Biodiversity boom: Earth's life support system thriving with 7 million species.
Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms on Earth, along with their genetic differences and the ecosystems they live in. Studies suggest there are around 7 million different species of organisms, with the most diversity found in the Tropics. More even distribution of individuals across species leads to more diverse ecosystems. Biodiversity is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems and provides important services to societies.