Biodiversity is the variety or diversity of living organisms at all levels, including species diversity, genetic diversity, taxonomic diversity, and ecological diversity.

Species Diversity Species diversity is the diversity of species in an area of interest. This component of diversity includes the total number of species (species richness) as well as the distribution of individuals among species (species evenness).

Genetic Diversity Genetic diversity includes the variation of individuals within species. Genetic variation is the raw material of evolutionary change. In general, the more individuals in a population and the larger the number of populations, the greater will be the genetic variation.

Taxonomic Diversity Taxonomic diversity is the distribution of species among different groupings. Taxonomic categories (groupings) include phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. A place with high taxonomic diversity, for example, might include species from many different families.

Ecological Diversity Ecology is the study of interrelations between organisms and their environment. Ecological diversity includes the diversity of different ecological communities and the complexity of species interactions in an area.