Biodiversity Together With Conservation
Biodiversity is the form of biological scheme ranging from cellular macromolecules to biomes.
Edward Wilson popularized the term ‘biodiversity’.
2. Species diversity: Diversity at species level. E.g. Western Ghats accept greater amphibian species than Eastern Ghats.
3. Ecological diversity: Diversity at ecosystem level. E.g. In India, deserts, pelting forests, mangroves, coral reefs, moisture lands, estuaries & alpine meadows are seen.
According to Robert May’s Global approximate nigh 7 1 G one thousand species would accept on earth. (He considered the species to endure discovered inwards the tropics. i.e. solely 22% of the full species accept been recorded thus far).
Animals are to a greater extent than various (above 70%) than plants including Plantae in addition to Fungi (22%).
Most species rich taxonomic grouping amidst animals are insects (70%, i.e. out of every 10 animals, vii are insects).
Number of fungi species is to a greater extent than than the combined full of the species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles & mammals.
Biologists are non certain nigh full publish of prokaryotic species because
Applying May’s global estimates, Republic of Republic of India would accept to a greater extent than than 1 lakh flora species in addition to three lakh beast species.
Tropics (latitudinal arrive at of 23.5o due north to 23.5o S) accept to a greater extent than species than temperate or polar areas.
E.g. Number of plane species inwards unlike latitudes is given below:
Tropical Amazonian pelting wood (South America) is the greatest biodiversity on earth. It contains
Where, S= Species richness A= Area C= Y-intercept
Z= slope of the delineate of piece of work (regression co-efficient)
Z value lies inwards the arrive at of 0.1 to 0.2
In species-area human relationship amidst the large areas similar entire continents, slope of the delineate of piece of work is steeper (Z value: 0.6 to 1.2).
E.g. for frugivorous birds in addition to mammals inwards the tropical forests of unlike continents, the slope is 1.15.
Rich biodiversity is essential for ecosystem wellness in addition to imperative for the real survival of the human race.
‘Rivet popper hypothesis’:
E.g. Tropical pelting forests (loss from 14% to 6%).
Thousands hectares of pelting forests is existence lost within hrs.
The Amazon pelting wood is existence cutting for cultivating soya beans or for conversion of grass lands for cattle.
Fragmentation badly affects animals requiring large territories in addition to migratory animals.
Nile Perch introduced inwards Lake Victoria (East Africa) caused extinction of to a greater extent than than 200 species of cichlid fish.
Invasive weed species similar Parthenium (carrot grass), Lantana in addition to Eicchornia (water hyacinth) caused harm to our native species.
Illegal introduction of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) for aquaculture is posing a threat to the indigenous catfishes inwards our rivers.
More than 25% of the drugs are derived from plants.
25,000 species of plants accept medicinal value.
National Park: Strictly reserved for the welfare of the wild fauna where mortal ownership, cultivation, grazing etc are prohibited. E.g. Eravikulam National Park inwards Kerala.
Sanctuary: Here, protection is given solely to the animals. Collection of timbers, tiddler wood products in addition to mortal ownership are allowed thus long equally they make non harm the animals. E.g. Periyar wild fauna sanctuary inwards Kerala.
Biosphere Reserves: Areas of nation or coastal ecosystems for conservation in addition to sustainable use.
Sacred forests (Sacred groves): E.g.
Hotspots
These are the regions amongst real high species richness, high flat of endemism (species confined solely to a specific region) merely most threatened.
There are 34 hotspots inwards the world.
3 hotspots (Western Ghats in addition to Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma in addition to Himalaya) comprehend India’s biodiversity regions.
Edward Wilson popularized the term ‘biodiversity’.
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
1. Genetic diversity: Diversity shown yesteryear a unmarried species at genetic level. E.g. Rauwolfia vomitoria (Himalaya) shows genetic variation inwards the authorization & concentration of the chemic reserpine. Republic of Republic of India has to a greater extent than than 50,000 unlike strains of rice in addition to 1000 varieties of mango.2. Species diversity: Diversity at species level. E.g. Western Ghats accept greater amphibian species than Eastern Ghats.
3. Ecological diversity: Diversity at ecosystem level. E.g. In India, deserts, pelting forests, mangroves, coral reefs, moisture lands, estuaries & alpine meadows are seen.
