Biodiversity and Connectivity are two terms that have important meanings – and important impact on the environment and ultimately our own health. Here are the basics:
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is defined as, “the number and types of plants and animals that exist in a particular area or in the world generally.”1
The term is relatively new, having been first used in the 1980s by authors discussing research and climate change.2 Today, the term is used broadly and frequently in conversations about environmental health.
When biodiversity is low – meaning fewer species of plants and animals by any means – the various aspects of the complex systems that rely upon each other within our environment are at risk of failure. A lengthy study by the United Nations’ research body showed that up to one million species were at risk of extinction in 2019 with dire consequences for humanity, leading to the declaration in the media of a biodiversity crisis.3
What is Connectivity?
Biodiversity relies on the ability of species of all types to move from one location to another – the connection between what landscapers and ecologists call “patches.”7
In urban areas, there is often a lack of connectivity between greenspaces or other ecological patches, leading to a decline in biodiversity. This is known as habitat fragmentation – a literal breaking apart of natural spaces.8
Improving connectivity in ecosystems helps protect and improve biodiversity; wildlife corridors are an easy-to-visualize example of how connectivity helps species move from patch to patch.
There are more than 5,000 vascular plants species in Canada, a part of the about 80,000 unique species across taxonomic kingdoms.10 By growing native plants and aiding in connectivity across urban areas, we can help protect these species, biodiversity, and ourselves.
Sources
1 Cambridge University Press & Assessment . (n.d.-b). Biodiversity | English meaning – cambridge dictionary. Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/biodiversity
2 Sarkar, S. (2021, July 1). Origin of the term biodiversity | Bioscience – Oxford academic. BioScience. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/71/9/893/6312537
3 Guardian News and Media. (2019, May 3). Biodiversity Crisis is about to put humanity at risk, UN scientists to warn. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/03/climate-crisis-is-about-to-put-humanity-at-risk-un-scientists-warn
4 Lund University. (2022, December 16). Biodiversity explained. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idx_ya6r55c
5 Canada, E. and C. C. (2024, July 30). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/biodiversity.html
6 Webb, S. (2023, August 7). Going local: How native plant gardening supports biodiversity and conservation. Medium. https://medium.com/%40stephen-webb/going-local-how-native-plant-gardening-supports-biodiversity-and-conservation-a66633313c0b
7/8 Libretexts. (2024, October 8). 21.2: Important terms in landscape ecology. Biology LibreTexts. https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Gettysburg_College/01%3A_Ecology_for_All/21%3A_Landscape_Ecology_and_Island_Biogeography/21.02%3A_Important_Terms_in_Landscape_Ecology
9 The Center for Large Landscape Conservation. (2017, December 11). Connectivity Conservation: Why Wildlife Corridors Matter!. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cswQpkHiPOs
10 Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022). Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada. https://www.wildspecies.ca/file/si340160/download/Wild%20Species%202020-fi36204852.pdf