Biodiversity

We Live in a most Fantastic

Place !
Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the number

and variety of life forms found within a specified

geographic region.
This includes the different plants, animals and
microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the
ecosystems they form.
This living wealth is the product of hundreds of millions
of years of evolutionary history.
Covers diversity within species, between species as well
as variations among ecosystems.

Why is biodiversity important?

Human beings are dependent for their health,

well-being and enjoyment of life on basic

biological systems and processes.

 People get food and

many medicines and

industrial products from
the
wild
and
domesticated
components
of
biological diversity.

Biodiversity also

serves recreation and

tourism, and supports
the ecosystems which
provide us with many
services.

Important Role of Biodiversity

Ecological Role..
Economic Role..
Scientific Role..

Ecological Role of Biodiversity

All species provide at least one function in an

ecosystem.
Each function is an integral part of regulating

the species balance, species diversity and

species health: all aspects which are intrinsic
for the ecosystem as a whole to survive and
prosper.

Economic Role of
Biodiversity .
Food: Crop Biodiversity or agrobiodiversity.
Goods: Various things like timber, paper,

medicines.
Recreation: Wildlife tourism, trekking nature
photography, birdwatching.

Scientific Role of Biodiversity

Genetic

resources: Biotechnology and

genetic engineering use the genes of
organisms to make new crops and medicines.
Each species can give scientist some clue as
to how life evolved and will continue to
evolve.

Factors determining Degree of

Diversity
Habitat stress
Geographical isolation
Dominance by one species
Availability of ecological niches
Edge effect
Geological history

Types of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity
Species diversity Ecosystem diversity

A. Genetic
Genetic diversity
is the variation in the genetic
Diversity
composition of individuals in a population,
community or species

Evolves as a result of many different

processes:
e.g.
chromosomal/sequence
mutation, and physical or behavioural isolation
of populations
Allows individuals to adapt to different
conditions. Thus, high genetic diversity
increases ability of populations and species to
survive major changes in their environment
(e.g. climate change)

B. Species Diversity
Species diversity is the variety of species (group of
interbreeding organisms) in a particular habitat or
ecosystem.
About 1.75 million species described. Total number
estimated at approx 12.5 million, but could be anything
from 5-100 million. There may be 10 million
undescribed species in the deep sea alone!
The diversity of the smaller organisms (e.g.
phytoplankton, the plants of sea) is less well known than
the larger organisms (e.g. mammals such as dolphins and
whales).

C. Ecosystem
Diversity
Ecosystem diversity describes the variation in all living
and non-living things in a particular geographic or
ecological region. Ecosystems comprise unique
combinations of animals, plants, micro-organisms and
physical characteristics that define a location.
Novel marine ecosystems continue to be discovered. In
the ocean, hydrothermal vents, extremely distinct
habitats with many endemic species, were discovered
less than 25 years ago!

Factors Affecting
Biodiversity


What factors lead to biodiversity
loss?

Biodiversityis declining rapidly due to factors such as

land use change, climate change,invasive

overexploitation, and pollution.

species,

Such

habitat changes have a significant impact

onbiodiversity,
as smalldirect
fragments
of habitatcan
only
How are specific
drivers
affecting
support
smallpopulations
that
tend
to
be
biodiversity?
morevulnerableto extinction.

How is climate change affecting biodiversity?

Recent changes in climate, such as warmer temperatures

in certain regions, have already had significant impacts

onbiodiversityand ecosystems.
They have affectedspeciesdistributions,populationsizes,
and the timing of reproduction or migration events, as well
as the frequency of pest and disease outbreaks.
.

Historical and projected temperatures

Recent changes in climate have already had

significant impacts
onbiodiversityandecosystemsin certain regions.
Asclimatewill become more severe, the harmful

impacts onecosystem servicesare expected to

outweigh possible benefits, such as a longer
growing season, in most regions of the world.
Climate change is expected to exacerbate risks of

extinctions, floods, droughts,population declines,

and disease outbreaks.

Threats to Biodiver
sity

Habitat Loss
Happens when either natural disasters or

human activities change the ecosystem so

much that many species can no longer survive.
Natural sources of habitat destruction:
Volcanic eruptions
Wildfires
Droughts
Severe storms

Human activities:
Deforestation
Draining wetlands
Damming rivers

Deforestation

Draining Wetlands

Wetlands cover 6% of Earths surface

Plants, turtles, snakes, mink and 1000s more live in

wetlands
Migrating birds use them to feed and rest
Plants that grow there filter sediment and pollution
from water.
Often drained for farming or building homes.
90% of wetlands around lake Ontario have been
destroyed.

