Biodiversity- An overview

Biodiversity• What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity Definition.• Levels of biodiversity – Genetic, Species, Ecosystem.• Values of biodiversity• Factors responsible for loss /reduction in biodiversity

• Bio-geographical Classification Of India

• Hotspots: Areas of High species richness and Endemism

• Threats related to habitat loss• Poaching of wildlife• Man-wildlife conflicts• Conservation of biodiversity.

DEFINITION: BiodiversityDEFINITION: BiodiversityThe term coined by Water G. Rosen in 1986.

• Biologists most often define "biological diversity" or Biologists most often define "biological diversity" or "biodiversity" as the ""biodiversity" as the "totality of genes, species, and totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a regionecosystems of a region". ".

• It refers to the variety and variabilityIt refers to the variety and variability among all groups of living organisms among all groups of living organisms and the ecosystem complexes in which and the ecosystem complexes in which they occur. they occur. • The biodiversity found on Earth : many millions over the 3.5 billion years of evolution.• Only 1.7 million species have been identified so far.

Biomes• Biomes are in part defined based on factors such as

– plant structures (such as trees, shrubs and grasses),– leaf types (such as broadleaf and needle leaf), plant

spacing (forest, woodland, savanna) – Climate.– Unlike ecozones, biomes are not defined by genetic,

taxonomic or historical similarities. Biomes are often identified with particular patterns of ecological succession and climax vegetation.

– A fundamental classification of biomes is• Terrestrial (land) biomes • Freshwater biomes • Marine biomes

Millions of species on earth

India among the 12 Mega-diversity countries of the world

• Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, records– 45,000 different plant species & 81,000 animal species which is 7% and 6.5% respectively of global flora and Fauna.– 18,000 flowering plants (out of 400 families, 315 in India)– 16 different agro climatic zones– 10 vegetative zones– 2564 bryophytes-Non vascular bundles Eg. Lichens, Mosses, hornworts– 1022 Pteridophytes-Seedless plants Eg. Fern– 64 Gymnosperrms- seed bearing plants Eg. Pine, cedar, spruce

• 30 million micro-organisms• 850 Bacteria, 23,000 fungi• 1,600 lichens & 2,500 algae• Birds: 1228• Mammals: 372

Biodiversity as National level

• Biodiversity as National level:• India has rich biodiversity of flora & fauna.• Overall 6% of global species are found in

India.• India ranks 10th among the plant rich country

of the world.• 11th in terms of number of endemic species

of higher vertebrates.• 6th among the centers of diversity & origin of

Agricultural crops• Flowering Plants: 1,70,000,Vertibrates: 30,000

– Other group of species: 2,50,000.

Importance of Biodiversity

• Biodiversity has contributed in many ways :• To the development of human culture and,• Human communities have played a major role in shaping the

diversity.• At least 40 % of the world’s economy and 80 % of the needs of

the poor are derived from biological resources.

• Economic role of Biodiversity– Food, Fiber, Shelter, , Fuel etc.– Goods: Timber, Paper, – Pharmaceuticals: Penicillin, Cinchona, Digitalis, Vinca, Atropine

etc– Rubber, paper, Cotton.– Recreation: Wild-life tourism, Trekking nature photography.

Functions of Biodiversity

The two main functions of biodiversity are

– It is the source of species on which the human compete depends for food, fiber, shelter, fuel, medicine etc

– It depends on the biosphere, which in turn leads to the stability in climate, water, soil, air and the overall health of biosphere.

Levels of biodiversityLevels of biodiversity

• The traditional three levels at The traditional three levels at which biological variety has which biological variety has been identified as the followingbeen identified as the following–Genetic DiversityGenetic Diversity–Species Diversity Species Diversity –Ecosystem Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

Types of Biodiversity

Genetic diversityGenetic diversity• Genetic diversityGenetic diversity is a level of is a level of

biodiversity that refers to the total that refers to the total number of number of genetic characteristics in characteristics in the genetic make up of a species. the genetic make up of a species.

• Genes are the basic unit of Genes are the basic unit of hereditary information transmitted hereditary information transmitted from one to the other. from one to the other.

