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Related Concept Videos

Threats to Biodiversity01:50

Threats to Biodiversity

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There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
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What is Biodiversity?01:19

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Biodiversity describes the variety of living things at multiple organizational levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity includes all branches of the evolutionary tree from single-celled prokaryotic organisms, bacteria, and archaea, to the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants; animals; fungi; and protists. To date, there have been about 1.75 million species identified, and new species are discovered every week.
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Biodiversity and Human Values01:24

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Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.
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What is Evolutionary History?02:35

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Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
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What is Conservation Biology?01:57

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Conservation biology is a scientific field that focuses on the preservation of biodiversity in order to protect ecosystems while meeting the needs of the human population. Humans require properly functioning ecosystems to maintain our supply of natural resources, including food, medicines, and building materials.
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The Evidence for Evolution02:55

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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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Global biodiversity and the expanding Tree of Life.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
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Cryptic species are widespread across vertebrates.

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The past and future of known biodiversity: Rates, patterns, and projections of new species over time.

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Unpacking the extinction crisis: rates, patterns and causes of recent extinctions in plants and animals.

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Recent extinctions of plant and animal genera are rare, localized, and decelerated.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Coral Reef Arks: An In Situ Mesocosm and Toolkit for Assembling Reef Communities
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How many species are there on Earth? Progress and problems.

John J Wiens1

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.

Plos Biology
|November 20, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Estimating Earth's biodiversity is challenging, with numbers ranging widely. A 2011 study estimated approximately 9 million species inhabit our planet.

Area of Science:

  • Biodiversity research
  • Ecology
  • Taxonomy

Background:

  • Understanding Earth's species count is fundamental to ecological and conservation studies.
  • Previous estimates of global species diversity have varied significantly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive and scientifically-grounded estimate of the total number of species on Earth.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation and analysis of existing taxonomic data.
  • Extrapolation based on known species-environment relationships.
  • Utilizing statistical modeling for estimation.

Main Results:

  • An estimated 8.7 million eukaryotic species exist on Earth.
  • Approximately 86% of terrestrial species and 91% of marine species remain undiscovered.

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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
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Conclusions:

  • The vast majority of Earth's species are yet to be identified.
  • This comprehensive estimate provides a crucial baseline for biodiversity assessment and future research.