Genetic diversity is very important for the health of ecosystems. This is something that Year 11 biology students need to understand.

So, what is genetic diversity? It means the different genes found within a group of living things. This variety is important because it helps species adapt and survive when their environment changes.

For example, think about a group of beetles that are exposed to a new pesticide. If all the beetles were exactly the same, a single small change could wipe them all out. But because of genetic diversity, some beetles might have changes that help them survive the pesticide. Those beetles can then live on and have babies.

Also, having a lot of genetic diversity in a species helps keep ecosystems stable. Take coral reefs, for instance. If there are many different kinds of corals, they can better handle things like changes in temperature and diseases. If there is not enough diversity, a whole reef could die, and that would hurt many other sea creatures that depend on it.

In summary, genetic variations—like small changes or differences—make ecosystems stronger. They help living things adapt and stay strong. Protecting genetic diversity is really important for keeping our planet’s ecosystems healthy for the future.