Why Is Biodiversity So Important?

Articles/Websites

Grades3-12Biology

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by TED-Ed

Open Resource

What it is

This video details why biodiversity is crucial for our survival on Earth, introducing students to ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.
Students will learn about keystone species in the ocean, the interconnectedness of species within the Amazon rainforest, and the vulnerability of ecosystems to collapse.

Teaching tips

Positives

This animated video explains the complex concept of biodiversity in an easy-to-understand way.
The video has colorful images that support student understanding.

Additional Prerequisites

You must sign in to use the "Think" and "Discuss" interactive features on the TED-Ed site.
Students should have a basic understanding of the terms diversity, ecosystem, genetics, and species.

Differentiation

In addition to science classes, this video could work in a social studies class that is learning about different parts of the world or a language arts class that is working on non-fiction reading and comprehension.
While viewing, pause and ask students to explain the examples of biodiversity from the video.
As an extension activity, ask groups of students to research another example of biodiversity that was not included in the video. Can they find an example from another ecosystem?
Other resources related to this topic include Biodiversity and Humans, this video about coral reefs, and How Rainforests are Formed and How They are Being Destroyed.

From the scientist review

This TED-Ed video efficiently explains the importance of biodiversity and how it prevents ecosystems from collapsing. This resource is recommended for teaching.

How we review resources

Ready to use it?

Hosted on ed.ted.com

Open Resource

Want this to fit your class?

Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.

At a glance

Grades: 3-12
Subjects: Biology
Other types: Videos, Assessments, Interactive Media
Language: English
Location: Earth, South America
Provider: TED-Ed
Authors: TED-Ed, Kim Preshoff
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-LS2-2. + 52 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
MS-LS2-5.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

New Jersey Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

Oregon Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3.LS4.33.LS4.3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5.LS2.15.LS2.1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
7.LS2.27.LS2.2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS.LS2.6HS.LS2.6 Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS.LS4.5HS.LS4.5 Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Maine Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3-LS4-33-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-15-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6HS-LS2-6 Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5HS-LS4-5 Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

New York Climate Education Hub

New York Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat, some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants (producers), animals (consumers), decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms in a variety of ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
MS-LS2-5.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

3-LS4-33-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-15-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6HS-LS2-6 Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5HS-LS4-5 Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Illinois Climate Education

Illinois Climate Education Standards legacy

MS-LS2-5.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.*
3-LS4-3.3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2.MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Cookie Preferences

What it is

Teaching tips

From the scientist review

Ready to use it?

Want this to fit your class?

Related Teaching Resources