Marine biodiversity

Definition

Marine biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms found in ocean environments, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. This rich tapestry of life is crucial for maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems, supporting food webs, and providing essential services such as carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Marine biodiversity accounts for approximately 94% of the Earth's total biodiversity, showcasing the vast number of species found in ocean ecosystems.
2. Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems, housing around 25% of all marine species despite covering only a small fraction of the ocean floor.
3. Healthy marine biodiversity is essential for fisheries, as diverse ecosystems can better withstand changes and pressures from overfishing and climate change.
4. The loss of marine biodiversity can disrupt food webs and lead to ecological imbalances, affecting not only marine life but also human communities reliant on these resources.
5. Climate change and ocean acidification are major threats to marine biodiversity, causing shifts in species distributions and declining populations of sensitive organisms like coral.

Review Questions

• How does marine biodiversity contribute to the resilience of ocean ecosystems in the face of environmental changes?
  • Marine biodiversity enhances the resilience of ocean ecosystems by providing a wider range of species that can adapt to changing conditions. Diverse ecosystems can better absorb disturbances such as temperature changes or pollution because different species may respond differently to stressors. This variation allows for some species to thrive while others decline, maintaining ecosystem functions and stability even under adverse conditions.
• Discuss the relationship between marine biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by oceans. What implications does this relationship have for human well-being?
  • Marine biodiversity plays a critical role in maintaining ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and fish production. A diverse array of species contributes to the stability and productivity of these services. When biodiversity declines due to factors like overfishing or pollution, the ability of oceans to provide these services diminishes, directly impacting human well-being by reducing food security and increasing vulnerability to climate change.
• Evaluate the impacts of habitat loss on marine biodiversity and its long-term consequences for global ecosystems and human societies.
  • Habitat loss significantly threatens marine biodiversity by reducing the available space for species to live and reproduce. This leads to declines in populations and even extinctions, disrupting food webs and altering ecosystem dynamics. The long-term consequences can be severe, including diminished fisheries that are vital for food security, loss of natural coastal protections against storms, and reduced capacity for oceans to sequester carbon. These impacts highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect marine habitats.

Related terms

ecosystem services: The benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including clean water, air purification, pollination of plants, and climate regulation.

species richness: The number of different species present in a particular ecosystem or habitat, which is an important component of overall biodiversity.

habitat loss: The destruction or alteration of natural habitats, often caused by human activities, leading to declines in biodiversity and ecosystem health.