedly growing one crop can deplete particular mineral ions and nutrients from the soil.

How can maintaining biodiversity help prevent soil depletion?

Growing different crops reduces repeated removal of the same soil nutrients.

What is an aesthetic reason for maintaining biodiversity?

Protecting landscapes and preserving their natural beauty.

Why is protecting landscapes important?

Natural landscapes provide recreational and tourism opportunities and have cultural value.