Biodiversity & Nautre Conservation
Prepared By
Md. Shafiqul Islam
Assistant Professor,ISD, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)
Species diversity
A combination of number of species and their relative
abundance defines species diversity.
Factors for species diversity:
*Species richness-the number of the species in the community
*Species evenness-the relative abundance of species
The Mechanics of Evolution
• Species have diversified by the mechanism of evolution
• Chance: breeding and (sexual) multiplication causes an exchange of genes, by
which offspring are not identical to their parents. As a result, variety is created, as
individual have different properties. If their properties are more suitable, they will
survive better.
• Competition: every organisms has the capacity of producing more ofspring than
strictly needed. Survival is dictated by competition for food, for space, for partners
and so on, which is in effect a daily test of suitability
• Functionality: nutrients and energy are the most precious commodities (tradable
items) of an ecosystem. Those species able to recycle these commodities, while
living frugally from them, have a better chance of surviving. It appears as if species
co-operate as groups, while competing as individuals.
• Habitat change: every species has an influence on its habitat, by the simple reason
it lives from what the habitat provides. As species or their numbers change, so
does their habitat, including physical qualities such as soil, slope and landscape
Evolution
• Isolation: when one group of a species is isolated from another (and with it
many other species, like on an island), its gene pool develops in its own
direction (and so do all other species, interacting together). The slightest
difference in environmental conditions will then lead to a community of new
species.
• Time: genetic changes happen slowly from generation to generation,
sometimes accelerated by sudden environmental changes. Evolution takes
an enormous amount of time.
Evolution consists of a long path of failed species
• Those on the way in: new species with improved traits, moving to out-compete old
species, upsetting the balance of nature untill a large number of other species have
adopted to the new situation. The number of species of this kind are very few, but
where humans have disturbed an original habitat, while at the same time introducing
new species from other places of the world, a major shift in biodiversity occurs.
Evolution
• Those in the stable relationship: the majority of species is in a stable and
functional relationship with the other species of the same ecosystem.
Generalist species live over a wide range and may have various functions.
Specialist species have a narrow range and function; they also have less
genetic variation
Common species: the main players in the functionality of ecosystems
(producers, predators, scavengers and decomposers)
Rare species: species which maintain themselves in small numbers, using the
existing ecosystems and their services. They could be on the way out to
extinction
Commensal species: species living on or with another species but not
affecting that species
Mutual species: species living together while benefiting each other
Parasitic species: species living from a host species
• Those on the way out: species which have been displaced by new species,
which are fitter for their environment. Human has displaced many species
Species
Endangered: one that is in immediate danger of becoming
extinct unless it is protected.
Ghorial, green turtle
Threatened: a threatened species has a declining number of
individuals and could become extinct
Sona bang/bull frog, sambar
Rare: found in the limited number only
Extinct:
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