Biodiversity refers to a variety of plant and animal life on earth.

Explore in detail about

biodiversity and its types along with biodiversity and conservation notes at BYJU’S.
The term ‘biodiversity’ was popularized by the sociobiologist Edward Wilson.
Biodiversity is of three types:

Biodiversity and its types-

 Genetic diversity – It refers to the total number of genes in the genetic makeup
of a species. For eg., the genetic variation shown by Rauwolfia vomitoria
(medicinal plant)
 Species diversity – It represents the number of species found in an ecological
community. Example – Western ghat has a greater amphibian species compared
to Eastern ghats
 Ecological diversity – Greater diversity observed at the ecosystem level in a
particular area with its deserts, mangroves, rain forests etc.

Patterns Of Biodiversity

Patterns Of Biodiversity
The different patterns of biodiversity include:

Latitudinal Gradients
Species diversity decreases towards the poles. There are a number of species in the
tropics as compared to the temperate and polar regions. This is due to the following
reasons:

 The tropical regions have remained undisturbed for several years. This resulted
in the diversification of species in the tropics.
 The environment in the tropics is more predictable and constant. This is yet
another reason for increased species diversity.
 The solar energy adds to higher productivity and helps in increasing biodiversity
in the tropics.

Species-Area Relationship
The graph between species richness and area for a variety of taxa is a rectangular
hyperbola. The diagram depicts the same.
On a logarithmic scale, the relationship is a straight line described by the equation
log S = log C + Z log A
where,
S= Species richness
A= Area
Z = slope of the line (regression coefficient)
C = Y-intercept
Also Read: Important Questions on Biodiversity Conservation

Loss Of Biodiversity
ss of biodiversity in a region can lead to

 Deterioration in plant production,

 Decreased resistance to environmental issues such as drought, global warming,
etc.
 High variability in certain ecosystem processes such as plant productivity, water
use and pest and disease cycles.

Causes of Biodiversity Loss

Following are the causes of loss of biodiversity:

 Habitat loss and fragmentation

 Over-exploitation
 Alien species invasions
 Co-extinctions
Biodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity conservation is the protection, upliftment and management of biodiversity to
derive sustainable benefits for present and future generations.
Biodiversity can be conserved by the following two methods:

 In situ conservation – It involves the protection and conservation of a variety of

animals and plant species in its natural habitat. It includes biosphere reserves,
hot spots, national parks and sanctuaries, wild forests etc.
 Ex-situ conservation – It involves protection and conservation of rare species of
animals and plants outside their natural habitats. These include zoos, aquariums,
botanical gardens, gene banks, etc.