Shree Ramkrishna Institute of Computer

Education and Applied Sciences

Department of Environmental Sciences

IDS Biodiversity
Dr. Bhavin Bhatt
Biodiversity
Bio= living
Diversity = variety
Thus, variety and variability among living organisms from all
sources including terrestrial, marine & other aquatic ecosystems and
ecological complexes of which they are part of.
Also means the number, or abundance of different species living
within a particular region.
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things; the different plants,
animals and micro organisms, the genetic information they contain
and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is usually explored at
three levels - genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem
diversity. These three levels work together to create the complexity
of life on Earth.
Biodiversity constitutes the most important working component
of a natural ecosystem. It helps to maintain ecological processes
and deals with the degree of nature’s variety in the biosphere.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is basically the variety within and among life forms on a site,
ecosystem, or landscape.  Biodiversity is defined and measured as an
attribute that has two components — richness and evenness.
Richness = The number of groups of genetically or functionally related
individuals. In most vegetation surveys, richness is expressed as the number
of species and is usually called species richness.
Evenness = Proportions of species or functional groups present on a site. 
The more equal species are in proportion to each other the greater the
evenness of the site.  A site with low evenness indicates that a few species
dominate the site.
Diversity can be use to describe variation in several forms:
Genetic (species, varieties, etc.)
Life form (grasses, forb, trees, mosses, etc.)
Functional group (deep rooted, nitrogen-fixing, soil crust, evergreen, etc.)

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Levels of Biodiversity….

Genetic
Genes within same
species show variation
E.g. Colour & sizes of
Species Rose
Represents species
richness & abundance in
a community
Ecosystem No. of plants, animals,
birds in aninarea.
Diversity complex
systems in physical,
ecological, food web,
nutrient cycling
Diversity in forest
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Genetic Biodiversity

Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species. Each

species is made up of individuals that have their own particular
genetic composition. This means a species may have different
populations, each having different genetic compositions. To
conserve genetic diversity, different populations of a species
must be conserved.
Genes are the basic units of all life on Earth. They are
responsible for both the similarities and the differences
between organisms.
Not all groups of animals have the same degree of genetic
diversity.
Refers to total genetic information contained in the genes of
individuals of plants, animals and microorganisms. Genetic
diversity is comparatively less obvious level of diversity as it
represents variations within species.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Species Biodiversity

Species diversity is the variety of species within a habitat

or a region. Some habitats, such as rainforests and coral
reefs, have many species. Others, such as salt flats or a
polluted stream, have fewer.
Species are grouped together into families according to
shared characteristics.
Species diversity is a most common form of diversity as it
refers to two different groups of organ­isms or species.
Ecosystem diversity is a complex one and it refers to
assem­blages of the various forms of diversity in two
different ecosystems.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Ecosystem Biodiversity

Ecosystem diversity is the variety of ecosystems in a

given place. An ecosystem is a community of organisms
and their physical environment interacting together.An
ecosystem can cover a large area, such as a whole forest,
or a small area, such as a pond.
An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their
physical environment interacting together. An ecosystem
may be as large as the Great Barrier Reef or as small as
the back of a spider crab's shell, which provides a home
for plants and other animals, such as sponges, algae and
worms.
It relates to variety of habitats, biotic communities and
ecological processes in the biosphere, and is considered
as complex level of diversity.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Biodiversity Richness
Point Richness
Species that are found
at one single point.
Alpha (α)-
richness Number of species
found in small
Beta (β )– homogeneous area.
richness Refers to rate of
change in species
Gamma (γ )- composition across
Richness different
Refers to habitats.
the rate of
change across large
composition gradients.
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Within-habitat diversity or alpha-diversity: refers to
a group of organisms interacting and competing for the
same resources or sharing the same
environment. Measured as number of species within a
given area.
Between-habitat diversity or beta-diversity: refers to
the response of organisms to spatial heterogeneity.
High beta-diversity implies low similarity between
species composition of different habitats. It is usually
expressed in terms of similarity index between
communities (or species turnover rate) between
different habitats in same geographical area (often
expressed as some kind of gradient).
Geographical diversity or gamma-diversity: refers to
the diversity of the entire landscape (regional species
pool).
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Biodiversity can be measured and
monitored at several spatial
scales.
Alpha Diversity = richness and
evenness of individuals within a
habitat unit. For example in the
figure below, Alpha Diversity of
Site A = 7 species, Site B = 5
species, Site C = 7 species.
Beta Diversity = expression of
diversity between habitats. In the
example below, the greatest Beta
Diversity is observed between
Site A and C with 10 species that
differ between them and only 2
species in common.
Gamma Diversity = landscape
diversity or diversity of habitats
within a landscape or region. In
this example, the gamma
diversity is 3 habitats with 12
species total diversity.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Components of biodiversity

The total biodiversity of an area can be broken down into two

hierarchical components:
1) The number of functional types of organisms (e.g.
carnivorous animals, Nitrogen (N)-fixing plants) or
ecosystems (coniferous forest, prairie, tundra, marine
intertidal).
2) The number of functionally equivalent organisms /
genotypes within each functional type (e.g. the number of
species of wood-rotting fungi). These organisms perform
the same role in an ecosystem.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Values of Biodiversity
It is in terms of commercial utility, ecological
services, social & aesthetic Values
Given by McNeely et al. 1990.

