Biodiversity
Brain
Genetics
Marine BiOLogy
MicrobiOLogy
PaleontOLogy
ZoOLogy
AnthropOLogy
ArchaeOLogy
Astronomy
Climate Change
Earth
Physics
Water
Can you imagine a world without biodiversity ? What would you eat? What would you wear? If you can't picture life without biodiversity, it's because it provides us with many things that are necessary in our lives.
Take a look to see what biodiversity gives you!
Biodiversity gives us . . .
A Livable Planet
Biodiversity keeps ecosystems in balance and makes our planet livable.
Air to breathe
Plants around the world take
carbon dioxide
out of the air and put oxygen into it—oxygen that you and other creatures need to
breathe
.
Healthy crops
Bacteria in the soil provide nutrients that help crops grow. Bats, bees, and other insects pollinate food crops. Birds and other predators control pests and improve harvests.
Biodiversity gives us . . .
The Things We Need
The Earth provides many things that are important to human life.
Food
We depend on plants and animals for food!
Medicine
Many of the medicines in your pharmacy have ingredients that come from plants and animals. Plus, more than 4 billion people in the world use traditional medicines that come directly from plants and animals.
Clothes and more
Many clothes, shoes,
paper
, and pencils come from raw materials provided by Earth’s biodiversity.
Biodiversity gives us . . .
Bright Ideas
Many great ideas have come from observing the natural world.
Transportation
Where did the inventors of planes and submarines get their design ideas? They noticed that animals are shaped in special ways that allow them to move easily through the air and water.
New Materials
Spider
silk
is the strongest natural fiber known—stronger than steel of equal weight! And it’s more elastic than nylon. Scientists research spider silk and other natural products to learn more about how we might manufacture materials that work like natural ones.
Biodiversity gives us . . .
The Great Outdoors
Natural areas are great places for outdoor activities.
Sports and Play
Activities like hiking and kayaking keep us healthy and they’re fun too! Without biodiversity, there would be fewer places to go and less to see.
Natural Beauty
Pine trees, tide pools, tulips, and you—biodiversity is beautiful and helps us relax!
Biodiversity gives us . . .
Cultural Traditions
Throughout history, biodiversity has inspired creativity and cultural traditions around the world. Some archaeologists study artifacts to learn about how people in the past may have interacted with the natural world. Some cultural anthropologists observe present-day societies to see what role biodiversity plays in today's life.
Music
In Vietnam and many other countries in Asia, people play flutes made from the stem of bamboo. In East Asia, this plant symbolizes strength and flexibility.
Ceremonies
Some Omaha ceremonial rattles are made from gourds.
Mythology
In Celtic mythology, fish symbolize knowledge. Tasting the Salmon of Knowledge gave Fion, a great mythological hero, all the knowledge that his mind could hold.
Holidays
During the Loi Krathong festival in Thailand, people make Krathongs, or small boats out of banana leaves. They bring their Krathongs to the water, light a candle to put inside, make a wish and let them float away.
Decoration
Many people use cowrie shells to decorate clothing, furniture, masks, and more. The cowrie shell is often used to symbolize wealth. In Africa, cowries from the Indian Ocean were sometimes used as money.
Image Credits:
Illustrations: Eric Hamilton