This document discusses biodiversity and monocultures. It notes that scientists have only identified a small fraction of the estimated 5-50 million living species. Biodiversity, or the variety of life in an area, is often measured by species richness which is highest in rainforests and lower in places like deciduous forests. However, human activity like deforestation is destroying habitats and increasing extinction rates far beyond natural levels. Engineered ecosystems like farms use monocultures of non-native species which have lower diversity and require intensive management compared to natural ecosystems.

1. Biodiversity & monocultures