Values of
biodiversit
y
Direct Indire
values ct
values
Consu Produ Social Ethical Aesthe Option Enviro
mptive ctive and tic nment
cultur
al

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Consumptive use Value: In the form of food, drugs, fibre
pulp, fuel, wood fall under this group
Productive Use Values: These are commercially usable
values where the product is marketed & sold like silk, lac,
honey, elephant tooth etc.
Social Values: Values associated with social life,
customs, religion and pyscho-spiritual aspects of the
people. Many plants are considered holy & sacred. Eg.
Tulsi, mango, peepal etc.
Ethical Values: “All Life must be preserved”. This
means we don’t use the species directly or indirectly, but
we need to take utmost care about the loss of a species.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Aesthetic values: It is related to the beauty of
Biodiversity. The pleasure, excitement and visual peace
of any area. Concept of Eco-tourism leading to monetary
estimate for aesthetic value of biodiversity
Option Value: This includes the potentials of
biodiversity that are presently unknown and need to be
explored. This biological resources will be of imporatnce
in future if not today. Eg. Marine animals – anti cancer
drugs
Ecosystem Value: It refers to ecosystem services, it is a
non-consumptive value. Functions of ecosystems-
nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, cycling of water. Etc.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Primary Value (PV): This is value of system characteristics upon
which all ecosystem functions depend representing prior value of
ecosystem and is also known as ‘glue’ value since system holds
everything together and in principle, therefore has economic value.
Total Economic Value (TEV): TEV also called Total Value (TV) or
simply Value (V) denotes sum total of all kinds of values attached to
biodiversity minus primary value. It is the function of use and non
use values “with due consideration of any trade-offs or mutually
exclusive uses or functions of resources habitat in question” (UNEP,
1995). Care must be taken to avoid simply adding up resultant values
to obtain TEV. TEV underestimate the true value of ecosystem. It
has to be considered along with primary value.
Use value (UV): Value arising from an actual use made of a given
component of biodiversity. It is often a function of direct and
indirect use values.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Direct Use Value (DUV): People directly consume and use species
for their benefits which belong to direct use values. Direct use values
are associated with values of natural products for developing
pharmaceuticals, for developing and maintaining genetic basis for
agriculture and for supporting industries based on use, species such
as fisheries and timber extraction of although most of such industries
are not based directly on species.
Consumptive Use Value (CUV): Value that is consumed enjoyed
directly, without passing through a market is the CUV. This is
“consumption in physical form” including all types of biomass,
industrial raw materials
Productive Use Value (PUV): Value given to a component of
biodiversity that is commercially harvested or is a source for a
commercially harvestable product. Such items pass through a
market. Examples include minor forest produces, fruits and seeds,
latex, timber.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Indirect use value (IUV): This is defined as ”benefits arising
from an ecosystem function”. It represents economic value
derived from role of resources and systems in supporting or
protecting activities whose outputs have direct value in
production or consumption. Indirect contributions of
biodiversity like biogeochemical cycles, photosynthesis,
climate regulation, pollutant degradation, prevention of soil
loss to human welfare possess this value.
Non consumptive use value (NUV): Value possessed by
components/ systems of biodiversity in terms of functions or
services.
Non-Use Value: Value relating to safeguarding the existence
of assets, even though not related to their actual use in a
foreseeable period. It is also called Passive Use Value (PUV).

