Which of the following examples illustrates the community with the highest biodiversity?

• A. A desert with a few species of cactus and lizards
• B. A cornfield planted with a single crop species
• C. A pine plantation consisting of only one tree species
• D. A tropical rainforest containing hundreds of plant, animal, and microbial species

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It includes species richness (the number of different species) and species evenness (how evenly the individuals are distributed among those species). Ecosystems with higher biodiversity are more resilient and stable.
2. Analyze the examples provided: Each example represents a different type of ecosystem. Compare the number of species and the variety of organisms present in each ecosystem to determine which has the highest biodiversity.
3. Evaluate the desert ecosystem: A desert typically has a few species of cactus and lizards, which indicates low species richness and limited biodiversity.
4. Evaluate the cornfield and pine plantation: Both the cornfield and pine plantation consist of only one species (monoculture), which represents extremely low biodiversity. These ecosystems are highly uniform and lack variety.
5. Evaluate the tropical rainforest: A tropical rainforest contains hundreds of plant, animal, and microbial species, making it the ecosystem with the highest biodiversity among the options. Tropical rainforests are known for their rich variety of life forms and complex ecological interactions.