IELTS Reading Practice: The Importance of Biodiversity in Ecosystems

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the test, assessing your ability to comprehend complex texts and extract relevant information. Today, we’ll focus on a topic that has been increasingly prevalent in recent years: “The importance of biodiversity in ecosystems.” This subject has appeared in various forms in past IELTS exams and, given its growing global significance, is likely to resurface in future tests. Let’s dive into a practice exercise that will help you sharpen your reading skills while exploring this vital environmental concept.

Biodiversity in ecosystems

Practice Reading Passage

The Vital Role of Biodiversity in Ecosystem Functioning

Biodiversity, the variety of life forms within a given ecosystem, plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and functionality of our planet’s environments. From the tiniest microorganisms to the largest mammals, each species contributes to the intricate web of life that sustains our world. In recent years, scientists have increasingly recognized the importance of biodiversity in ensuring ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience.

One of the primary ways in which biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning is through the concept of niche complementarity. This theory suggests that different species occupy distinct ecological niches, utilizing resources in unique ways. For instance, in a forest ecosystem, various tree species may have different root systems that access water and nutrients at different soil depths. This complementarity allows for more efficient use of available resources, leading to higher overall productivity.

Moreover, biodiversity enhances ecosystem stability through the “insurance effect.” In diverse ecosystems, multiple species often perform similar functions. If one species declines due to environmental changes or disturbances, others can step in to maintain essential ecosystem services. This redundancy acts as a buffer against ecosystem collapse, ensuring the continuity of vital processes such as nutrient cycling, pollination, and pest control.

Biodiversity also plays a crucial role in ecosystem resilience – the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances. Diverse ecosystems are generally more resilient because they have a broader range of species with different traits and adaptive capabilities. This diversity increases the likelihood that some species will survive and thrive under changing conditions, helping the ecosystem to bounce back more quickly from environmental stresses.

Furthermore, biodiversity contributes to the provision of ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being. These services include the production of food, fuel, and medicine, as well as climate regulation, water purification, and soil formation. For example, diverse plant communities in coastal areas can more effectively protect shorelines from erosion and storm damage compared to monocultures.

However, human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change are causing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss. This loss not only threatens the intrinsic value of diverse life forms but also jeopardizes the functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide. Conservation efforts and sustainable management practices are therefore crucial to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the long-term health of our planet’s ecosystems.

In conclusion, the importance of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning cannot be overstated. It underpins the stability, productivity, and resilience of natural systems, providing a foundation for life on Earth. As we face global environmental challenges, understanding and preserving biodiversity becomes increasingly critical for the sustainability of both natural ecosystems and human societies.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple Choice

1. What is the main way biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning according to the passage?
   A) Through genetic diversity
   B) Through niche complementarity
   C) Through species competition
   D) Through habitat fragmentation

2. The “insurance effect” in ecosystems refers to:
   A) The financial value of biodiversity
   B) The protection against natural disasters
   C) The redundancy of functions performed by multiple species
   D) The ability of ecosystems to produce insurance products

3. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a benefit of biodiversity?
   A) Increased ecosystem productivity
   B) Enhanced ecosystem stability
   C) Improved ecosystem resilience
   D) Reduced genetic variation

True/False/Not Given

4. Niche complementarity allows for more efficient use of available resources in an ecosystem.
5. The insurance effect is more prominent in ecosystems with low biodiversity.
6. Human activities are the primary cause of biodiversity loss.
7. Biodiversity loss affects only the aesthetic value of ecosystems.

Matching Headings

Match the following headings to the correct paragraphs in the passage:

A. The concept of niche complementarity
B. The insurance effect in ecosystems
C. Biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
D. Ecosystem services provided by biodiversity
E. Threats to biodiversity and conservation needs

8. Paragraph 2: ____
9. Paragraph 3: ____
10. Paragraph 4: ____
11. Paragraph 5: ____
12. Paragraph 6: ____

Summary Completion

Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Biodiversity is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. It supports ecosystem functioning through (13) __, which allows for efficient resource use. The (14) __ helps maintain stability by providing functional redundancy. Biodiversity also enhances ecosystem (15) __, enabling faster recovery from disturbances. It provides crucial (16) __ such as food production and climate regulation. However, human activities are causing (17) __ at unprecedented rates, threatening ecosystem health and functionality.

