Biodiversity: GCSE Geography Definition

What is biodiversity in geography?

In GCSE geography, biodiversity is the variety (the number) of plants (flora) and animals (fauna) found in an ecosystem.

The hotter and wetter a place is, the more plant species there tend to be. These provide food and habitats for animals, so the greater the number of animal species.

Tropical rainforests have the highest levels of biodiversity because they are warm and wet all year round. Approximately, 50% of the world's plant and animal species live within the rainforest biome.

In GCSE geography, biodiversity is important because:

• It provides us with resources such as food, fuel, clothing, and housing, and it's also a source of economic benefit through tourism.

• It supports a healthy ecosystem and provides us with the air we breathe and the food we eat.

• Species and organisms interact, which maintains balance and supports life.

Biodiversity revision resources to ace your exams

You can learn more about biodiversity in our GCSE Geography revision note pages:

• Ecosystems (AQA GCSE Geography)

• Goods & Services of the Tropical Rainforest (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)

• Biosphere - A Life Support System (Edexcel GCSE Geography B)

• Ecosystems (OCR GCSE Geography B)

Meet all your GCSE Geography revision needs, improve your grades, and boost your confidence using revision resources from Save My Exams. This includes revision notes, flashcards and exam questions with student-friendly mark schemes.