14/02/2018

• When we say we want to save the planet, we use

the word "biodiversity" to encompass this entire

BIODIVERSITY concept - which, granted, is a big one.

THE MAJESTY OF LIFE

• Biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many
millions of distinct biological species, the product of
four billion years of ev_lu_io_.

BIODIVERSITY • “variability among living organisms from all sources • In essence, biodiversity refers to
including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic the multitude of life forms on
• contraction of “bi_lo_ic_l ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are earth, such as plants, animals,
d_v_rs_ty.” part; this includes diversity within species, between s_e_ie_ and micro-organisms; the genes
and of ecosystems” (UNEP, 1992) they contain; and the intricate
• Biodiversity reflects the n_m_er, and complex e_os_st_m_ they
v_ri_t_ and va_ia_il_ty of living help build into the living
organisms. environment.

_ni_al_ Jellyfish, worms, arthropods, molluscs, Animals THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY
echinoderms, amphibians, fish,
reptiles, birds and mammals.

Seed bearing plants and non-seed

I_ve_te_ra_es
Diversity of _pe_ie_
_la_ts bearing plants V_rt_br_te_
Cnidarians
Mammals
Organisms P_ok_ry_te_ Bacteria and primitive algae Flatworms
Fish
True worms Diversity of E_os_st_m
Pr_ti_ts Single-celled organisms Reptiles Molluscs

Amphibians Echinoderms
F_ng_ Moulds, mushrooms and toadstools Diversity of G_ne_
Birds Arthropods

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DISTRIBUTION OF BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS:

• It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — • Around the world, 25 areas qualify as hotspots. They
Flora and fauna diversity
which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant represent just 2.3% of Earth’s land surface, but they
depends on-
life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other support more than half of the world’s plant species as
C_im_t_
A_ti_u_e words, is ir_ep_ac_ab_e. endemics — i.e., species found no place else — and
• It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian
S_il_
In other words, it must be th_ea_en_d. species as e_de_i_s.
Presence of other species
 Most of the biodiversity concentrated in Tropical region.

BIODIVERSITY AND BALANCE OF NATURE

T_op_c Le_e_: Elimination of species from tropic level can
cause destruction of ecosystem as well as biodiversity.
Plants in forest Deer Lion
Co_p_e_ Ec_sy_te_: In a complicated ecosystem having
several tropic levels, loss of one or more spices do not cause
any serious problem because the alternative available.
Ke_st_ne Sp_ci_s: Loss or addition of species causes
detectable changes in ecosystem rates i.e. species make
unique contribution to ecosystem functioning.
N_c_e C_mple_e_ta_y: Difference among species in their
requirements for different resources will cause
complementary interaction so that a species could obtain
more resources.

VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY
Fa_il_ta_ion and M_tu_li_m: Plants may also benefit from
their neighbors through amelioration of the physical and 1. E_on_mi_ V_lu_:
biotic environment. Fuel
Wood
P_rt_ol_o E_fe_t: Species richness increases the temporal
stability of the entire community while the biomass is Industrial Material
stabilized. Souvenirs
I_su_an_e Hy_ot_es_s: Biodiversity buffers ecosystem
against environmental changes such as global warming.

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VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY Control of potential pest and disease causing VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY
2. Eco_og_ca_ Li_e S_pp_r_ / Eco_ys_em Se_vi_es: species 3. C_lt_ra_ Va_u_
Food Detoxification of soil and sediments Traditions
Water Stabilization of land against erosion Rituals
Balance of nature Carbon sequestration and global climate
Biological productivity change
Regulation of climate 4. R_cre_tio_al Va_u_
Maintenance of Soil fertility
Degradation of waste Tourism
Cleaning of air and water Walk in the parks
Cycling of nutrients Hiking

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY
5. S_ie_ti_ic Value Anthropogenic causes:
Natural causes:
Medicine Habitat modification
Various researches on biodiversity Narrow ge_gra_hi_al area
Overexploitation of selected
Low po_ul_tio_
6. N_ga_iv_ Value species
Low br_ed_ng rate
Invasive species Innovation by exotic species
Disease outbreaks like Zika virus Natural disasters
Human deaths due to wild animals

Po_lu_io_ RECENT ISSUES ON BIODIVERSITY

Some 75 per cent of the genetic diversity of crop plants been lost
Hu_ti_g in the past century. And as politicians, scientists, and conservationists became
Gl_ba_ wa_mi_g and Roughly one-third of the world’s coral reef systems have been more interested in the state of the planet and the amazing
cli_at_ ch_ng_ destroyed or highly degraded. complexity of life we became quite attached to this new
A_ri_ul_ure About 24 per cent of mammals and 12 per cent of bird species are word.
currently considered to be globally threatened.
More than 50 per cent of the world’s wetlands have been drained, And why were we talking so much about Biodiversity?
and populations of inland water and wetland species have declined
by 50per cent between 1970 and 1999.

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Simple. "Scientists were startled in 1980 by the discovery of

HOW MANY SPECIES ARE WE LOSING? a tremendous diversity of insects in tropical forests. In
The world has begun, relatively recently, to lose one study of just 19 trees in Panama, 80% of the
Firstly, we don’t know exactly what’s out there.
species and habitats at an ever-increasing and 1,200 beetle species discovered were previously
alarming rate. unknown to science... Surprisingly, scientists have a
It’s a big complex world and we discover new species
better understanding of how many stars there are in
Why? to science all the time.
the galaxy than how many species there are on
Earth."
Because of us.
- World Resources Institute (WRI).

