Biodiversity helps us understand, enjoy, and appreciate our world

Beyond issues of policy and pragmatism lies the human “need to know.” Most people are fascinated by the richness and diversity of life and want to know more about organisms, how they function, and how they interact (Figure 1.17). For the biologist, biodiversity offers an inexhaustible source of new questions and opportunities for new investigations and experiments. New discoveries and greater knowledge generate questions no one thought to ask before. Science is a never-ending quest.

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Figure 1.17 Exploring Life on Earth These biologists are collecting insects in the top boughs of a spruce tree in the Carmanah Valley of Vancouver, Canada. Biologists estimate that the number of species discovered to date is only a small percentage of the species that inhabit Earth. To fill this gap in our knowledge, biologists around the world are applying thorough sampling techniques and new genetic tools to document and understand the Earth’s biodiversity.

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Apart from scientific endeavors, biodiversity enriches our lives. You may be an avid birdwatcher, or enjoy gardening, or seek out particular species if you hunt or fish. Some people observe or collect butterflies, or mushrooms, or other groups of plants and animals. Displays of spring wildflowers bring out throngs of human viewers. Hiking and camping in natural areas full of diverse species are activities enjoyed by millions. Learning about biology greatly increases our enjoyment of the world around us.