Understanding Biodiversity and Its Importance
In the lecture today, Professor Elaine discusses the intricate relationships between various ecosystems within biodiversity. She articulates how interconnected these ecosystems are and begins by defining biodiversity as the variety of life found on Earth.
Next, she categorizes biodiversity into three primary levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a single species, species diversity indicates the diversity among species in a certain habitat, and ecosystem diversity encompasses the variety of ecosystems in a specific area.
Professor Elaine continues to elaborate on the importance of each level. To illustrate genetic diversity, she mentions that a greater genetic pool allows species to adapt to environmental changes. For species diversity, she highlights that higher species diversity in a habitat typically leads to greater resilience against disturbances. Lastly, she discusses ecosystem diversity, emphasizing that diverse ecosystems such as forests, coral reefs, and wetlands not only enrich our planet but also provide essential services to humanity.
Furthermore, Professor Elaine brings attention to the threats that biodiversity faces, including habitat loss, climate change, and overexploitation. She concludes by stressing that maintaining biodiversity is crucial for ecological balance and sustainability.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.
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