What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is short for "biological diversity." It means all the different kinds of living things on Earth—like animals, plants, fungi, and even tiny organisms like bacteria. It also includes the places they live and how they all interact. In simple terms, biodiversity is the variety of life on our planet and the natural patterns it forms.
Biodiversity in Galway
Galway is lucky to have a rich and mostly untouched natural environment. It has many rare plants, animals, and habitats that you won’t find in other parts of Ireland or even Europe. Some of these special places include bogs, sea cliffs, sand dunes, seasonal lakes (called turloughs), river meadows, limestone areas, and beaches made of coral-like algae. These areas are important not just in Ireland, but around the world.
Key Terms from the Heritage Act, 1995
- Fauna: All wild animals and birds, including fish, mammals, reptiles, insects, and amphibians. It also includes their eggs, young, and other early life stages—though for fish and water creatures, only certain species are included.
- Flora: All wild plants, both on land and in water. This includes mosses, fungi, algae, and flowering plants, but not farmed or garden plants.
- Geology: The study of Earth—its materials, how they change, and the history of life shown in fossils. It includes things like rock layers, caves, and minerals.
- Landscape: Areas that are special because of their beauty, history, science, or nature.
- Seascape: Coastal areas like bays and lagoons that are important for their beauty, nature, or science.
- Wildlife Habitat: The natural environment where certain animals or plants live and grow.