Biodiversity: Test your knowledge

Genetic diversity within a species is very important for the survival of the species. It means that different individuals with different sets of genes can handle changing conditions differently. A variation of genes also means that the species gains an increased ability to adapt and evolve, which is part of ongoing evolution.

Ecosystem services are all the benefits that nature provides us humans. Biodiversity forms the foundation for nature’s ability to deliver ecosystem services. The ecosystem functions that provide us with ecosystem services can be used in so-called nature-based solutions. Examples of such solutions include creating wetlands as water reserves and flood protection, planting tree rows as dust, wind, and noise protection, and installing green roofs for cooling and water absorption.

A keystone species refers to the keystone that holds the other stones in place in an arch. Similarly, the keystone species keeps the ecosystem in balance; without it, the ecosystem can be disrupted.

An indicator species, or signal species, is a species that indicates a certain type of habitat, the presence of other species, or qualities in an ecosystem through its presence.

A redlisted species is a species classified as threatened with extinction, and there are different categories within the Red List. The classification is done according to internationally recognized criteria, and the Swedish Red List is provided by the SLU Swedish Species Information Centre.

All fler får upp ögonen för naturbaserade lösningar, inte minst inom stadsplanering, jordbruk och industrier som gruv- och mineralindustrin. Naturbaserade lösningar innebär miljövänliga sätt att tackla olika problem på, exempelvis damning eller vattenrening, samtidigt som man också gynnar den biologiska mångfalden.

In its 2019 report, The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES identified five drivers behind the loss of biodiversity:

1. Land and sea use change
2. Direct exploitation of natural resources
3. Climate change
4. Pollution
5. Invasive species

Critically Endangered (CR) is the most severe Red List category a species can have before being classified as Regionally Extinct (RE). The steps before Critically Endangered are Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), and Endangered (EN). There are also many species for which there is insufficient data to make a classification; these are marked as Data Deficient (DD).