Today is the International Day for Biological Biodiversity, and so we thought there was no better day than today to explain what biodiversity refers to and why it is so important!
Biodiversity refers to the HUGE variety of all living things on Earth – this includes animals, plants, fungi, and even tiny microorganisms who cannot be seen with the naked eye. They live in a wide array of ecosystems; ranging from rainforests to coral reefs, to the deep sea. Every single species, regardless of their size, plays a role in keeping the balance of the ecosystem in which they live. And by playing their individual role in their ecosystems, each species assists in collectively supporting a thriving Earth.
Did you know that the smallest animal in the world is called a Myxozoa?
A myxozoa is a group of microscopic invertebrates, which are related to jellyfish. Some species can be as small as 8.5 micrometers (0.0085 mm) when fully grown – to put this into perspective, this means they are about 85 times smaller than a millimeter!
In contrast, the blue whale is the largest animal in the world, with mature individuals reaching lengths of up to 30 meters!
The International Day for Biological Biodiversity is celebrated globally every year on the 22nd of May, and it aims to raise awareness of the importance of the variety of life on our planet. Furthermore, this important awareness day also encourages the action to protect each and every life on earth – no matter if big or small.
We strongly encourage you to join in on the global celebration and to spread the word – every little bit of extra knowledge shared helps in protecting the overall biodiversity of our beautiful planet!