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Biodiversity is created by evolutionary and ecological processes.
The ecology describes patterns of and provides explanations for the
biodiversity of extant ecosystems.
Ecological processes also have evolutionary consequences. They
interact with genetic diversity via adaptation, microevolution and
speciation.
The environment provides continual pressures to diversify via
adaptation, innovation and exploitation of new ways of life.
The species diversity is the most obvious result of ecological and
evolutionary processes driving the multiplication of species. Ecological
factors like age of the ecosystem, environmental gradient, isolation,
nature of physical environment, architecture of the habitat, interaction
between species, natural disturbance, migration and dispersal of a
species.
Darwin (1859) proposed that species compete and only the fittest
survive in nature. It is inferred that under a strong pressure of natural
selection the less fit species are eliminated.
From this concept has arisen the competitive exclusion principle
(Hardin 1960), which is based on the idea that no two species can be
exactly equally fit. It states that if two or more species exist in the same
habitat, ultimately all but one of them will be excluded. This is the
paradox of biodiversity: we expect few species but we find many in
nature.
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Mechanisms that may be responsible for preventing loss of
species by competitive exclusion, and allow species diversity to
be maintained are as follows
Each species has an exclusive ecological niche and
subjected to conditions where i t is f i t ter than i ts
competitors.
A perfect balance is maintained between species loss
and gain. The slightly less fit species are eliminated by
competitive exclusion, but this process is so slow that
there will be time for other species to arise by evolution
or to invade from other region.
Competition is reduced or prevented, because the main
controls on abundance are physical disturbance, stresses
(e.g. low temperature, toxic substances), predation and
disease, hence competitive exclusion does not occur.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Favorable Environmental Conditions:
It is quite natural to think that species diversity
would be greater where the conditions for growth
are very favorable for plants and animals. But this
is not universally true. Species richness of each
group showed positive correlation with
temperature and solar influx.
In relation to these two factors biodiversity
increases with increasing favorableness.
Therefore, it can be inferred that there is no
universal relationship between species-diversity
and the prevalence of favourable condition.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Reducing Soil Fertility:
There is a negative relationship between diversity
and soil fertility. It is necessary to reduce soil
fertility to achieve high species diversity in
grasslands. The low diversity in high productivity
grasslands is because a few species grow tall,
there is intense competition for light and low
growing species are eliminated.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Disturbance:
Minor disturbances help to maintain local species
diversity. Disturbance of forests by felling of trees, fires
affects the subsequent species composition. Grazing
animals in grasslands can be considered disturbance and
they can increase diversity. In the past tropical rainforests
had been used for shifting cultivation.
The diversity was initiated as a response to such
disturbance. The present day forest represent a mosaic of
small patches at different stages of succession following
disturbance that provides niches and contributes to
diversity.
The conclusion is that disturbance can augment
biodiversity and diversity managers need to consider
carefully what disturbance to allow or introduce.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Heterogeneity of the Environment:
Environmental heterogeneity increases β-diversity but has no such
effect on α-diversity. On a landscape scale patches and mosaics of
varying vegetation can be related to differences in exposure,
steepness, soil depth, wetness, rock type affecting soil properties
and other factors of microclimate and soil.
Each species responds differently to the environmental factors and
so the proportions of species change.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 Plant Species Diversity may Promote Insect Diversity:
High plant diversity may promote insect diversity. This is primarily
because
of coevolution between plants and insects involving secondary chemicals.
The most of the secondary chemicals in plants such as alkaloids, terpenoids
and flavonoids, are poisonous to most animals.
However, there are examples where one insect species being tolerant to one
secondary chemical. This gives the insect the ability to eat something that
most other insects cannot eat and it may then specialize in eating one plant
species. Thus many insects eat only one or a few plant species. Other
herbivorous animals tend to show less specificity in their diet. They show
preferences between plant species but rarely confine their feeding to one
plant species. Thus plant species diversity is likely to promote diversity of
insects, but not necessarily of other animals.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Global Biodiversity

1.4 million species of various life forms have been

enlisted and characterised so far.
Species richness is the number of different species
present in an area
Species diversity is function of species richness
and species evenness of that area.
Evenness is a measure of relative abundance of the
different species

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 No. of individuals of sp. No. of individuals of sp.
1 2
Community A 85 15

Community B 50 50

The species richness of both community is same. However, community

B has more species evenness than community A. Chances to get both
species will be more in community B than Community A.
A community dominated by one or two species is said to be less
diverse than one in which several different species are abundant.
Species richness and evenness increase, the diversity increases.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Sr Organism No. Percentage Sr. No. Group Estimat
. of ed no.
N speci 1 Virus 4000
o. es
2 Bacteria 3600
1 Vertebrates 4000 3
0 3 Cyanobact 1700
eria (BGA)
2 Insects 8000 53
00 4 Fungi 46000
3 Microbes 3600 24 5 Lichens 17000
(including virus) 00 6 Algae 40000
4 Plants 3000 20 7 Bryophyte 19000
00 s
8 Pteridoph 15000
ytes
9 Gymnosp 750
erms
10 Angiosper 300000
ms
11 Insects 800000
12
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Sponges 5000
13 Crustacea 9000
1. Total number of species in microbes and
plants
Viruses. – Total no. of virus4es characterised till date are 4000, while estimated no. of viruses
are 40000. Thus, we know only 1% of the total virus population.
Bacteria. – About 5300 species of bacteria (archebacteria, eubacteria and BGA) have been
documented. Estimate is 400000.
Fungi and Lichens. – 46000 species of fungi and 17000 species of lichens are characterised.
Estimated total no. of fungi is 1.5 million.
Algae. - 40000 species of algae are characterised. More 300000 species of algae are yet to be
characterised. They likely to come from open oceans, estuaries and polar regions.
Bryophytes. - 19000 species of bryophytes are known. Out of which 10000 are mosses, 8000
are liverworts and rest are uncharacterised.
Pteridophytes. – These are terrestrial land plants and about 15000 are characterised.
Gymnosperms. – Most species of gymnosperms are trees and less are exist as shrubs. There are
about 750 species characterised till date.
Angiosperms. – The angiosperms or flowering plants are most diverse group on the earth.
There are about 300000 species described. This group is very recent (35 million) to evolve in
geographical history.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

2. Total number of species of animals
Invertebrates as a whole include to little over one
million species. These vast group is distributed
over nine major phyla (Porifera, Cnidaria,
Colentreta, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida,
Mollusca, Echinodermata, Arthropoda).
The number of species of vertebrates (Amphibians,
birds, reptiles and mammals).

