Biodiversity

nature · ecology · species · planet

Variety at every level. Biodiversity isn't just about different animals and plants. It includes genetic differences within species, the number of different species in an area, and how ecosystems work together. Scientists measure all these layers to understand how rich and varied life really is.

Unequally spread out. Biodiversity isn't scattered evenly across the planet. The tropics near the equator have way more species than colder areas, thanks to the warm weather and abundant energy from the sun that helps plants and animals thrive.

Rainforest powerhouse. Tropical rainforests cover less than 20% of Earth's land, yet they're home to about half of all the world's species. These dense, warm forests are like nature's treasure chests packed with incredible variety.

Ocean patterns too. Both on land and in the ocean, you'll find more species variety the closer you get to the equator. This trend happens across different types of animals and plants everywhere on Earth.