The term biodiversity generally refers to the variability of living organisms. Biodiversity encompasses all sources of variation, from genetic variation within a species, to the variety of species in an area, to the variety of habitats within a landscape. Biodiversity is essential to the maintenance and long-term preservation of natural resources. Not only is a biodiverse ecosystem more resilient to ecological challenge, but it also provides humans with a diverse foodbank, flood control, clean water, pollination, biomass recycling, and waste decomposition. Additionally, numerous interacting species are necessary to support the nitrogen and carbon cycles, which are necessary for healthy soil. Biodiversity can also be used as a measure of ecosystem health.
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