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

3. The mega diversity countries of the world
Warm and humid regions in between the tropic of
cancer and tropic of capricon (tropical regions)are
rich in biodiversity due to warm and humid
atmosphere, which support growth of the living
organism.
In this wide belt around the globe occur more than
half of the total no. of species exist on our earth.
Countries which are located in this zone are
referred as mega diversity countries – Brazil,
Columbia, Mexico, Indonesia, Peru, Malayasia,
Ecuador, India, China, Zaire, Madagascar,
Australia.
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Why biodiversity is rich in tropical regions?

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Why biodiversity is rich in tropical regions?

Stable climatic conditions – Over geological times the tropics have had a
more stable climate than temperate zones. In tropics, local sp. Continued to
live while in temperate they tend to disperse.
Time of evolution – Tropical communities are older than temperate ones.
There has been more time for them to evolve. This could have allowed them
greater degree of adaptation and specialization to occur.
Favourable conditions – Warm temperature and high humidity in most
tropical area provide favourable conditions for many sp. That are unable to
survive in temperate zones.
Pests and predators – In tropics, there may be greater pressure from pests
and predators, parasites and diseases. This does not allow any single sp. To
dominate and thus there is an opportunity for many sp. To co-exist and co-
evolve. In the temperate zone, situation is reverse. There is reduced pressure
due to cold and dry climate. There is only one or few dominating sp. That
exclude many other sp.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Breeding – In plants, rate of inbreeding and
outbreeding (cross breeding) is high in tropics.
Higher rates of cross breeding may lead to higher
levels of genetic variability.
Solar energy – Tropical regions receive more solar
energy through out year. Primary producers (green
plants), therefore can fix more amount of CO2 .
Thus tropical communities are more productive or
have greater resources which can support wide
range of sp. to occur.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

4. Endemic species and hot-spots
Endemic species can be defined as those sp. which
are confined only to a particular locality. There are
two important categories of endemic species –
palaeoendemics and neoendemics.
Palaeoendemics are phylogenetically distinct taxa
which arose in tertiary, bound to islands or
environmentally isolated situations.
Endemic species represents a unique step in the
process of evolution which could be perpetuated
and sustained only in a limited locality due to
suitable environmental condition.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Biological hotspots

Areas where high levels of species richness, threat and

endemism coinside are termed as hotspots.
The concept of biological hotspot was originated by Dr.
Norman Myers
To be identified as a hotspot, a region must meet two
strict criteria
It must contain at least 1500 distinct characterised species of
vascular plants as endemics.
It has to have lost at least 70% of its total original habitat.
There are total 25 hotspots, contain 45% of vascular
plants and 35% of terrestrial hot spots.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 AFRICA​
A total of 8 Hotspots in African continent hold a diversity of plant and animal life, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

ASIA-PACIFIC
Composed of large land areas as well as islands dotting the Pacific seas, these 14 Hotspots represent important biodiversity.

EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

From the Mediterranean Basin to the Mountains of Central Asia, these four Hotspots are unique in their diversity.

NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

North and Central America play host to thousands of acres of important habitat.
SOUTH AMERICA
From Brazil's Cerrado to the Tropical Andes, South America has some of the richest and most diverse life on Earth.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Biodiversity of India

India is very rich in all aspects of biodiversity and is one of the most
significant biodiversity centres of the world. Indian subcontinent is
one of the 12 centres of origin and diversity of crop plants.
Rice, sugarcane, jute, mango, citrus, banana, spices etc. are arose in
India and domesticated to other parts of the world.
The rich germplasm reserve of Indian subcontinent includes 51 sp.
Of cereals and millets, 104 sp. Of fruits, 27 sp. Of spices and
condiments, 55 sp. Of vegetables, 24 sp. Of fibre crops, 12 sp. Of
oilseeds, and various strains of tea, coffee, tobacco and sugarcane.
India, with 329 million hectare of geographical area has almost all
kinds of ecological zones (rain forests, deciduous, evergreen etc.)
found in the world.
It has two of the 34 recognized biodiversity hotspots in the world –
The Himalayas and Western Ghats

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 Wild life Institute of India has divided it into ten biogeographical regions and twenty five biotic provinces.
Biogeographical regions are:
(i) Trans Himalayas,
(ii) Gangetic plain,
(iii) Desert,
(iv) Semiarid zone;
(v) Western Ghats;
(vi) Deccan peninsula,
(vii) North eastern zone,
(viii) Coastal lands
(ix) Himalayas,
(x) Islands.
India is one of the twelve mega diversity nations of the world due to the following reasons:
(i) It has 7.3% of the global fauna and 10.88% of global flora as per the data collected by Ministry of Environment
and forest.
(ii) It has 350 different mammals, 1200 species of birds- 453 different reptiles, 182 amphibians and 45,000 plants
spices.
(iii) It has 50,000 known species of insects which include 13,000 butterflies and moths.
(iv) It has 10 different biogeographical regions and 25 biotic provinces having varieties of lands and species.
(v) In addition to geographical distribution, geological events in the land mass provide high level of biological
diversity.
(vi) Several crops arose in the country and spread throughout the world.
(vii) There is wide variety of domestic animals like cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs, horses etc.
(viii) The marine biota includes sea weeds, fishes, crustaceans, molluses, corals, reptiles etc.
(ix) There are a number of hot spots (namely Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, North Eastern hills etc.).
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
THE TRANS-HIMALAYAN REGION
This area is very cold and arid (4,500 Π6,000 mts.
above msl). The only vegetation is a sparse alpine
steppe. Extensive areas consist of bare rock and
glaciers.
The faunal groups best represented here are wild
sheep and goats (chief ancestral stock), ibex, snow
leopard, marbled cat, marmots and black-necked
crane.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE GANGETIC PLAIN
The Gangetic plain is one of India's most fertile regions.
The soil of this region is formed by the alluvial deposits
of the Ganges and its tributaries.   The  four  important 
surface differences recognized in the geomorphology of
the plains are
Bhabar - pebble studded zone with porous beds
Terai - marshy tract
Bhangar - older alluvium of the flood plain
Terai - marshy tract
Khadar -newer alluvium

