Biological diversity is:

Biological diversity is:

• A. Important to humankind's well being
• B. The variety and differences among living things
• C. Threatened due to the rate of extinctions exceeding the rate of new species being discovered
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Biological diversity captures the variety of life across genes, species, and ecosystems. It matters to human well-being because biodiversity underpins food security, medicine, clean water and air, climate regulation, pollination of crops, and cultural and recreational values. It also reflects the variety and differences among living things—the genetic variation within species, the range of species, and the different ecosystems they form. Today, biodiversity is threatened as extinction rates outpace the emergence of new species, leading to a net loss of diversity. Because all of these aspects are true, the correct choice is that all of the above statements apply.

Biological diversity captures the variety of life across genes, species, and ecosystems. It matters to human well-being because biodiversity underpins food security, medicine, clean water and air, climate regulation, pollination of crops, and cultural and recreational values. It also reflects the variety and differences among living things—the genetic variation within species, the range of species, and the different ecosystems they form. Today, biodiversity is threatened as extinction rates outpace the emergence of new species, leading to a net loss of diversity. Because all of these aspects are true, the correct choice is that all of the above statements apply.