Image of the month: March 2021
The importance of genetic diversity in the oceans
Our image of the month shows a scene from Caribbean shallows, taken under the boat pier of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. It is symbolic of the great biodiversity in the oceans, which, however, is declining even in typical biodiversity hotspots like the Caribbean. Yet great biodiversity is important for ecosystems to function, to produce biomass and thus also provide food for humans.
However, biodiversity does not only mean that many different species are found in an ecosystem. An equally important, but sometimes little considered aspect is the genetic diversity within species. It plays a crucial role in the resilience of an ecosystem, the survival of species and their adaptation in a rapidly changing environment. Before species become extinct, their genetic diversity is usually greatly reduced. This has been shown by numerous studies. Measurements of this diversity component can therefore serve as early warning indicators.
Photo: Thorsten Reusch/GEOMAR