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE INDIAN DESERT
The natural vegetation consists of tropical thorn
forests and tropical dry deciduous forests, sandy
deserts with seasonal salt marshes and mangroves
are found in the main estuaries. Typical shrubs are
phog growing on sand dunes. Sewan grass covers
extensive areas called pali.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE SEMI-ARID REGION
The semi-arid region in the west of India includes
the arid desert areas of Thar and Rajasthan
extending to the Gulf of Kutch and Cambay and
the whole Kathiawar peninsula.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE WESTERN GHATS
They cover only 5% of India's land surface but are
home to more than about 4,000 of the country's
plant species of which 1800 are endemic. The
monsoon forests occur both on the western margins
of the ghats and on the eastern side where there is
less rainfall. This zone displays diversity of forests
from evergreen to dry deciduous.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE DECCAN PENINSULA
The Deccan Peninsula is a large area of raised land
covering about 43% of India's total land surface. It is
bound by the Sathpura range on the north, Western Ghats
on the west and Eastern Ghats on the east. The elevation
of the plateau varies from 900 mts. in the west to 300 mts.
in the east. There are four major rivers that support the
wetlands of this region which have fertile black and red
soil. Large parts are covered by tropical forests. Tropical
dry deciduous forests occur in the northern, central and
southern part of the plateau. The eastern part of the
plateau in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa
has moist deciduous forests.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE NORTH-EAST
Biological resources are rich in this zone. The
tropical vegetation of northeast India is rich in
evergreen and semievergreen rain forests, moist
deciduous monsoon forests, swamps and
grasslands.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE COASTAL REGION
The natural vegetation consists of mangroves.
Animal species include dugong, dolphins,
crocodiles and avifauna. There are 26 species of
fresh water turtles and tortoises in India and 5
species of marine turtles, which inhabit and feed in
coastal waters and lay their eggs on suitable
beaches. Tortoise live and breed mainly on the
land.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE HIMALAYAN REGION
The fantastic altitude gradient results in the
tremendous biodiversity of the Himalayan region.
Flora and fauna vary according to both altitude and
climatic conditions: tropical rainforests in the
Eastern Himalayas and dense subtropical and
alpine forests in the Central and Western
Himalayas. The lower levels of the mountain range
support many types of orchids. On the eastern
slopes, rhododendrons grow to tree height.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

ISLANDS
The two groups of islands, i.e., the Arabian Sea islands and
Bay Islands differ significantly in origin and physical
characteristics. The Arabian Sea Islands are the foundered
remnants of the old land mass and subsequent coral
formations. On the other hand, the Bay Islands lay only about
220 km.

Away from the nearest point on the main land mass and extend
about 590 km. With a maximum width of 58 km the island
forests of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea have some of the
best-preserved evergreen forests of India. Some of the islands
are fringed with coral reefs. Many of them are covered with
thick forests and some are highly dissected.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

THE COASTAL REGION
The natural vegetation consists of mangroves.
Animal species include dugong, dolphins,
crocodiles and avifauna. There are 26 species of
fresh water turtles and tortoises in India and 5
species of marine turtles, which inhabit and feed in
coastal waters and lay their eggs on suitable
beaches. Tortoise live and breed mainly on the
land.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Uses and importance of biodiversity

Biodiversity provides the important natural

resources
Biodiversity provides genetic resources and
thereby increases genetic diversity
Biodiversity maintains stable ecosystem
Biodiversity ensures optimum utilization ans
conversation of abiotic resources in an ecosystem

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 The biodiversity found on Earth today is the result of approximately 3.5 billion years of
evolution.  Until the emergence of humans, the earth supported more biodiversity than any
other period in geological history. However, since the dominance of humans, biodiversity
has begun a rapid decline, with one species after another suffering extinction. The
maintenance of biodiversity is important for the following reasons:
Ecological stability
Each species performs a particular function within an ecosystem.  They can capture and
store energy, produce organic material, decompose organic material, help to cycle water
and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, control erosion or pests, fix atmospheric gases, or
help regulate climate.  
Ecosystems provide support of production and services without which humans could not
survive. These include soil fertility, pollinators of plants, predators, decomposition of
wastes, purification of the air and water, stabilisation and moderation of the climate,
decrease of flooding, drought and other environmental disasters. 
Research show that the more diverse an ecosystem the better it can withstand
environmental stress and the more productive it is. The loss of a species thus decreases the
ability of the system to maintain itself or to recover in case of damage. There are very
complex mechanisms underlying these ecological effects. 

