Which term denotes the variety of life in a particular area, including the number of species?

Which term denotes the variety of life in a particular area, including the number of species?

• A. Ecosystem diversity
• B. Habitat diversity
• C. Genetic diversity
• D. Biodiversity

Answer: (D)

Biodiversity describes the overall variety of life in a given area, including how many species are present. It encompasses not only species richness (the number of different species) but also genetic diversity within those species and the variety of habitats and ecosystems in which they live. So while ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems, habitat diversity to the variety of habitats, and genetic diversity to variation within a species, the term that denotes the broader variety of life, including the number of species, is biodiversity.

Biodiversity describes the overall variety of life in a given area, including how many species are present. It encompasses not only species richness (the number of different species) but also genetic diversity within those species and the variety of habitats and ecosystems in which they live. So while ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems, habitat diversity to the variety of habitats, and genetic diversity to variation within a species, the term that denotes the broader variety of life, including the number of species, is biodiversity.