biodiversity

American  

[bahy-oh-di-vur-si-tee, ‑dahy‑] / ˌbaɪ oʊ dɪˈvɜr sɪ ti, ‑daɪ‑ /

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.

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biodiversity British  

/ 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

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biodiversity Scientific  

/ bī′ō-dĭ-vûr′sĭ-tē /

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

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biodiversity Cultural  

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

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Discover More

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

Etymology

Origin of biodiversity

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

Example Sentences

The garden, says Joffe, is a haven for biodiversity, filled with plants that support the full life cycles of butterflies and bees.

From Los Angeles Times

These were isolated pockets of biodiversity separated by deep ocean barriers that most species could not cross.

From Science Daily

"With more data, we are describing more species -- hidden biodiversity that looks alike but is genetically different," Motta said.

From Science Daily

Groups representing environmentalists, Indigenous people, artisanal fishers and Afro-Brazilian communities have gone to court to request an end to the drilling, which they see as a risk to a region rich in biodiversity.

From Barron's

UK ecosystems continue to deteriorate or show no change, rather than improvement, the latest data from the biodiversity indicators show.

From BBC