The health of a habitat can be measured by how many species are in that habitat. This is often referred to as.

Based on the information provided in the text, the primary reason mentioned for maintaining biodiversity aligns with the perspective of ecosystem sustainability. Here's a detailed explanation:

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for several reasons, including gene-pool diversity, utilitarian or intrinsic value, and ecosystem sustainability.

1. Gene-pool diversity: This aspect of biodiversity focuses on the variation within species. Genetic diversity is essential for the resilience and long-term survival of species. It enables them to adapt to changing environmental conditions, resist diseases, and maintain healthy populations.

2. Utilitarian or intrinsic value: Biodiversity has both utilitarian and intrinsic value. Utilitarian value refers to the direct benefits that biodiversity provides to humans, such as the provision of food, raw materials, clean water, climate regulation, flood prevention, pollination, soil formation, and habitat. Biodiversity also has intrinsic value, meaning that it has inherent worth and deserves protection simply because it exists.

3. Ecosystem sustainability: This perspective emphasizes the importance of maintaining biodiversity to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems. Ecosystems are interconnected webs of living organisms and their environment. Each species plays a role in the functioning of the ecosystem. Losing one species can have cascading effects on other species and disrupt the balance of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, maintaining biodiversity is necessary to ensure the stability, resilience, and long-term survival of ecosystems.

In the given text, the primary reason mentioned for maintaining biodiversity is ecosystem sustainability. It highlights that Ontario's biodiversity contributes to the overall health, wellbeing, and prosperity of the province's residents. Biodiversity supports ecosystem services such as clean air, clean water, fertile soils, and habitats for plants and animals. These ecosystem services are essential for maintaining the quality of life, natural resources, and livelihoods of the people in Ontario. The text also emphasizes the need for a shared commitment among all sectors, including the government, to conserve biodiversity and secure the province's quality of life now and in the future. This aligns with the perspective of ecosystem sustainability.