• Eg. Eg. Oryza sativaOryza sativa – – differ in size, differ in size, shape, aroma and nutrient contentshape, aroma and nutrient content..

Species diversitySpecies diversity• Species diversitySpecies diversity refers to the number refers to the number

and distribution of and distribution of species in one in one location. location.

• Humans have a huge effect on species Humans have a huge effect on species diversity; the main reasons are:diversity; the main reasons are:- Destruction, Modification, and/or - Destruction, Modification, and/or Fragmentation of HabitatFragmentation of Habitat- Introduction of Exotic Species- Introduction of Exotic Species- Over harvest- Over harvest- Global Climate Change- Global Climate Change

• Two measuring species indices: shannon-Two measuring species indices: shannon-wiener index and simpson index. wiener index and simpson index.

Ecosystem diversityEcosystem diversity

• Ecosystem diversity refers Ecosystem diversity refers to the diversity of a place to the diversity of a place at the level of at the level of ecosystems. It . It is contrasted with is contrasted with biodiversity, which refers to , which refers to variation in species rather variation in species rather than ecosystems than ecosystems

BiogeographyBiogeography• Biogeography is the study of Biogeography is the study of

the distribution of the distribution of biodiversity over over space and and time. It aims to . It aims to reveal where organisms live, reveal where organisms live, and at what abundance.and at what abundance.

• Classic biogeography has been Classic biogeography has been expanded by the development expanded by the development of of molecular systematics, creating , creating a new discipline known as a new discipline known as phylogeography

Phylogeography & Phylogeography & PaleobiogeographyPaleobiogeography

• Phylogeography allows them to test theories Phylogeography allows them to test theories of relatedness between these populations of relatedness between these populations and source populations in and source populations in Asia and and North America

• Paleobiogeography goes one step further to Paleobiogeography goes one step further to include include paleogeographic data and data and considerations of considerations of plate tectonics. .

• Using molecular analyses and corroborated Using molecular analyses and corroborated by by fossils, it has been possible to demonstrate , it has been possible to demonstrate that that perching birds evolved first in the region evolved first in the region of of Australia or the adjacent or the adjacent Antarctic

Classification of Classification of biogeographybiogeography

Biogeography is a synthetic science, related to Biogeography is a synthetic science, related to geography, biology, soil science, geology, climatology, geography, biology, soil science, geology, climatology, ecology and evolution.ecology and evolution.Some fundamentals in biogeography areSome fundamentals in biogeography are

• evolution (change in genetic composition of a evolution (change in genetic composition of a population) population)

• extinction (disappearance of a species) extinction (disappearance of a species) • dispersal (movement of populations away from their dispersal (movement of populations away from their

point of origin, related to migration) point of origin, related to migration) • range and distribution range and distribution • endemic areas endemic areas • Vicariance: The separation or division of a group of Vicariance: The separation or division of a group of

organisms by a geographic barrier, such as a mountain organisms by a geographic barrier, such as a mountain or a body of water, resulting in differentiation of the or a body of water, resulting in differentiation of the original group into new varieties or speciesoriginal group into new varieties or species

Value of biodiversityValue of biodiversity• Biodiversity is the pillar for civilizationBiodiversity is the pillar for civilization• The loss of biodiversity threatens our The loss of biodiversity threatens our

food supplies, opportunities for food supplies, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and sources of recreation and tourism, and sources of wood, medicines and energy. It also wood, medicines and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological interferes with essential ecological functions.functions.

• we divide value of biodiversity into we divide value of biodiversity into two main types: instrumental and two main types: instrumental and intrinsic values intrinsic values

Instrumental values Instrumental values • ""Goods and Services" provided by ecosystems include:Goods and Services" provided by ecosystems include:• Provision of food, fuel and fibberProvision of food, fuel and fibber

• Provision of shelter and building materialsProvision of shelter and building materials

• Purification of air and waterPurification of air and water

• Detoxification and decomposition of wastesDetoxification and decomposition of wastes

• Stabilization and moderation of the Earth's climateStabilization and moderation of the Earth's climate

• Moderation of floods, droughts, temperature extremes and the forces of windModeration of floods, droughts, temperature extremes and the forces of wind

• Generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cyclingGeneration and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling

• Pollination of plants, including many cropsPollination of plants, including many crops