So, if we don’t know how much Just to illustrate the degree of biodiversity loss
there is to begin with, we don’t we're facing, let’s take you through one scientific
know exactly how much we’re analysis...
losing. • The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is
estimated by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000
times higher than the na_u_al ex_i_c_ion r_te.*
But we do have lots of facts and *Experts actually call this na_u_al ex_i_c_ion
figures that seem to indicate that r_te the background extinction rate. This simply
means the rate of species extinctions that would occur
the news isn’t good. if we humans were not around.

• These experts calculate that between 0.01 and 0.1% of all
species will become extinct each year.
• If the low estimate of the number of species out there is
true - i.e. that there are around 2 million different species
on our planet** - then that means between 200 and
2,000 extinctions occur every year.
• ** Between 1.4 and 1.8 million species have
already been scientifically identified.
• But if the upper estimate of species numbers is true - that
there are 100 million different species co-existing with us
on our planet - then between 10,000 and 100,000
species are becoming extinct each year.
• Unlike the mass extinction events of geological history, the
current extinction challenge is one for which a single
species - ours - appears to be almost wholly responsible.
• This is often referred to as the 6th extinction crisis, after the 5
known extinction waves in geological history.
• So without arguing about who’s right or wrong.
• Or what the exact numbers are.
• There can be little debate that there is, in fact, a very
serious biodiversity crisis.

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LE_S_ CO_C_R_ N_A_ T_RE_TEN_D

• Lowest risk; does not qualify Arctic Fox
• species which are generally
successful but are experiencing Burmese Python
for a higher risk category.
some population decline or habitat
• Animal species which have loss
been studied and found to not
be at risk of substantial decline
Tree • Likely to become endangered in
Kangaroo
the near future Spinner Dolphin

Macaw Arctic Emperor Penguins

Wolf Panther Photo Credits: http://www.skyenimals.com/ White Rhinoceros
Photo Credits: www.worldwildlife.org

V_LN_RA_L_
• High risk of endangerment in the wild
• species that is likely to become Hippopotamus
endangered
• often at risk due to loss of habitat or
declining population Manta
Ray

Lion
African Elephant Photo Credits: http://www.skyenimals.com/ Polar Bear

E_DA_GE_ED CR_TI_AL_Y E_DA_GER_D

• determined that it will likely become • species have a high likelihood of
extinct in the future based on recent becoming either extinct in the wild or
population trends Bengal Tiger extinct
Philippine Eagle
• High risk of extinction in the wild • Since extinction requires extensive
studies it is possible some Critically
Endangered animals are indeed
already extinct
Sea Otter • Extremely high risk of extinction in the
Green Sea Turtle
Photo Credits: http://www.skyenimals.com/
White Lion wild Photo Credits: http://www.skyenimals.com/ Iberian Lynx

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E_TI_CT IN THE _ILD

BLACK SOFTSHELL TURTLE OR BOSTAMI TURTLE
• species that has no living members living
in the wild
• a species of freshwater turtle found in India
• Known only to survive in captivity, or as Pere Davids Deer (Assam) and Bangladesh (Chittagong and
a naturalized population outside its
Sylhet)
historic range
• As of 2002, the IUCN classifies the species as
• It is difficult but sometimes possible to Extinct in the Wild
reintroduce extinct in the wild species
• In 2004, 408 turtles were found in the pond
back into the wild
of the Bayazid Bastami shrine
Guam Rail
Photo Credits: http://www.skyenimals.com/

SCIMITAR ORYX OR SCIMITAR-HORNED E_TI_CT

ALAGOAS CURASSOW (MITU MITU)
• glossy-black, pheasant-like bird
• formerly found in forests in Northeastern
Brazil in what is now the states of
Pernambuco and Alagoas, which is the
origin of its common name
• there are about 130 individuals in captivity
• became extinct in the wild due to
deforestation and hunting
ORYX (ORYX DAMMAH)
• A species is considered extinct
• also known as the Sahara oryx after the last existing member of
• extinct in the wild since 2000 the species dies.
• formerly inhabited all of North Africa
• decline began as a result of climate change, and later it was • It is estimated that over 99.9% of
hunted extensively for its horns all species that ever lived are
• In 2005, at least 1,550 captives were managed as part of extinct. The dodo of Mauritius, shown here in
a 1626 illustration by Roelant
breeding programs, and in 2008, more than 4,000 were believed
Savery, is an often-cited example of
to be held in private collections in the United Arab Emirates Photo Credits: http://www.skyenimals.com/ modern extinction

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CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY Restoration of Biodiversity SP_CI_S RE_NTR_DUC_I_N

Biodiversity inventories • deliberate release of a species into the wild, from captivity or other areas
Zoo Imparting Environmental Education where the animal survives.
Conserving Biodiversity in Enacting, strengthening and enforcing • A species that needs reintroduction is usually one whose existence has
protected Habitats
Environmental Legislation become threatened or endangered in the wild.
• In situ conservation • However, reintroduction of a species can also be for p_st c_nt_ol.
• Ex situ conservation
Bandhavgarh National
Park
Population Control
• For example, wolves being reintroduced to a wild area because of an
Seed Bank, Gene Bank, Reviewing the agriculture practice overpopulation of elk or deer.

Pollen Bank, DNA Bank Controlling Urbanization • Because reintroduction may involve returning native species to localities
where they had been extirpated, some prefer the term "re_sta_lis_me_t".
Gene Bank Conservation through Biotechnology