Biodiversity refers to which of the following?

• A. Only genetic diversity
• B. The variety and variability of life in an environment
• C. A single species in an ecosystem
• D. Only species richness

Answer: (B)

Biodiversity is about the variety and variability of life in an environment, not just one aspect of it. It covers genetic diversity (the different genes within and among populations), species diversity (how many different species are present and how evenly they’re represented), and ecosystem or habitat diversity (the range of habitats and ecological processes). So the best description is the broad idea of life’s variety and variability across genes, species, and environments. For example, a thriving rainforest has many species, substantial genetic variation within those species, and a mix of habitats, all contributing to its overall biodiversity. The other options are too narrow: focusing only on genetic diversity, a single species, or only species richness misses the full, interconnected picture.