C. Plant and animal diversity is critical to habitat preservation. Levels of diversity A. Rates of speciation B. Species diversity 1. A. Far more organisms to discover than have been found and studied scientifically B. Mere discovery is not enough. Most hotspots and endangered species are found in areas with the most endemic species 2. Extinction A. Altering ecosystems results in acceleration in the extinction of species 1.
Extinction is a natural phenomenon, but rate of extinction drives biodiversity crisis.