What do we mean when we talk about biodiversity? “Bio” is a prefix meaning “life.” “Diversity” refers to the “condition of having or being composed of differing elements.” Therefore, biodiversity is the variety of all living things. But we can go a bit further. Researchers and scientists who study biodiversity also study the relationship these plants, animals, and organisms have with each other and with their natural surroundings, or “habitat.” The biodiversity of a particular region, or natural area, looks at the number of different species in that area, the way those species interact with each other, as well as whether or not the region has an abundant food supply and sufficient habitation to support them.

Kentucky is nationally recognized as one of the more biodiverse regions in the country. From the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern part of the state, to the Jackson Purchase in the west as part of the larger Gulf Plains Region, Kentucky has an incredibly diverse geographic landscape. Mountains, plateaus, plains, rolling hills, or “knobs,” meadows, caves, lakes, rivers, streams, and valleys are unique natural areas which can support a variety of plants, animals, fish, and other organisms.

Did you know Kentucky ranks third on the list of states with the most native fish? Mammoth Cave, in Edmonson County, is the longest cave system in the world. The caves and underground streams in this system are home to obligate species that cannot be found anywhere else. You can find one of the largest prairie remnants east of the Mississippi on Fort Campbell in Trigg and Christian counties. Some of the mountains of eastern Kentucky are include the most diverse temperate deciduous forests in the world.

There is a lot to learn from studying the natural world around us. Kentucky’s Natural Heritage: An Interactive Guide to Biodiversity is a collection of instructional resources designed to help users better understand the complex interrelationships between organisms and their habitats.

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