Which of the below are arguments for the preservation of biodiversity from the perspective of environmental ethics?
select all that apply (you may need to select more than one answer)
a. biodiversity must be preserved because of its direct use value
b. biodiversity must be preserved because species have intrinsic value
c. the preservation of biodiversity is proper stewardship of the earth
d. none of these

Environmental science studies the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment, including their effects on all types of organisms. earth science (also known as geoscience), is an inclusive term for all sciences related to earth (geology, meteorology, oceanogr maphy, etc).  although environmental and earth science cover essentially the same material, environmental science places greater emphasis on the biological realm, while earth science places greater emphasis on the physical realm.    environmental and earth science study the interactions of four major systems or “spheres” (figure 8.6).  the  geosphere  consists of the core, mantle and crust of the earth.the  atmosphere  contains all of the earth’s air and is divided into troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere.the  hydrosphere  contains all of the solid, liquid and gaseous water on earth, extending from the depths of the sea to the upper reaches of the troposphere where water is found.  ninety-seven percent of the hydrosphere is found in salty oceans, and the remainder is found as vapor or droplets in the atmosphere and as liquid in ground water, lakes, rivers, glaciers and snowfields.  the  biosphere  is the collection of all earth’s life forms, distributed in major life zones known as biomes:   tundra, boreal forest, temperate deciduous forest, temperate grassland, desert, savannah, tropical rainforest, chaparral, freshwater, and marine.although the four systems have their unique identities, there is substantial interaction between them.  environmental scientists study the effects of events in one sphere on the other spheres. for example, a volcanic eruption in the geosphere may cause profound direct and indirect effects on the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere as follows: example 1 (volcano)    on may 18, 1980, mount saint helens, in the state of washington, erupted.  this event altered the surrounding environment, and provided scientists with an opportunity to study the effects of volcanic eruptions on the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.  such studies are vital because volcanic eruptions will continue to occur, and will have increasing impact on humans as people continue to settle lands closer to dormant volcanoes. the following are but a few of the myriad of interactions resulting from a volcanic 

Hunting in the darksome fish rely on senses beyond sight. in the darkness of the marianas trench, a fish called the rattail has an extremely sensitive sense of smell. the fish uses scent, rather than sight, to steer toward food. once it's near food, the rattail uses a special organ on the bottom of its chin to guide itself by feel.marine snowone staple of the deep sea diet is "marine snow," flakes of organic, edible substances that sink down from the upper ocean. animals at the ocean's bottom find sustenance in everything from the bodies of dead creatures to fecal matter. marine snow is diverse enough to support numerous species. for instance, several species of snails and worms feed exclusively on deceased whales.microorganismsthe deep sea is an intricate ecosystem, and even the ocean floor itself plays a part. hydrothermal vents are cracks in the sea floor where erupting magma mixes with ocean water to produce plumes of hot, sulfur-rich chemicals. some microbes can use these chemicals for energy, sustaining their existence and that of the animals who depend on their roles in the deep sea food chain.