Environmental Studies: Biodiversity
BIODIVERSITY
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Biodiversity
The term biodiversity is made up of two words - bio and diversity.
Bio means living and diversity means variety. So the variety or
variability of organisms and ecosystem is referred to as biodiversity.
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Kinds/Levels of biodiversity
Genetic Diversity
Variations among the genes of the same species are known as
genetic diversity.
It is this type of diversity that gives rise to the different varieties of
rice, mangoes etc.
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Species Diversity
Species diversity is the number of different species that are
represented in a given community
Or
Diversity which arises due to variations among species present in
specific areas is called as ‘species diversity’. Horses and donkeys
are distinct species, as are lions and tigers.
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Ecosystem Diversity
Ecosystem diversity is therefore, the diversity of habitats which
include the different life forms within. The term also refers to the
variety of ecosystems found within a biogeographically political
boundary.
Example of ecological diversity on a global scale would be the
variation in ecosystems, such as deserts, forests, grasslands, wetlands
and oceans.
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Value of Biodiversity
• Consumptive values:
Food
Goods like fuel, timber, paper, and
medicines
• Recreation: The biodiversity of the
planet enables activities like wildlife
tourism, nature photography, bird
watching etc.
• Genetic resources: Biotechnology
and genetic engineering use the genes
of organisms to make new types of
crops, medicines etc.
• Ecosystem functions
• Aesthetic and cultural benefits
Value of biodiversity
Survival
Health and
Ecological
Healing
Services
Productive Value Ethical and Aesthetic Value
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Source: [Link]
Hot spots of Biodiversity
The richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal
life on earth.
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet
two strict criteria:
1. It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics
(It must have a high percentage of plant life found
nowhere else on the planet).
2. It must have 30% or less of its original natural
vegetation. (In other words, it must be threatened).
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Hot Spots of Biodiversity
Biodiversity Hotspots are a method to identify those
regions of the world where attention is needed to address
biodiversity loss and to guide investments in conservation.
Currently, 36 biodiversity hotspots have been identified,
most of which occur in tropical forests.
They represent just 2.5% of Earth’s land surface, but
between them they contain around 50% of the world’s
endemic plant species and 43% of all bird, mammal,
reptile and amphibian species as endemics terrestrial
vertebrates.
Hot Spots of India
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Causes of Biodiversity Loss
• Habitat loss and degradation
• Destruction of biodiversity-rich areas like tropical
forests
• Destruction of coral reefs and wetlands
• Ploughing of grasslands
• Radical alteration of river systems by dams and
water withdrawals threaten freshwater fish
species
• Pollution of freshwater streams, lakes, and
marine habitats
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Habitat Fragmentation
For a species to survive it requires a minimum
extent of area in the ecosystem. Due to human
impact, many large, continuous areas of habitat
are being reduced in extent. This has many
effects:
• Species become divided into smaller populations
that cannot sustain themselves.
• Species becomes more vulnerable (exposed) to
predators
• Ex: migratory birds face the loss of their
seasonal habitats.
• Fragmentation creates barriers that limit the
ability of the species to disperse and colonize
new areas.
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Commercial Hunting and Poaching
• Illegal trade in rare and endangered species of plants, birds and
animals estimated to be US$ 8 billion per year.
• Animals such as rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, gorilla, butterfly etc.
• Decorative plants are also sold to collectors.
• The poachers, mostly poor people, depend on this trade for their
livelihood.
• The country of origin does not get any benefit since no taxes or
duties are paid. The country loses its biodiversity for nothing.
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Induction of non native species
• When non native species introduced in an ecosystem
and it has no predators, competitors, parasites, or
pathogens to control its numbers, it can reduce or
wipe out many local species.
Parthenium
Lantana Camara
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Other causes of biodiversity decline
• Growing population and migration of
farmers from overpopulated area
• Pollution
• Overexploitation of resources like over
fishing in the ocean and excessive
harvesting of medicinal plants by
pharmaceutical industries.
• Construction of large dams that flood large
biodiversity rich area
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Man-wildlife conflict
Sometimes we come across conflicting situations when wildlife
starts causing immense damage and danger to man and under such
conditions it becomes very difficult for the forest department to
pacify the affected villagers and gain local support for wild-life
conservation.
Elephant is one of the holy animal in India, especially in Kerala
but due to elephant attack some 500 people are killed by each
year.
The Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand is famous for notable
man-eaters leopard, responsible for at least 400 attacks on
humans.
The largest Swamp and mangroves forest of India is also home
to over 500 Bengal tigers, who killed from 50-250 people per
year in India and Bangladesh.
Causes of Man-animal
conflicts
• Shrinkage of habitat.
• Man-eating tendency.
• Food scarcity.
• Electric wiring.
• Lack of corridors.
• Inadequate compensation to
the farmers.
