The concept of biodiversity: local and global trends in biodiversity
Biodiversity means the variety of living species in an area. Scientists measure it at local scales, like a single woodland, and at the global scale — and both show long-term decline.
Real World
The UK's ancient woodland covers less than 2.5% of the country's land area and supports over 50% of its most threatened species; globally, the IUCN Red List recorded over 44,000 species threatened with extinction as of 2023, illustrating contrasting local and global scales of biodiversity loss.
Exam Focus
Distinguish clearly between species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity — conflating these terms loses definition marks.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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