Adulto mayor

What is this thing called biodiversity?

Lopez Vega was part of an international project, developed during two decades, which had as main objective to keep the greatest possible diversity of living things. While fantastic, the above account reflects something that is part of our everyday reality of the late twentieth century and is of great importance: the biodiversity crisis.
But what doesbiodiversity? The scientists, who have an obsession with strange names to even the simplest things, created this word to refer to all living beings and the planet. Of course not only gave him a name, but also defined it: Biodiversity is the variety and variability of living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they integrate. Between us, biodiversity is synonymous with "diversity oflife" or "biodiversity."

Now, how do we analyze this diversity? Basically, three levels have been identified arising from the above definition (Fig. 1): GREEN (referred to ecosystems, the complex formed by the organisms and the environment they live in), specific (that has to do with species, ie, sets of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other) and genetic (refers to genes, whichconstitute the molecular basis of heredity).
So we can speak of ecological diversity and gene specific. While biodiversity can be measured in any of these levels, specific, or that of the species, is, in practice, the fundamental unit when evaluating strategies for their conservation. If not, see pictures of the panda who represents the World Wildlife Fund (an international non-governmentalorganization that works to conserve nature), or macaw Conabio (Fig. 2), a national organization. Think also of how many times you hear "save the sea turtles" or "save the whales", while you hardly have said "save the gene rzx1." Anyway, do not worry, because when things are done well, to preserve species, we are also preserving the genes that lead in and the ecosystems to which they belong.

[pic]But why is biodiversity important? Let us begin to think this from a hypothetical situation. Let's start by assuming that you are about to take a bus tour that will take you. Upon reaching the station, find a man that you are removing a few screws to vehicle. Suppose you drop the confusion and opt for dialogue, after all, you've been taught that it is better to behave like a civilized person. Yougo to type and ask: "Excuse me, sir, could you explain what you're doing?". He also very civilized, I replied: "I'm getting screws from the body or" Are you blind? ". You decide to persist and ask (at this point the tone of your voice slowly rise): "But why?". The character, presented as a mechanic for the company, look at you as if you were unable to understand the profound implications of theirselfless work, but decided to make the effort (after all you are the customer) and proceeds to explain: "Look, thing is this: the company selling the screws get money, and I pay a percentage of the sale price. But it's for a good cause, the screws are to be recycled. Furthermore, it is the first time that we do, and even Now nothing ever happened. " Satisfied with his answer is quick to completeyour task today will turn out only eighteen screws. You almost believe that you were talking to a fool, you tell your classmates and after discussing the risk of traveling in the minibus, and together they decide not to go to the manager's office for their money back travel.
Now back to reality (and the topic at hand). You and we all live on a planet where living things and ecosystems haveevolved interacting among themselves. Since our planet originated, for at least five billion years, have created the conditions for making the world what it is today: our world, the only one in which we live, ie the minibus in which , or yes, we have to travel. In recent decades there are numerous screw-species of animals and plants, which have been removing the planet. So far, the ecosystems are...