Does biodiversity matter?

Answer 1

Yes, assuredly. For one thing, we don't know what the cornerstone species are. Cornerstone species are those species which, if they go extinct, will lead to the destruction of their habitat and the extinction of other species. They may eat something which, without them, will overpopulate and cause the disappearance of another thing, which several other species rely on. If we allow too many cornerstone species to perish, then _we_ might go extinct, or at least have a very hard go of it.

Also, biodiversity is important for the survival of life following huge upheavals on earth. Over the millenia, there have been many events that have affected life across the planet. For instance, the Ice Ages. With the global temperature going down, many species were killed off because they couldn't survive in the colder temperatures. If there were only a few species when something like that happened, the likelihood that none of them could survive that event increases. If that event causes the extinction of, say, 90% of species, it's a much bigger deal if there's only, say, 10 than if there are 10,000. In the first, only one species will survive, and if there's another cataclysmic event, then life is doomed. With the survival of 1,000 species, then life has a much better chance.

Answer 2

Only if you want the Earth to survive after you are gone. Biodiversity is essentially the key to life adapting to changing circumstances; If you have a diverse range of insects, even if some calamitous event happens that changes the environment, some of them will be suited to that changed environment and insect life will go on. The same holds true for all forms of life.

Answer 3

Yes, biodiversity is extremely important for nature. Without nature the earth is doomed.