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Biodiversity

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is necessary for life to thrive on Earth.

Aldo Leopold, one of the great thinkers of conservation, observed more than half a century ago the importance of protecting species. "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering," he wrote. Losing species is like throwing away one by one the engine parts of an airplane while flying.

Biodiversity is a major initiative of Conservation International.

Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as those for clean, consistent water flows; protection from floods and storms; and a stable climate. 

Curated by mokiethecat

The Lake Titicaca Water Frog
July 17, 2019

The critically endangered Lake Titicaca water frog inhabits Lake Titicaca in the Andes, at elevations over 12,500 feet. This amphibian thrives in its high-altitude, cold, low-oxygen environment thanks to voluminous skin folds, earning it the nickname "scrotum frog." These folds increase surface area, allowing efficient oxygen absorption.

Despite its unique adaptation, the frog faces severe threats. Its population declined by an estimated 80 percent between 1990 and 2004, primarily due to human predation and water pollution. This alarming drop underscores its critically endangered status.