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Economic benefits to humans
For all humans, biodiversity is first a resource for daily life. Such 'crop diversity' is also called agrobiodiversity.
Most people see biodiversity as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the manufacture of food,
pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Thus resource shortages may be related to the erosion of the
biodiversity.  
Some of the important economic commodities that biodiversity supplies to humankind are:
-        FOOD : crops, livestock, forestry, and fish 
-        MEDICATION: Wild plant species have been used for medicinal purposes since before the beginning of
recorded history. For example, quinine (Used to treat malaria) comes from the bark of the Amazonian tree
Cinchona tree; digitalis from the Foxglove plant (chronic heart trouble), and morphine from the Poppy plant (pain
relief).  
According the National Cancer Institute of the USA, over 70 % of the promising anti-cancer drugs come from
plants in the tropical rainforests. Animal may also play a role, in particular in research. It is estimated that of the
250,000 known plant species, only 5,000 have been researched for possible medical applications. 
-        INDUSTRY: fibres for clothing, wood for shelter and warmth. Biodiversity may be a source of energy (such
as biomass). Other industrial products are oils, lubricants, perfumes, fragrances, dyes, paper, waxes, rubber,
latexes, resins, poisons and cork can all be derived from various plant species. Supplies from animal origin are
wool, silk, fur, leather, lubricants, waxes. Animals may also be used as a mode of transportation.  
-        TOURISM & RECREATION: biodiversity is a source of economical wealth for many areas, such as many
parks and forests, where wild nature and animals are a source of beauty and joy for many people. Ecotourism in
particular, is a growing outdoor recreational activity.  
Ethical reasons
The role of biodiversity is to be a mirror of our relationships with the other living species, an ethical view with
rights, duties, and education. If humans consider species have a right to exist, they cannot cause voluntarily their
extinction. Besides, biodiversity is also part of many cultures’ spiritual heritage. 

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Loss of biodiversity
Destruction of habitat
Hunting
Exploitation and over exploitation of selected sp.
Habitat fragmentation
Collection of samples for research
Introduction of exotic sp.
Pollution
Control of pests and predators
Natural calamities
Human intervention
Domestication and urbanization
Other factors

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings
on the world’s ecosystem, In fact human beings have deeply altered the environment, and
have modified the territory, exploiting the species directly, for example by fishing and
hunting, changing the biogeochemical cycles and transferring species from one area to
another of the Planet. The threats to biodiversity can be summarized in the following main
points:
Alteration and loss of the habitats: the transformation of the natural areas determines not
only the loss of the vegetable species, but also a decrease in the animal species associated
to them.
Introduction of exotic species and genetically modified organisms: species originating
from a particular area, introduced into new natural environments can lead to different forms
of imbalance in the ecological equilibrium. Refer to, “Introduction of exotic species and
genetically modified organisms”.
Pollution: human activity influences the natural environment producing negative, direct or
indirect, effects that alter the flow of energy, the chemical and physical constitution of the
environment and abundance of the species;
Climate change: for example, heating of the Earth’s surface affects biodiversity because it
endangers all the species that adapted to the cold due to the latitude (the Polar species) or
the altitude (mountain species).
Overexploitation of resources: when the activities connected with capturing and harvesting
(hunting, fishing, farming) a renewable natural resource in a particular area is excessively
intense, the resource itself may become exhausted, as for example, is the case of sardines,
herrings, cod, tuna and many other species that man captures without leaving enough time
for the organisms to reproduce.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Conservation of biodiversity

Biodiversity is being depleted by the loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, over

exploitation of resources, human sponsored ecosystems, climatic changes, pollution
invasive exotic spices, diseases, shifting cultivation, poaching of wild life etc.
Since the human beings are enjoying all the benefits from biodiversity, they should
take proper care for the preservation of biodiversity in all its form and good health for
the future generation i.e., the human being should prevent the degradation and
destruction of the habitats thereby maintaining the biodiversity at its optimum level.
Conservation of biodiversity is protection, upliftment and scientific management of
biodiversity so as to maintain it at its threshold level and derive sustainable benefits
for the present and future generation. In other words, conservation of bio-diversity is
the proper management of the biosphere by human beings in such a way that it gives
maximum benefits for the present generation and also develops its potential so as to
meet the needs of the future generations.
Mainly the conservation of biodiversity has three basic objectives:
(a) To maintain essential ecological processes and life supporting systems.
(b) To preserve the diversity of species.
(c) To make sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Objectives and advantages of biodiversity
conservation
Conservation of biological diversity leads to conservation of
essential ecological diversity to preserve the continuity of food
chains.
The genetic diversity of plants and animals is preserved.
It ensures the sustainable utilization of life support systems on earth.
It provides a vast knowledge of potential use to the scientific
community.
A reservoir of wild animals and plants is preserved, thus enabling
them to be introduced, if need be, in the surrounding areas.
Biological diversity provides immediate benefits to the society such
as recreation and tourism.
Biodiversity conservation serves as an insurance policy for the
future.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
 Mark
er

