BIODIVERSITY

BY:
DR. ANJUM AHMED
(ASSISTANT PROFESSOR)
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AMU ALIGARH
DEFINITION OF DIVERSITY

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and

respect.
It means understanding that each individual is
unique,and recognizing our individual differences.
It is the exploration of these differences in a safe,
positive, and nurturing environment.
It is about understanding each other and moving beyond
simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the
rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.
BIODIVERSITY
The term ‘biological diversity’ has been introduced
by Walter Rosen in (1986).
E.O.Wilson (1988) defined Biodiversity.
Biological diversity or Biodiversity is defined as the
variety and variability within and among the living
organisms and the ecological complexes in which they
occur.
It refers to the variability’s among species of plants,
animals and microorganisms.
It is the assemblage of different life forms.
BIODIVERSITY CONTINUE…

It is sum of all the genes, varieties, species,

populations in different ecosystems and their relative
abundance.
Biodiversity, besides its ecological significance
provides a socio-economic and monetary asset to the
nation. Human society depends on biological resources,
their diversity and the ecosystems that sustain them to
provide essential goods and services.
TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is of three types:
1. Species diversity
2. Genetic diversity
3. Ecological diversity

The more intertwining among these features-

the more denser and resilient the weave
becomes. Eg: Amazon Forest.
1.SPECIES DIVERSITY

Species diversity refers to biodiversity at the most

basic level and is the ‘variety and abundance of
different types of individuals of a species in a
given area’.
According to Biological Species Concepts
(BSC), species is a basic unit of classification and
is defined as a group of similar organisms that
interbreed with one another and produce
offspring’s and share a common lineage.
2. GENETIC DIVERSITY

Every individual member of a plant or animal species differs

from other individuals in its genetic constitution. Each individual has
specific characters, which is due to the genetic makeup or code.
The genes present in the organisms can form infinite number of
combinations that causes genetic variability.
There are many varieties within the same species such as rice, wheat,
apples, mangoes, etc. that differ from one another in shape, size, color
of flowers and taste of fruits and seeds due to the variations at the
genetic level.
 The weave is reinforced by genetic
biodiversity which allows them to cope up with
changes. Species which lack genetic
biodiversity because of low population number
and isolation are more vulnerable to fluctuation
caused by: Climate change
Diseases
Habitat fragmentation
When a species disappear because of weak
gene pool a knot is untied and the part of the
net disappears.
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

An ecosystem is a collection of living components, like microbes, plants,

animals, fungi, etc. and non-living components, like climate, matter and
energy that are connected by energy flow.
Ecological/ecosystem diversity refers to the ‘variability among
the species of plants and animals living together and connected by flow
of energy and cycling of nutrients in different ecosystems or ecological
complexes’.
Grassland Mountain
Forest Aquatic ecosystem: fresh and saline water
Desert Wetlands
MEASURING BIO DIVERSITY
The measure of diversity of species is also known as species richness.
Biodiversity measure may be follow by three ways as:

I. Alpha diversity: This is the diversity in species, i.e. the number of species
within a community. This depends on the interaction between the biotic
and abiotic factors and also takes into account immigration from other
locations.
II. Beta diversity: This is the diversity between the community. It is the
change in the composition of the species with reference to the changes in
the environment.
III. Gamma diversity: This refers to the overall diversity and is applied to
larger areas in which both alpha and beta diversity are measured.
Diversity of the habitats over the total landscape or geographical area.
VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the most precious gift of
nature the mankind is blessed with.
The uniqueness of our planet Earth is due
to the presence of life manifested through the
diversity in flora and fauna.
As all the organisms in an ecosystem are
interlinked and interdependent, the value of
biodiversity in the life of all the organisms
including humans is enormous.
ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE
Ecosystem services (Indirect use/ non tangible use)
The natural environment is responsible for the
production of oxygen, maintenance of water-cycle and
other biogeochemical cycles.
The more a region is rich in terms of biodiversity, the
better are the different cycles regulated. For example,
forests regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air
by releasing oxygen as a by-product during
photosynthesis, and control rainfall, soil erosion and
maintain soil fertility.
CONSUMPTIVE VALUE: this is related to natural products that are used directly for food,
fodder, timber, fuel wood, etc. the tribal people are completely dependent on the forests for their
daily needs
PRODUCTIVE USE VALUE: DIRECT/TANGIBLE USE
This is assigned to products that are commercially harvested and marketed. almost all the present day
agricultural crops have originated from wild varieties. similarly, all our domesticated animals came from
wild-living ancestral species. the commonly used drugs derived from plants are given in table below:
SOCIAL VALUE
Instead of modernization, many people still live in the forests
and meet their daily requirements from their surroundings.
The biodiversity in different parts of the world has been largely
preserved by the traditional societies. Since the indigenous
people always protect the forests for their own benefit.
Ancient times, especially in India, the environment in
totality i.e. flora, fauna, etc. were held in high esteem. Trees like
Peepal, Banyan and Tulsi are still worshipped. Similarly, certain
animals and birds were represented as vehicles of Gods and
were duly respected.
Ethical and Moral Values:
It is based on the principle of ‘live and let others live’. Morality and
ethics teach us to preserve all forms of life and not to harm any organism
unnecessarily. Some people take pleasure in the hunting of animals. People also
sometimes degrade and pollute the environment by their unethical actions.
Through proper education and awareness, the people’s conscience against such
practices must be raised.
Aesthetic Value:
The beauty of our planet is because of biodiversity. Biological diversity adds
to the quality of life and provides some of the most beautiful aspects of our existence.
Biodiversity is responsible for the beauty of a landscape. Humans are also attracted
towards the biologically rich regions and nobody likes to live or visit a barren place.
People go to far off places to enjoy the natural surroundings and wildlife. Popularity of
Eco-tourism is because of biodiversity.
Optional Value:
This refers to the value of biodiversity that is yet unknown, but needs to be explored for
future possibilities and use. Scientists have discovered and named about 1.75 million
species, which is of utmost importance. We should preserve all the world’s biodiversity
that can be used by the future generations.
 Biodiversity hotspot

