What does biodiversity refer to?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or a specific habitat. This encompasses not only the number of different species present but also the genetic diversity within those species and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience, stability, and the overall functioning of our planet. It includes the wide range of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems they inhabit and the interactions between them. This richness contributes to ecological balance, supports food webs, and provides resources such as food, medicine, and clean water, essential for human survival and well-being.

The other options, while related to the concept of biodiversity, do not encompass its full definition. Counting species within an ecosystem is a component of biodiversity but does not capture the broader context of variety and interactions. Genetic adaptations are important for species survival but focus narrowly on evolutionary processes rather than the variety of life overall. The health of an ecosystem can be influenced by biodiversity, but it is a result of various factors, including biodiversity levels, rather than a definition of biodiversity itself.