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES ON EARTH (GLOBAL SPECIES DIVERSITY)
According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2004) to a greater extent than than 1.5 1 G one thousand species described thus far.According to Robert May’s Global approximate nigh 7 1 G one thousand species would accept on earth. (He considered the species to endure discovered inwards the tropics. i.e. solely 22% of the full species accept been recorded thus far).
Animals are to a greater extent than various (above 70%) than plants including Plantae in addition to Fungi (22%).
Most species rich taxonomic grouping amidst animals are insects (70%, i.e. out of every 10 animals, vii are insects).
Number of fungi species is to a greater extent than than the combined full of the species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles & mammals.
Biologists are non certain nigh full publish of prokaryotic species because
- Conventional taxonomic methods are non suitable for identifying microbial species.
- Many species are non culturable nether laboratory conditions.
Applying May’s global estimates, Republic of Republic of India would accept to a greater extent than than 1 lakh flora species in addition to three lakh beast species.
PATTERNS OF BIODIVERSITY
i. Latitudinal gradients
Species form decreases from the equator to the poles.Tropics (latitudinal arrive at of 23.5o due north to 23.5o S) accept to a greater extent than species than temperate or polar areas.
E.g. Number of plane species inwards unlike latitudes is given below:
- Colombia (near equator): nigh 1400 species.
- India (tropical latitudes): > 1200 species.
- New York (41o N): 105 species.
- Greenland (71o N): 56 species.
Tropical Amazonian pelting wood (South America) is the greatest biodiversity on earth. It contains
- > 40000 species of plants
- 3000 species of fishes
- 1300 species of birds
- 427 species of mammals
- 427 species of amphibians
- 378 species of reptiles
- > 1,25,000 species of invertebrates
Biodiversity (species richness) is highest inwards torrid zone because
Relation betwixt species richness in addition to surface area for a broad form of taxa gives a rectangular hyperbola.
On a logarithmic scale, the human relationship is a straight line described the equation
- Tropics had to a greater extent than evolutionary time.
- Relatively constant environs (less seasonal).
- They have to a greater extent than solar unloose energy which contributes to greater productivity.
ii. Species- Area human relationship
According to the written report of Alexander von Humboldt (German naturalist & geographer) inwards South American jungles, within a region, species richness increases amongst increasing explored area, merely solely upwardly to a limit.Relation betwixt species richness in addition to surface area for a broad form of taxa gives a rectangular hyperbola.
Log southward = log C + Z log A
Where, S= Species richness A= Area C= Y-intercept
Z= slope of the delineate of piece of work (regression co-efficient)
Z value lies inwards the arrive at of 0.1 to 0.2
In species-area human relationship amidst the large areas similar entire continents, slope of the delineate of piece of work is steeper (Z value: 0.6 to 1.2).
E.g. for frugivorous birds in addition to mammals inwards the tropical forests of unlike continents, the slope is 1.15.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIES DIVERSITY TO THE ECOSYSTEM
David Tilman conducted closed to long-term ecosystem experiments using outdoor plots. He flora that plots amongst to a greater extent than species showed less year-to-year variation inwards full biomass. He too showed that increased form contributed to higher productivity.Rich biodiversity is essential for ecosystem wellness in addition to imperative for the real survival of the human race.
‘Rivet popper hypothesis’:
It is an analogy used to empathize the importance of biodiversity. It is proposed yesteryear Stanford ecologist Paul Ehrlich. In an plane (ecosystem) all parts are joined together using thousands of rivets (species). If every rider starts popping a rivet (causing a species to move extinct), it may non impact flying security (proper surgical procedure of the ecosystem) initially. But equally to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than rivets are removed, the plane becomes dangerously weak. Loss of rivets on the wings (key species that drive major ecosystem functions) is a to a greater extent than serious threat to flying security than loss of a few rivets on the seats or windows within the plane.
27 species accept been disappeared inwards the terminal twenty years.
More than 15,500 species are facing threat of extinction.
12% birds, 23% mammals, 32% amphibians, 31% gymnosperm species confront the threat of extinction.
The electrical flow extinction charge per unit of measurement is 100 - 1000 times faster than inwards the pre-human times. If this tendency continues, nearly 50% species mightiness endure extinct within side yesteryear side 100 years.
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
IUCN Red List (2004) says that 784 species (338 vertebrates, 359 invertebrates & 87 plants) were extinct inwards the terminal 500 years. E.g. Dodo (Mauritius), Quagga (Africa), Thylacine (Australia), Stellar’s body of body of water moo-cow (Russia) in addition to three subspecies (Bali, Javan, Caspian) of tiger.27 species accept been disappeared inwards the terminal twenty years.
