BOG TURTLE
THE SMALLEST U.S NATIVE FRESHWATER TURTLE
“THE SMALLER THE CREATURE, THE BOLDER ITS SPIRIT."
-Suzy Kassem
THE BOG TURTLE NEEDS YOUR HELP
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Bog turtle photo courtesy of Gary Peeples/USFWS, 2015. Moss photo courtesy of Matt Reiner/Wix
There are only 2,500-10,000 bog turtles left in the wild
What is Biodiversity, and Why is it so Important?
The air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink all depend on biodiversity. The term biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat, ecosystem, or biome. The three main types of biodiversity include: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity refers to the genetic variation within and between populations, has a big role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
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Genetic diversity is important because it helps maintain the health of a population through allowing a wide gene pool, which makes evolution and adaptation possible. Low genetic diversity leads to inbreeding, which can make species very vulnerable to disease and disorders.
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Species diversity, which refers to the diversity between species, is crucial in maintaining a healthy ecosystem too. If an ecosystem has poor species diversity, it may not function properly or effectively because each species fulfills its own niche role in the ecosystem.
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Ecosystem diversity refers to how diverse a certain ecosystem is. The more diverse an ecosystem is, the stronger and better it will be. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity so every species has a specific role to play in their ecosystem. Biodiversity is important because all organisms in an environment play a specific role which improves the productivity of the environment. Biodiversity is what provides the natural resources we as human beings rely on so heavily, without biodiversity we wouldn’t have naturally filtered water or food (Carrington, 2018).
Young bog turtle, courtesy of Gary Peeples/USFWS, 2015.