What does the term "biodiversity" refer to?

The term "biodiversity" refers to the variety of life found in a particular habitat or ecosystem. This encompasses not only the number of species present but also the variety of ecosystems and the genetic diversity within those species. Biodiversity is a crucial indicator of the health of an ecosystem, as it can affect ecological stability, productivity, and the ability of ecosystems to recover from disturbances.

While the number of species in a given area relates to biodiversity, it does not encapsulate the full meaning. Biodiversity includes species richness (the count of different species) as well as the variety of ecosystems and their interactions, which is why option B is the most comprehensive and accurate definition. The aspects of genetic differences within a species and total biomass are related concepts but do not fully capture the broader ecological implications encompassed by biodiversity.