EVS: class 3

“Biodiversity”
 What is Biodiversity?
Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources
including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species,
between species and of ecosystems.
 Scale of Biodiversity
Ø Walter G. Rosen first coined the term 'Biodiversity’ in 1985
Ø Popularised by the sociobiologist Edward Wilson to describe the
combined diversity at all the levels of biological organisation.

4 Billion Years
v 1.2 million species
identified so far

v 8.7 million estimated

 Biodiversity

Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

 Biodiversity

Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

 Biodiversity

Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

Genetic Makeup
+
Environment
Biodiversity and Evolution
 Diversity types on spatial scale

Alpha Beta Gamma

(species diversity of an (species diversity (Overall diversity of different
Ecosystem) b/w Ecosystems ecosystems within a region)
 Why care about Biodiversity?
1. Consumptive Use Value

Food Animal Feed Wood

Medicines
2. Productive Use Value

Paper and Cloth Industry

cancer prevention and treatment

3. Social Value

4. Aesthetic Value
5. Option Value
Feb, 2021
 Stevia

Ø Shrub native to South America

Ø Artificial sweetner

Ø Zero Calories

Ø Pepsico and Coca Cola

Ø Japan largest user

 Miracle Fruit

Ø Grown in West Africa

Ø Miraculin. The protein coats the taste buds and

changes their receptivity so that sour foods taste
sweet

Ø Effect remains from 15 min to 2 hrs

Ø treat diabetes and correct chemotherapy-related taste

disturbances.
Ophiorrhiza recurvipetala,
Pokkali rice to cultivated rice: Genes for salt tolerance
Instrument Value: When the existence or use of one individual
organism benefits another entity!
“Anthropocentric view”: human beings are most Important/central
to the world

Intrinsic Value: When one has value for its own sake!
Biodiversity Hotspots
 17 Mega-diversity Countries

Endemic/Native
Biodiversity Hotspots in India (Mega-diversity Nation)
Identify!!!!!

Tulsi
Identify!!!!!

Neem
Identify!!!!!

Teak
Identify!!!!!

Peepal
Identify!!!!!

Pine
Identify!!!!!

Bamboo
Identify!!!!!
Wheat
Identify!!!!!

Rice
Identify!!!!!

Maize
Identify!!!!!

Sugarcane
Identify!!!!! Sorghum (Jowar)
Identify!!!!! Baya Weaver
Identify!!!!! Indian Grey Hornbill
Identify!!!!! Indian Robin
Identify!!!!!
Rufous Treepie
Identify!!!!!
Jungle Babler
Identify!!!!!

Common Myna
Identify!!!!!

Alexendrine Parakeet
Identify!!!!!

Indian Roller: Neelkanth

 Identify!!!!!

Eurasian Collared Dove

What are threats to Biodiversity?
HIPPO

qHabitat Loss
Conversion/fragmentation/sim
plification/Intrusion

Lantana qInvasive Species

qPollution

qPopulation

African
qOverexploitation
Apple Snail Exotic trade, Greed