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Multiple Choice
South America is known for its tremendous biodiversity. What is biodiversity?
A
The process by which organisms convert sunlight into chemical energy
B
The variety of living organisms in a particular area, including plants, animals, and microorganisms
C
The gradual change in species composition of a community over time
D
The study of how organisms interact with their environment
Verified step by step guidance
1
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms in a particular area, encompassing plants, animals, and microorganisms.
It includes the diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity), and of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity).
Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem stability, as it supports processes like nutrient cycling, pollination, and habitat creation.
The term does not refer to processes like photosynthesis (conversion of sunlight into chemical energy) or ecological succession (gradual change in species composition over time).
It also differs from ecology, which is the study of how organisms interact with their environment, as biodiversity focuses specifically on the variety of life forms.