Biodiversity learning hub
Explore the variety of life at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. This hub brings together clear, science-based guides on biodiversity measurement, hotspots, habitat loss, threatened ecosystems, conservation priorities and the ecological roles of important species.
Start with biodiversity fundamentals
Biodiversity is more than the number of species in an area. It includes genetic variation within species, differences among species and the variety of ecosystems across landscapes and regions.
Importance of Biodiversity
Understand how biodiversity supports ecosystem resilience, food production, pollination, water purification, climate regulation and human well-being.
Types of Ecosystems
Compare forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, freshwater and marine ecosystems and the communities they support.
Flora and Fauna
Review the meaning and ecological importance of plant and animal life within particular habitats and geographical regions.
Measure and compare biodiversity
Biodiversity can be examined within a single community or compared across sites. Richness, evenness, Shannon diversity, Simpson measures and beta diversity describe different features of ecological communities.
Biodiversity Index Calculator
Enter species-abundance data manually or upload a CSV file. Calculate species richness, Shannon diversity, Simpson measures, Hill numbers, Pielou evenness, Margalef richness and Menhinick richness for one or several ecological communities.
- Analyze one or multiple communities
- Compare diversity among sites
- View rank-abundance patterns
- Review formulas and interpretation
- Download calculated results
Shannon, Simpson and Richness
Learn why different indices respond differently to species richness, evenness, rarity and dominance within a community.
Comparing Community Composition
Understand how beta diversity describes changes in species composition among habitats, sites or environmental gradients.
Why Sampling Effort Matters
Learn why sample size, season, habitat, taxonomic resolution and survey design must be considered when comparing biodiversity values.
Explore important regions and ecosystems
Biodiversity is distributed unevenly across the planet. Tropical forests, coral reefs, wetlands, islands and mountain regions often support exceptional biological richness and high levels of endemism.
Biodiversity Hotspots
Learn the scientific criteria used to identify biodiversity hotspots and why these threatened, species-rich regions receive conservation priority.
India’s Biodiversity
Explore the biological richness of India across the Himalayas, Western Ghats, forests, deserts, wetlands, coasts and islands.
Most Biodiverse Countries
Compare countries with exceptional species richness, ecosystem diversity and concentrations of endemic plants and animals.
The Amazon Rainforest
Understand how the Amazon supports extraordinary biodiversity while regulating rainfall, storing carbon and sustaining human communities.
Tropical Rainforests
Examine the climate, vegetation, species diversity and ecological importance of tropical rainforests around the world.
Most Threatened Ecosystems
Review ecosystems facing severe pressure from habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation and invasive species.
Understand the major threats to biodiversity
Habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species and climate change can reduce populations, alter ecological interactions and increase extinction risk.
Causes and Effects of Biodiversity Loss
Review the principal drivers of biodiversity decline and their consequences for species, ecosystems and human societies.
Habitat Fragmentation
See how roads, agriculture, cities and infrastructure divide habitats into smaller, increasingly isolated patches.
Climate Change and Biodiversity
Examine how warming, shifting rainfall, sea-level rise and extreme events affect species distributions and ecosystems.
Water Pollution and Biodiversity
Understand how contaminants, nutrient enrichment, oxygen depletion and habitat degradation affect aquatic communities.
Marine Habitat Loss
Learn how coastal development, destructive fishing, pollution, warming and invasive species affect marine habitats.
What Is Happening to Coral Reefs?
Examine how ocean warming, bleaching, acidification, pollution and overfishing threaten coral reef biodiversity.
Conservation, restoration and monitoring
Effective biodiversity conservation combines habitat protection, ecological restoration, sustainable resource use, biological monitoring and participation by communities and institutions.
Ecological Restoration
Learn how ecological restoration supports the recovery of degraded ecosystems and why long-term monitoring remains essential.
Biological Monitoring
Understand how organisms, communities and ecological responses can be used to assess environmental conditions.
Beetle Banks and Beneficial Biodiversity
See how managed habitat strips can support beneficial insects, pollination and natural pest control in agricultural landscapes.
Species Spotlight: ecological roles and conservation
Individual species can shape habitats, regulate food webs, disperse seeds, control populations or support ecosystem processes. These examples connect species biology with wider conservation questions.
African Elephant
Learn how African elephants shape vegetation, create habitat and influence ecological processes across savannas and forests.
Sea Otter
Discover how sea otters regulate sea urchin populations and help maintain productive coastal kelp-forest ecosystems.
Pangolin
Explore the biology of pangolins, the threats created by illegal wildlife trade and the need for effective protection.
Red Panda
Learn about red panda adaptations, bamboo-forest habitat and the conservation pressures facing this distinctive mammal.
Kakapo
Discover the ecology and conservation of the flightless kakapo, the world’s heaviest parrot.
Axolotl
Explore the unusual biology, regenerative ability and conservation challenges of this freshwater amphibian.
A suggested biodiversity learning path
Use this sequence to build a structured understanding of biodiversity for coursework, assignments, field studies and examinations.
Learn the foundations
Begin with the meaning, levels and ecological importance of biodiversity.
Study measurement
Compare richness, evenness, Shannon diversity, Simpson measures and beta diversity.
Examine threats
Review habitat change, pollution, climate pressure, overexploitation and extinction risk.
Apply conservation concepts
Connect hotspots, monitoring, restoration and species protection with real ecological examples.
Useful biodiversity resources
Use these tools and guides for revision, ecological data exploration and further study.
