Which term denotes the variety of life necessary for resilience and sustainability of ecosystems?

• A. Biodiversity
• B. Reservoir
• C. Aquifer
• D. Terracing

Answer: (A)

Biodiversity is the variety of life at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels, and it is what gives ecosystems the flexibility to cope with and recover from disturbances. When many different species and genetic variations exist, ecological functions like pollination, nutrient cycling, pest control, and soil formation are more likely to continue even if some species are stressed or wiped out. This redundancy and range of responses help ecosystems resist shocks, adapt to changing conditions, and keep providing essential services such as food, clean water, and climate regulation over time. The other terms describe water storage or land management practices, not the diversity of living beings, so they don’t capture the idea of resilience born from life variety.