Biodiversity is very important.

Humans rely on some chemicals from plants and animals for medicine.

I think that human activity is actually affecting the earth because there are places where there is so much garabage you may never clean it up and then there are other places with too many buildings and houses. The trees that used to have animals living in them aren't around anymore and that is messing up the ecosystem. I think that the biodiveristy has lowered near where I live because we have so many new developments and neighborhoods now and there used to be trees everywhere. I still don't know much about biodiversity but this was very helpful to me!

I know that's true because were learning about the water cycle. Lions drink water and humans drink water too. So I'm saying that you are true.

We learned about biodiversity in the coral reefs last year.  I remember that the coral reefs are a great example of biodiversity because they have so many different kinds of animals living there.  We learned that the reefs are important to save because they provide homes for many different species and protect the coastlines from damaging storms.  Have you learned about coral reefs or even visted one?  I know that coral reefs are in danger but I don't know if it is human impact or not. 

Biodiversity is very important.  Danielle made some very good points about how everything has its role in an ecosystem.  If you interfere with just one part of that ecosystem it effects all of the other parts.  Everything is tied together. 

I definiely think that humans have an impact on biodiversity.  When we wipe out a particular tree or plant or animal in an ecosystem it definitely impacts the whole ecosystem.  For example, when we cleared the prairie to build homes or farm, it destroyed the priarie grass that is home to small animals and eaten by larger animals.  When the grass is gone the small animals lose their homes and they leave.  When they leave the animals that would have eaten them don't have their food source.  And so on and so on.  Natural events like a forest fire or flood or bad storm can also change the biodiversity in an area.

I've heard that coral reefs have the highest biodiversity of any place on Earth.  But I don't know much about them.  I've also heard that they are threatened, maybe by the changing temperature of the water.  But I'm not sure.  Do you know anything about this area?

Biodiversity is the diversity, or amount of, plants and animals living on the earth. Biodiversity helps ecosystem productivity where each species all have an important role to play, no matter how small or big. This helps the ecosystem recover from disasters. This is useful for man as a larger number of species of plants means a bigger variety of crops and a larger number of species of animals. Some say that human activity is causing massive extinctions. How do you think this affects the earth? Do you know any areas where you live where biodiversity is high or low? Do you think, from this information, that biodiversity is important? What animals affect this? Tell me what you think, Danielle