Somatic cell
embryogenesis
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Totipotent
Pluripoten
t
Unipotent
Cytokinin-
Shoots
Auxin-Roots
Micropropagation differs from all other conventional propagation methods
in that aseptic conditions are essential to achieve success. The process of
micropropagation can be divided into four stages:
Initiation stage. A piece of plant tissue (called an explant) is (a) cut from the
plant, (b) disinfested (removal of surface contaminants), and (c) placed on a
medium. A medium typically contains mineral salts, sucrose, and a
solidifying agent such as agar. The objective of this stage is to achieve an
aseptic culture. An aseptic culture is one without contaminating bacteria or
fungi.
Multiplication stage. A growing explant can be induced to produce
vegetative shoots by including a cytokinin in the medium. A cytokinin is a
plant growth regulator that promotes shoot formation from growing plant
cells.
Rooting or preplant stage. Growing shoots can be induced to produce
adventitious roots by including an auxin in the medium. Auxins are plant
growth regulators that promote root formation. For easily rooted plants, an
auxin is usually not necessary and many commercial labs will skip this step.
Acclimatization. A growing, rooted shoot can be removed from tissue
culture and placed in soil. When this is done, the humidity must be gradually
reduced over time because tissue-cultured plants are extremely susceptible to
wilting.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Strategies for Conservation of Biodiversity
(1) All the possible varieties (old or new) of food, forage and timber plants, live stock, agriculture
animals and microbes should be conserved.
(2) All the economically important organisms in protected areas should be identified and conserved.
(3) Critical habitats for each species should be identified and safeguarded.
(4) Priority should be given to preserve unique ecosystems.
(5) There should be sustainable utilisation of resources.
(6) International trade in wild life should be highly regulated.
(7) The poaching and hunting of wildlife should be prevented as far as practicable.
(8) Care should be taken for the development of reserves and protected areas.
(9) Efforts should be made to reduce the level of pollutants in the environment.
(10) Public awareness should be created regarding biodiversity and its importance for the living
organisms.
(11) Priority should be given in wildlife conservation programme to endangered species over
vulnerable species and to vulnerable species over rare species.
(12) The habitats of migratory birds should be protected by bilateral and multilateral agreement.
(13) The over exploitation of useful products of wild life should be prevented.
(14) The useful animals, plants and their wild relatives should be protected both in their natural
habitat (in-situ) and in zoological botanical gardens (ex-situ)
(15) Efforts should be made for setting up of National parks and wild life sanctuaries to safeguard
the genetic diversity and their continuing evolution.
(16) Environmental laws should be strictly followed.
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
In situ conservation

The conservation of species in their natural habitat or natural ecosystem is known as in

situ conservation. In the process, the natural surrounding or ecosystem is protected and
maintained so that all the constituent species (known or unknown) are conserved and
benefited. The factors which are detrimental to the existence of species concerned are
eliminated by suitable mechanism.
The different advantages of in situ conservation are as follows:
(a) If is a cheap and convenient way of conserving biological diversity.
(b) It offers a way to preserve a large number of organisms simultaneously, known or
unknown to us.
(c) The existence in natural ecosystem provides opportunity to the living organisms to
adjust to differed’ environmental conditions and to evolve in to a better life form.
The only disadvantage of in situ conservation is that it requires large space of earth
which is often difficult because of growing demand for space. The protection and
management of biodiversity through in situ conservation involve certain specific areas
known as protected areas which include national parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere
reserves.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

1. The protected areas
The protected areas are biogeographical areas where biological
diversity along with natural and cultural resources are protected,
maintained and managed through legal and administrative measures.
The demarcation of biodiversity in each area is determined on the
basis of climatic and physiological conditions.
In these areas, hunting, firewood collection, timber harvesting etc.
are prohibited so that the wild plants and animals can grow and
multiply freely without any hindrance. Some protected areas are:
Cold desert (Ladakh and Spiti), Hot desert (Thar), Saline Swampy
area (Sunderban and Rann of Kutch), Tropical moist deciduous
forest (Western Ghats and north East) etc. Protected areas include
national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves. There are 37,000
protected areas throughout the world. As per World Conservation
Monitoring Centre, India has 581 protected areas, national parks and
sanctuaries.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

2. National parks
These are the small reserves meant for the protection of wild life and their
natural habitats. These are maintained by government. The area of national
parks ranges between 0.04 to 3162 km. The boundaries are well demarcated
and circumscribed. The activities like grazing forestry, cultivation and habitat
manipulation are not permitted in these areas. There are about 89 national
parks in India.
Some important national Parks of India are:
(i) Biological Park, Nandankanan, Orissa,
(ii) Corbett national Park Nainital, U.P. (First national Park)
(iii) Koziranga national Park, Jorhat, Assam
(iv) Tudula national Park, Maharashtra
(v) Hazaribagh national Park, Hazaribagh, Bihar
(vi) Band havgarh national park, M.P.
(vii) Bandipur national park, Karnataka.
(viii) Kanha National Park, M.P.
(ix) Reibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur
(x) Nawgaon National Park, Maharashtra
Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
3. Sanctuaries
These are the areas where only wild animals (fauna) are present. The
activities like harvesting of timbers, collection of forest products,
cultivation of lands etc. are permitted as long as these do not
interfere with the project. That is, controlled biotic interference is
permitted in sanctuaries, which allows visiting of tourists for
recreation. The area under a sanctuary remains in between 0.61 to
7818 km.
Some important sanctuaries of Orissa are as follows:
(i) Nandankanan Zoological Park
(ii) Chandaka Elephant reserve
(iii) Simlipal Tiger Reserve
(iv) Bhitarkanika Wild life Sanctuary
(v) Gharial project at Tikarpada
(vi) Chilika (Nalaban) Sanctuary