Threats to Biodiversity
Source: [Link]/
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Threats to Biodiversity
Source: [Link] Dated: March 1, 2023
Red Data Book
Red data book is the document established by International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for
documenting the rare and endangered species of plants,
animals, fungi and also a few local species that exist
within a state or country.
Least to highest threat category
Endangered species
Plant or animal species which are at the verge of their extinction
are called endangered species.
Elephant, Gir lion, Crocodile, Flamingo, Bengal Tiger, etc. are
some endangered animal species of India.
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Endangered Species of India
Indian Pangolin Great Indian Bustard
Indian Kangaroo Lizard Asiatic Elephant
[Link]
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Extinction of species
• An irreversible loss of species is called biological
extinction.
• By extinction we mean complete disappearance of a
species, that is not a single member of the extinct
species is found on earth.
• Local and ecological extinction
• Before a species goes biologically extinct, it goes
through stages of local and ecological extinction
• Local extinction means that the species is no longer
found in the area it once inhabited.
[Link]
DH6U
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Endemic Species
The plant or animal species confined to a particular region and
having originated there or a species which occur continuously
in that area are known as endemic species. Restriction of
species or taxa in small region is known as endemism.
True Cardamoum (Eletaria repens), Peepal (Ficus religiosa),
Palash tree (Butea monosperma), Banyan (Ficus bengalensis),
etc. are some of the endemic plants of India.
One-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), Tahr (Nilgiritragus
hylocrius), Snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Royal Bengal tiger
(Panthera tigris tigris), Gir lion (Panthera leo persica) etc. are
some of the endemic animals of India.
True Cardamom Peepal
Banyan Palash
One-horned rhino Tahr
Royal Bengal Tiger Gir lion
EDGE Species
Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally
Endangered (EDGE) species represent a
disproportionate amount of unique
evolutionary history. They have few close
relatives, are often the only surviving
member of their genus, and sometimes the
last surviving genus of their evolutionary
family.
Some EDGE species, such as elephants and
pandas, are well known.
Conservation of biodiversity
Biodiversity conservation is the scientific management at its
optimum level and derives sustainable benefit for both the present
and the future.
There are two major approaches for conservation of biodiversity
1) In situ (on site)
2) Ex situ (off site)
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In situ conservation – In situ means the natural or the
original place. In situ conservation includes National
parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, etc.
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Path of In-situ Conservation
• Identification and protection of natural areas that have high
diversity.
• In situ done primarily by setting up national parks and
reserves.
• In situ conservation through reserves is associated with
limitations also. They do not receive the level of management
and protection they need.
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National Park
National park are the area dedicated to conserve species with
minimal and very low intensity of human activity.
Objective:
Conservation of species of habitat with minimal and very low
intensity of human activity
Features:
No person reside in park other than public servants on duty and
person permitted by chief wildlife warden.
Zone:
Core
There are 106 existing national parks in India covering an area of 44,402.95 km2, which is
1.23% of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, July, 2023).
Source: [Link]
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Wild life sanctuary
Dedicated to protect wild life and habitat considers the
conservation of species only
Human activity is allowed but interferences not allowed
Objective:
Conservation of species and habitants by manipulative
management
Features:
No person reside in park other than public servants on duty and
person permitted by chief wildlife warden.
Zone: Core, Buffer and Restoration
There are 567 existing wildlife sanctuaries in India covering an area of 125564.86 km2, which
is 3.64 % of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, July, 2023).
Source: [Link]
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Biosphere reserve
“Natural areas that are generally used for scientific study”
Objective:
Conservation of natural resources and the improvement of the
relationship between humans and the environment
Features:
Both human and natural influenced ecosystems; substantial
human settlement.
Zone: Core, Buffer, Restoration or Transition
Presently, there are 18 notified biosphere reserves in India.
Source: [Link]
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves, currently comprising 748 sites/regions
designated by UNESCO in 134 countries, including 23 transboundary sites. Since
1976, is a unique global network explicitly linking sustainable development and
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biodiversity conservation. Source: [Link]
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Advantages of in situ conservation:
• Long term protection
• Better opportunity for conservation
as well as evolution
• Cheaper
Limitations of in situ conservation:
• Proper protection against
environmental pollution may not
be enough in natural types of
ecosystems
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Ex situ conservation – In this technique, plant and animal
species are conserved outside their natural habitats. Ex situ
conservation is the chief mode of preservation of genetic
resources. This can be done through establishment of gene banks,
zoos, botanical gardens, culture collections, etc.
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Path of Ex-situ conservation
• Conserve biodiversity in artificial setting.
• Chief mode of preservation of genetic resources.
It includes
• storage of seeds in banks and gene in gene bank
• breeding of animal species in zoos
• setting up botanical gardens,
• aquariums and research institutes
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Advantages of ex situ conservation
• Long-term conservation
• The species survive longer and may breed more offspring
than usual
• The quality of offspring may be improved by genetic
techniques if so required.
• Breeding of hybrid species is possible.