• Control of pests and diseasesControl of pests and diseases

• Maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties andMaintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and

• Livestock breeds, medicines, and other productsLivestock breeds, medicines, and other products

• Ability to adapt to changeAbility to adapt to change

Intrinsic valuesIntrinsic values•All organisms strive (usually All organisms strive (usually unconsciously and in an unconsciously and in an evolutionary sense) to achieve evolutionary sense) to achieve certain basic predetermined certain basic predetermined goals- to grow, to reach maturity goals- to grow, to reach maturity and to reproduce. Intrinsic value and to reproduce. Intrinsic value of biodiversity is non of biodiversity is non anthropocentric anthropocentric

Consumptive use valueConsumptive use value• Biodiversity product can be Biodiversity product can be

harvested and consumed. harvested and consumed. • Eg. Fuel, food, drugs, fibre.Eg. Fuel, food, drugs, fibre.

Drugs and medicinesDrugs and medicines• 75% of world depends on plant 75% of world depends on plant

or plant extracts for medicines.or plant extracts for medicines.• Eg. Penicillin – fungus –Eg. Penicillin – fungus –

penicilliumpenicillium• Quinine – cinchona barkQuinine – cinchona bark• Digitalin – foxclove Digitalin – foxclove • Vinblastin and vincristin – Vinblastin and vincristin –

anticancer -perwinkleanticancer -perwinkle

Fuel & social valueFuel & social value• Fuel wood.Fuel wood.• Fossil fuels coal, petroleum, natural Fossil fuels coal, petroleum, natural

gas – fossilized biodiversity.gas – fossilized biodiversity.• Associated with social life, Associated with social life,

customs, religion, and phycho-customs, religion, and phycho-spiritual aspects of the people. spiritual aspects of the people.

• Tulsi, lotus, bael etc – holy.Tulsi, lotus, bael etc – holy.• Cow, snake, bull, peacock etc.Cow, snake, bull, peacock etc.

Productive use valueProductive use value• Commercially usable values, product is Commercially usable values, product is

marketed and sold.marketed and sold.• Animal products like tusks of elephant, musk, Animal products like tusks of elephant, musk,

silk, wool etc.silk, wool etc.• Despite international ban on trade- Despite international ban on trade-

endangered species- smuggling of fur, horns, endangered species- smuggling of fur, horns, tusks. tusks.

• China and hong kong –export cat skin and China and hong kong –export cat skin and snake skin- booming business. snake skin- booming business.

• Developing countries asia, africa and america Developing countries asia, africa and america – richest biodiversity – wild life smuggling– richest biodiversity – wild life smuggling. .

Ethical value Ethical value • Also known as existence value.Also known as existence value.• ““all life must be preserved” all life must be preserved” • Concept “live and let live”Concept “live and let live”• Eg. Dodo or passenger pigeon Eg. Dodo or passenger pigeon

is no more in earth.is no more in earth.• Kangaroo, zebra, etc…..Kangaroo, zebra, etc…..

Aesthetic valueAesthetic value• No one wish to visit vast No one wish to visit vast

stretches of barren land with stretches of barren land with no sign of visible life. no sign of visible life.

• People spend money to visit- People spend money to visit- eco-tourism.eco-tourism.

• The willingness to pay – to visitThe willingness to pay – to visit• Eco-tourism estimated for Eco-tourism estimated for

aesthetic value – about 12 aesthetic value – about 12 billions dollars annuallybillions dollars annually..

Option value and ecosystem Option value and ecosystem service valueservice value

• The potential of biodiversity – The potential of biodiversity – presently unknown and needed to presently unknown and needed to be explored.be explored.

• potential, cure for AIDS or cancer. potential, cure for AIDS or cancer. Existing within the depth of Existing within the depth of marine eco-system.marine eco-system.

• Recently a non-consumptive use Recently a non-consumptive use value – self maintenance of value – self maintenance of ecosystem.ecosystem.

• Soil erosion, prevention of floods, Soil erosion, prevention of floods, soil fertility, fixation of nitrogen, soil fertility, fixation of nitrogen, cycling of water, & reduction of cycling of water, & reduction of the threat of global warming. the threat of global warming.