Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms in a particular ecosystem or on Earth as a whole. It includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. It includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.