Answer Key and Explanations

1. B) Through niche complementarity
   Explanation: The passage states, “One of the primary ways in which biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning is through the concept of niche complementarity.”

2. C) The redundancy of functions performed by multiple species
   Explanation: The passage explains, “If one species declines due to environmental changes or disturbances, others can step in to maintain essential ecosystem services. This redundancy acts as a buffer against ecosystem collapse.”

3. D) Reduced genetic variation
   Explanation: The passage does not mention reduced genetic variation as a benefit of biodiversity. In fact, biodiversity typically increases genetic variation.

4. True
   Explanation: The passage states, “This complementarity allows for more efficient use of available resources, leading to higher overall productivity.”

5. False
   Explanation: The passage implies that the insurance effect is more prominent in diverse ecosystems, not those with low biodiversity.

6. True
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “However, human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change are causing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss.”

7. Not Given
   Explanation: The passage does not specifically state that biodiversity loss affects only the aesthetic value of ecosystems. It mentions both intrinsic value and ecosystem functioning.

8. A

9. B

10. C

11. D

12. E

13. niche complementarity

14. insurance effect

15. resilience

16. ecosystem services

17. biodiversity loss

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Misinterpreting “Not Given” statements: Remember, if the information is not explicitly stated in the passage, it should be marked as “Not Given,” even if it seems logical or true in general.

2. Overlooking synonyms and paraphrasing: The questions often use different words to express the same ideas as in the passage. Be prepared to recognize alternative phrasing.

3. Falling for distractors in multiple-choice questions: Always check all options before selecting an answer, as distractors may seem partially correct.

4. Exceeding word limits in summary completion: Stick strictly to the word limit given in the instructions.

5. Rushing through the passage: Take time to understand the overall structure and main ideas before attempting the questions.

Vocabulary Focus

• Biodiversity: [baɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪti] (noun) – the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat
• Ecosystem: [ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm] (noun) – a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
• Niche: [niːʃ] (noun) – the position or role of an organism within its environment and community
• Complementarity: [ˌkɒmplɪmenˈtærɪti] (noun) – a relationship between things in which each adds something to the other or helps to make the other better
• Resilience: [rɪˈzɪliəns] (noun) – the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness

Grammar Focus

Complex sentences with multiple clauses are common in academic texts. For example:

“If one species declines due to environmental changes or disturbances, others can step in to maintain essential ecosystem services.”

This sentence structure includes:

• A conditional clause: “If one species declines…”
• A main clause: “others can step in…”
• A purpose infinitive: “to maintain essential ecosystem services”

Practice constructing similar complex sentences to improve your writing skills for the IELTS exam.

Tips for Success

1. Practice active reading: Underline key points and make quick notes as you read to improve comprehension and retention.

2. Improve your vocabulary: Regularly learn new words related to environmental science and ecology to better understand complex texts on these topics.

3. Time management: Allocate your time wisely between reading the passage and answering questions. A good strategy is to spend about 20 minutes reading and 40 minutes answering for a one-hour reading test.

4. Skim and scan effectively: Quickly identify the main ideas of each paragraph before diving into detailed reading.

5. Stay informed: Read scientific articles and news about biodiversity and ecosystems regularly. This will help you build background knowledge, making it easier to understand related passages in the IELTS test.

By focusing on these areas and practicing regularly with passages like this one, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the IELTS Reading section with confidence. Remember, understanding complex topics like biodiversity not only helps with your IELTS preparation but also contributes to your overall knowledge of important global issues.

For more practice on environmental topics, check out our articles on the importance of ocean conservation and how to protect biodiversity in urban areas. These resources will further enhance your understanding of ecological concepts frequently tested in IELTS.