Why does it matter if biodiversity is lost in an ecosystem?

Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience, stability, and productivity, as it enables ecosystems to adapt to changes and recover from disturbances. The loss of biodiversity can disrupt food webs, diminish ecosystem services like pollination and water purification, and reduce genetic diversity essential for species adaptability. Additionally, it can lead to the extinction of species, which may have unknown ecological, medicinal, or economic value. Ultimately, a decline in biodiversity threatens the health of the planet and the well-being of human populations that rely on these ecosystems.