Limitations of ex situ conservation
• Not a viable option for protection of rare species due to
human interference
• Can be adopted for only a few kinds of species
• Overprotection may result in loss of natural occurrence.
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Green Corridors
Biogeographical classification of India
Biogeography is the study of patterns of distribution of organisms in space
and time.
India have nine phytogeographical regions
1. The Western Himalayas: Kumaon to north-east Kashmir
2. The Eastern Himalayas: Sikkim to Assam
3. Western Deserts: Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan & Gujrat
4. Gangetic Plains: Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal
5. Central India: Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Northern Gujarat
6. Western Coast: Southern Gujarat to Kanaya Kumari
7. Deccan Plateau: Parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil nadu, Karnataka
8. North-East India:Valleys of Brahmaputra
9. Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Small and large islands situated near the
equator
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Zoogeographical Regions of
India
• Himalayan Region: Consists of Yak, Gural, Snow leopard, Kasturi Deer
• Malabar Region: Various kind of Monkey, Deer
• Nilgiri Region: Variety of birds, lesser elephants and lions.
• Northern Plains: Elephants, leopard, neelgai, jackals, deer
• Desert lands: Deer, cheetah, snakes, lizards
• Deccan Plateau Region: elephants, lions, tigers, monkeys, deer, variety of
snakes.
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Biodiversity Conservation
Megadiverse Nation
WHAT ARE MEGADIVERSE COUNTRIES?
The mega-diverse countries are those that house the largest indices of biodiversity,
including a large number of endemic species. This concept was first proposed in 1988 by
Russell Mittermeier and is now used to raise awareness to the protection of natural
biodiversity, and particularly in the countries where this is more abundant and threatened.
Although they only account for around 10% of the Earth's surface, the mega-diverse
countries house at least 70% of the planet's terrestrial biological diversity, including more
than two thirds of all non-fish vertebrae species and three quarters of all the higher plant
species.
LIST OF MEGADIVERSE COUNTRIES
The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) of the United Nations Environment
Program has identified a total of 17 mega-diverse countries: Australia, Brazil, China,
Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and
Venezuela.
Characteristics of the megadiverse countries
In accordance with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, for a country to be considered
mega-diverse, it must:
Have at least 5,000 endemic plants.
Have marine ecosystems within its borders.
For their part, according to the Group of Similar Mega-diverse Countries, mega-diverse
countries contain one or more of the following characteristics:
Geographic position: Most are in tropical areas, where there is a large diversity of species.
Diversity of countries: Complexity of mountain scenery brings forth the diversity of
atmospheres, soils and climates.
Isolation: Progressive separation of islands and continents has allowed the development of
unique flora and fauna.
Size: Larger the size, the greater the diversity of scenery and species.
Evolutionary history: Some of the countries are on crossroads between two biogeographic
regions, producing a mixture of fauna and flora with different histories.
Culture: the domestication of plants and animals has contributed to the natural wealth.
India: A megadiverse Nation
• Geographical Diversity: Contain Himalayan region, Ganga plains,
Thar desert and Deccan plateau.
• Climatic Diversity: Different climatic conditions
• Biological Diversity: India have 9 phytogeographical regions
• Habitat Diversity: India represent all habitat of the world like
Mountain, hills, plateau, plains, deserts.
• Cultural Diversity: Several developed ancient civilization have
thrived in India.
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Organization/Institutes working
for protection and conservations
Organization/Institutes working for wildlife protection
and conservations
Key Points
(Summary of biodiversity conservation)
– We can protect species in their habitat or away from their
habitat.
– The number of and area covered by the world’s reserves have
increased, but their management is not satisfactory.
– Seed banks, zoos, and botanical gardens are important for
biodiversity conservation, but they are beset with many
difficulties.
– There are international agreements to promote biodiversity
conservation, the most important being the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD).
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Key Points.... (contd)
• Under CBD, India has prepared a National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
• India has taken measures like the creation of
biosphere reserves, protected areas, zoos, and
botanical gardens for conserving biodiversity.
• Biotechnology promises immense benefits for
agriculture, food production, and health, but brings
with it many problems too.
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Important Web Links
[Link]
[Link]
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Acknowledgment
Some images, animation, and material have been
taken from the following sources:
Textbooks: PERSPECTIVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES by ANUBHA KAUSHIK, C P KAUSHIK,
NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS
References Book: TEXTBOOK OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES by D. DAVE AND S. S.
KATEWA, CENGAGE LEARNING
3 All slides can be used for reading purpose only
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Important Web Links
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
xnlCZ6bXOjyEA&start_radio=1&t=60
[Link]
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Acknowledgment
Some images, animation, and material have been
taken from the following sources:
Textbooks: PERSPECTIVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES by ANUBHA KAUSHIK, C P KAUSHIK,
NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS
References Book: TEXTBOOK OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES by D. DAVE AND S. S.
KATEWA, CENGAGE LEARNING
3 All slides can be used for reading purpose only
67
Thanks