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

4. Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves or natural reserves are multipurpose protected areas with
boundaries circumscribed by legislation. The main aim of biosphere reserve is to
preserve genetic diversity in representative ecosystems by protecting wild animals,
traditional life style of inhabitant and domesticated plant/ animal genetic resources.
These are scientifically managed allowing only the tourists to visit.
Some importance of biosphere reserves are as follows:
(a) These help in the restoration of degraded ecosystem.
(b) The main role of these reserves is to preserve genetic resources, species, ecosystems,
and habitats without disturbing the habitants.
(c) These maintain cultural, social and ecologically sustainable economic developments.
(d) These support education and research in various ecological aspects,
Some important biosphere reserves are:
Simlipal, (Orissa), Sunderban (West Bengal), Kanha (M.P Kaziranga (Assam) etc. The
biosphere reserve net work was intro­duced by UNESCO 1971.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Ex situ conservation

Ex situ conservation involves maintenance and breeding of

endangered plants and animals under partially or wholly control­led
conditions in specific areas like zoo, gardens, nurseries etc. That is,
the conservation of selected plants and animals in se­lected areas
outside their natural habitat is known as ex-situ con­servation.
The stresses on living organisms due to competition for food, water,
space etc. can be avoided by ex-situ conservation there by providing
conditions necessary for a secure life and breeding.
Some important areas under these conservation are:
(i) Seed gene bank,
(ii) Field gene bank;
(iii) Botanical gardens;
(iv) Zoos.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 The strategies for ex-situ conservations are:
(i) Identification of species to be conserved.
(ii) Adoption of Different ex-situ methods of conservation.
(iii) Long-term captive breeding and propagation for the
species which have lost their habitats permanently.
(iv) Short-term propagation and release of the animals in
their natural habitat
(v) Animal translocation
(vi) Animal reintroduction
(vii) Advanced technology in the service of endangered
species.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

 The different advantages of ex-situ conservation are:
(a) It gives longer life time and breeding activity to animals.
(b) Genetic techniques can be utilised in the process.
(c) Captivity breed species can again be reintroduced in the
wild.
Some disadvantages of this method are:
(a) The favourable conditions may not be maintained
always.
(b) Mew life forms cannot evolve.
(c) This technique involves only few species.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt
Govt. Initiatives
Biological Diversity Act 2002: The Biological Diversity Act 2002 was born in India to
resultant of India's attempt to achieve objectives, which determined by United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992 for protect own Biological Resources.
The Act aims to conserve biological resources with the sustainable manner. For purposes
of implementing the objectives of this Act, established the National Biodiversity
Authority in Chennai on 2003.
India successfully hosted the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP
11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held from 8-19 October 2012,
in Hyderabad.
Other Initiatives
Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management (CBIPM)
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)
Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems
Environment Information, Education & Awareness
Environmental Management in Heritage, Pilgrimage and Tourist Centers Including
Taj Protection
Social Forestry with communities (Panchayat Van Yojana)

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Convention of Biological
Diversity
The aim of the convention is to save species and plants
from extinction and their habitats from destruction.
The developed countries are looking for a sustainable
supply of biological resources from the developing
countries and easy access to them as well. The developing
countries lacking the technology to exploit their resources
are inviting the developed countries to do so. This has
resulted in the developed nations channeling out the
benefits of these natural resources. The developing
countries are now demanding a higher share of the
accrued economic benefits. The developed nations are
also concerned by the unsustainable exploitation of
natural wealth, particularly rainforests.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt

Key points from the Convention
on Biological Diversity
The aim of the Convention on Biological Diversity is 'the conservation of biological diversity, the
sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of
the utilization of genetic resources. The convention stipulates that Parties must :
Develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources;
Establish protected areas, restore degraded ecosystems, control alien species, and establish ex-
situ conservation facilities;
Establish training and research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and support such programmes in developing countries;
Promote public education and awareness of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity;
Recognize the right of governments to regulate access to their own genetic resources, and,
wherever possible, grant other Parties access to genetic resources for environmentally sound
uses;
Encourage technology and biotechnology transfer particularly to developing countries;
Establish an information exchange between the parties on all subjects relevant to biodiversity;
Promote technical and scientific cooperation between parties (particularly to developing
countries) to enable them to implement the convention;
Ensure that countries that provide genetic resources have access to the benefits arising from
them; and
Provide financial resources to developing countries/parties to enable them to carry out the
requirements of the convention.

Dr. Bhavin S. Bhatt