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with

significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened with
destruction. For example forests are considered as
biodiversity hotspots. On listed world 34/35
biodiversity hotspots are present.
The British biologist Norman Myers coined the term
"biodiversity hotspot" in 1988 .
Conservation International (CI) adopted Myers’
hotspots as its institutional blueprint in 1989, and in
1996, the organization made the decision to undertake
a reassessment of the hotspots concept.
Map showing hotspots of the world
 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN INDIA

1. Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and that falling
in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar)
2. Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-eastern India, except Assam and
Andaman group of Islands (and Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia and southern China)
3. Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands (and Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines)
4. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Includes entire Western Ghats (and Sri
Lanka)
 Some important terms related to biodiversity

Endemic species are plants and animals that exist only in one geographic region.
Species can be endemic to large or small areas of the earth: some are endemic to
a particular continent, some to part of a continent, and others to a single island.
Usually an area that contains endemic species is isolated in some way, so that
species have difficulty spreading to other areas, or it has unusual environmental
characteristics to which endemic species are uniquely adapted.
 RED DATA BOOK

The Red Data Book is a type of a public document, which is created for the
recordings of rare and endangered species including animals, plants and fungi as
well as some local subspecies, which are present within the region of the state or
country. The red data book helps us in providing complete information for research,
studies and also for monitoring the programs on rare and endangered species and
their habits.
 FLAGSHIP SPECIES
A flagship species is a species from the plant or animal kingdom that
is used to represent a certain environmental issue or cause. There
are a number of types of issues that can be represented by a
flagship species. For example, the polar bear has been used as a
species to raise awareness about what global warming is doing to
the planet India
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Climate change
Changes in climate throughout our planet's history have, of
course, altered life on Earth in the long run — ecosystems
have come and gone and species routinely go extinct.
But rapid, manmade climate change speeds up the process,
without affording ecosystems and species the time to adapt.
For example, rising ocean temperatures and diminishing
Arctic sea ice affects marine biodiversity and can shift
vegetation zones, having global implications.
 Deforestation and habitat loss

Deforestation is a direct cause of extinction and loss of

biodiversity. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost
each year, due in part to logging and other human practices,
destroying the ecosystems on which many species depend.

Tropical rainforests in particular, such as the Amazon, hold a

high percentage of the world's known species, yet the
regions themselves are in decline due to humans.
 3. Overexploitation

Overhunting, overfishing and over-harvesting

contribute greatly to the loss of biodiversity, killing
off numerous species over the past several
hundred years. Poaching and other forms of
hunting for profit increase the risk of extinction;
the extinction of an apex predator — or, a predator
at the top of a food chain — can result
in catastrophic consequences for ecosystems.
 4. Invasive species

The introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem can

threaten endemic wildlife (either as predators or competing for
resources), affect human health and upset economies.
 5. Pollution

From the burning of fossil fuels (releasing dangerous

chemicals into the atmosphere and, in some cases, depleting
ozone levels) to dumping 19 billion pounds of plastic into the
ocean every year, pollution completely disrupts the Earth's
ecosystems. While it may not necessarily cause extinction,
pollutants do have the potential to influents species' habits.
For example, acid rain, which is typically caused by the
burning of fossil fuels, can acidify smaller bodies of water
and soil, negatively affecting the species that live there
by changing breeding and feeding habits.