Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life. This can refer to genetic variation, species variation, or ecosystem variation within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be
highest near the equator, which seems to be the result of the warm climate and high
primary productivity. Marine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the
Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest and in
mid-latitudinal band in all oceans. Biodiversity generally tends to
cluster in hotspots, and has been increasing through time but will be likely to slow in
the future.
