1. What is biodiversity? 2. How many species are known to man currently?

1. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, genes, ecosystems, and the interactions between these elements. It is a measure of the health of an ecosystem and is important for the survival of all living things. Biodiversity is essential for the provision of ecosystem services such as food, water, and air purification, as well as for the regulation of climate and disease.<br />2. According to the latest estimates, there are approximately 8.7 million species on Earth, but only about 2.5 million have been described and named. This means that there are still millions of species that have yet to be discovered and studied. It is important to note that the number of species is constantly changing due to factors such as habitat destruction, climate change, and human activities.