Which of the following is a direct benefit of biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a given area and includes the variety of species, genetic variations, and the ecosystems that support them. One direct benefit of biodiversity is the lowered risk of disease transmission. Diverse ecosystems tend to be more resilient and stable, which can help reduce the prevalence of pathogens and the spread of diseases. For example, when there is a greater variety of species, it can lead to a more balanced ecological system, which can limit the dominance of any single species that might carry diseases. Additionally, a diverse set of plants and animals contributes to a healthy environment that can naturally regulate pest populations, further decreasing the risk of diseases that could impact human health.

In contrast, other options outline scenarios that do not represent benefits of biodiversity. Higher energy consumption in ecosystems may indicate inefficiencies within an ecosystem, while decreased access to natural resources and increased reliance on synthetic materials hint at unsustainable practices that do not align with the principles of biodiversity conservation.