Overexploitation
The use or extraction of a resource until it

is depleted.
Examples:
Passenger pigeon once 5 billion, last one died

in 1900s.
Yellow-fish tuna and Atlantic cod: over-fished
and reduced by 90%

wheresustainablelevels of exploitation are poorly understood,

and the catches difficult to manage effectively.
The trade in wild plants and animals and their derivatives is
estimated to reach nearly $160 billion annually. Because this trade
crosses national borders, the effort to regulate it requires
international cooperation to safeguard certain species from
overexploitation.

Extinction

When all individuals of a species dies.

When death rate exceeds birth rate over

a long period of time.

There are patterns of extinction that
happened naturally:
Background extinction: over long periods as

ecosystems change, some species become

extinct
Mass extinction: relatively sudden ecosystem
change. Example: dinosaurs

Restoration Ec
ology

Conservation

What is conservation??
Conserving biological diversity involves
restoring
Protection
Conserving
Enhancing the variety of life
Today our biosphere is in danger of extinction. It is
reported that during thenext20 to 30 years, the
world would lose more than a million species of plants
and animals-primarily because of environmental
changes brought about by human beings.

Therefore, Biodiversity
Conservation is

The management of human use of the

biosphere, so that it may yield the

greatest sustainable benefit to the
present generation, while maintaining its
potential to meet the needs and
aspirations of the future generations.
BD CONSERVATION = THE

SUSTAINABLE USE

Biodiversity
Conservation

In situ

Lakes
Terrestrial

Biosphere
Reserves

Ex situ

National
parks,
wildlife
sanctuaries

Home garden

Seed Bank,
Nurseries

Marine
Botanical garden,
Zoological
garden, Aquaria

Options for Biodiversity Conservation

Two options available
In-situ
On-site
Within natural habitats

Ex-situ
Outside natural

habitats

In-situ Conservation

Primary approach for biodiversity conservation (Article 8

Convention on Biological Diversity)

Protection of wildlife habitats.

Maintaining populations,
In the surrounding where they have developed their

distinctive properties / adaptations.

Where they have evolved

Protected Areas (PAs) - Areas dedicated for in-situ

conservation.

In-situ conservation
National parks (88), and sanctuaries (490)
Expansion of the protected area network
Mapping of forest types, protected areas, and
natural forests
Creation of new conservation
reserves
Community reserves
Joint Forest management
Voluntary, field based organizations and NGOs
(non-governmental
organizations)

Ex-situ Conservation
Preservation, maintenance and

breeding of components of
biological diversity outside their
natural habitats
Complementary to in-situ

methods.
Fully under human care
Sometimes controversial

laboratory methods.
Practiced as the last resort.
Zoos, Aquaria, Hatcheries,

Botanical gardens, Nurseries

CONSERVATION
MEASURES:
1

Prevention

and

control

of

forest fires. Burning of grasslands

has

to

be

controlling

controlled.

the

protection

can

forest
be

given

By
fire,
to

wildlife.
2. Excessive cutting should be
eliminated and only mature trees
should
seedlings

be

harvested.

should

harvested trees.

replace

New
the

3. Grasses such as Cynodon dactylon are utilized as

erosion resisting plants. Conservation of many such
types of grasses help in improving the soil fertility of
the region for luxuriant growth of the plants.

4. Wise management in the control of insects and

disease that attack trees.

5. Conservation of endangered and endemic species

in natural forests, which are the guardians of
diversity, should be given prime importance.
6. Implementation of effective and scientific methods to
minimize the pollution of water, soil and air to ensure
high productivity of the biomass in this region.
Prevention of water pollution will protect the aquatic
animal life.
7. Improper land degradation due to mining activities
should be stopped.
8. Efforts should be intensified to curb the destructive
activities of poachers.

9.Conservation also includes restoration of those species,

which can and should be restored.
10. Implementation of educational programmes to promote
the knowledge of conservation and preservation of wildlife
(including flora and fauna) should be done through
literatures, scientific exhibitions, audio visual aids and
conferences stressing upon environmental conservation

Project tiger

CONCLUSION
Biodiversity is our life. If the Biodiversity got lost at this rate
then in near future, the survival of human being will be
threatened. So, it is our moral duty to conserve Biodiversity as
well our Environment. Long-term maintenance of species and
their management requires co-operative efforts across entire
landscapes. Biodiversity should be dealt with at scale of habitats
or ecosystems rather than at species level.