biodiversity

[bahy-oh-di-vur-si-tee, ‑dahy‑]

noun

1. biological diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment.

   Coral reefs are not just havens for marine biodiversity, they also underpin the economies of many coastal communities.

   Spiraling extinctions will continue diminishing biodiversity for hundreds of years.

biodiversity

/ ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species in their natural environments, which is the aim of conservationists concerned about the indiscriminate destruction of rainforests and other habitats

biodiversity

1. The number, variety, and genetic variation of different organisms found within a specified geographic region.

biodiversity

1. A term that describes the number of different species that live within a particular ecosystem.

The preservation of biodiversity is considered by environmentalists to be a major goal of environmental policy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of biodiversity¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1985–90; bio(logical) ( def. ) + diversity ( def. )