More than 15,500 species are facing threat of extinction.
12% birds, 23% mammals, 32% amphibians, 31% gymnosperm species confront the threat of extinction.
The electrical flow extinction charge per unit of measurement is 100 - 1000 times faster than inwards the pre-human times. If this tendency continues, nearly 50% species mightiness endure extinct within side yesteryear side 100 years.
Impacts of Loss of biodiversity
- Decline inwards flora production.
- Environmental perturbations such equally drought.
- Increased variability inwards ecosystem processes such equally flora productivity, H2O occupation in addition to pest in addition to illness cycles.
Causes of Biodiversity losses (‘The Evil Quartet’)
1. Habitat loss in addition to fragmentation:
It is the most of import drive of biodiversity loss.
E.g. Tropical pelting forests (loss from 14% to 6%).
Thousands hectares of pelting forests is existence lost within hrs.
The Amazon pelting wood is existence cutting for cultivating soya beans or for conversion of grass lands for cattle.
Fragmentation badly affects animals requiring large territories in addition to migratory animals.
2. Over-exploitation:
Stellar’s body of body of water cow, Passenger dove etc extinct due to over exploitation.
3. Alien species invasions:
Alien species drive turn down or extinction of indigenous species. E.g.
Nile Perch introduced inwards Lake Victoria (East Africa) caused extinction of to a greater extent than than 200 species of cichlid fish.
Invasive weed species similar Parthenium (carrot grass), Lantana in addition to Eicchornia (water hyacinth) caused harm to our native species.
Illegal introduction of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) for aquaculture is posing a threat to the indigenous catfishes inwards our rivers.
4. Co-extinction:
When a species becomes extinct, the flora in addition to beast species associated amongst it too extinct. E.g.
- Extinction of the parasites when the host is extinct.
- Co-evolved plant-pollinator mutualism where extinction of 1 leads to the extinction of the other.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
There are three categories of reasons for conservation.a. Narrowly utilitarian arguments
Human derive economical benefits from nature such equally food, firewood, fibre, structure material, industrial products (tannins, lubricants, dyes, resins, perfumes) in addition to medicines.More than 25% of the drugs are derived from plants.
25,000 species of plants accept medicinal value.
b. Broadly utilitarian arguments
Biodiversity has many ecosystem services. E.g.- Amazon wood (‘lung of the planet’) produces 20% of full O2 inwards the earth’s atmosphere.
- Pollination through bees, bumblebees, birds in addition to bats.
- Aesthetic pleasures.
c. Ethical arguments
Every species has an intrinsic value. We accept a moral duty to attention for their well-being.Types of conservation
a. In situ conservation (on site)
It is the conservation of genetic resources within natural or human-made ecosystems inwards which they occur. E.g. Protected areas such equally National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, cultural landscapes, natural monuments etc.National Park: Strictly reserved for the welfare of the wild fauna where mortal ownership, cultivation, grazing etc are prohibited. E.g. Eravikulam National Park inwards Kerala.
Sanctuary: Here, protection is given solely to the animals. Collection of timbers, tiddler wood products in addition to mortal ownership are allowed thus long equally they make non harm the animals. E.g. Periyar wild fauna sanctuary inwards Kerala.
Biosphere Reserves: Areas of nation or coastal ecosystems for conservation in addition to sustainable use.
Sacred forests (Sacred groves): E.g.
- Sacred groves inwards Khasi & Jaintia Hills inwards Meghalaya
- Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan
- Western Ghat regions of Karnataka & Maharashtra
- Sarguja, Chanda & Bastar areas (Madhya Pradesh).
b. Ex situ conservation (off site)
It is the conservation of organisms exterior their habitats. E.g. genetic resources centres, zoological parks, wild fauna safari parks, botanical gardens, factor banks, cryopreservation etc.Hotspots
These are the regions amongst real high species richness, high flat of endemism (species confined solely to a specific region) merely most threatened.
There are 34 hotspots inwards the world.
3 hotspots (Western Ghats in addition to Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma in addition to Himalaya) comprehend India’s biodiversity regions.
International Efforts for conserving biodiversity
The basis Summit (Rio de Jeneiro, 1992): It had three objectives:
a. Conservation of biodiversity
b. Sustainable occupation of biodiversity
c. Sharing of benefits inwards the utilization of genetic resources.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002):
a. Conservation of biodiversity
b. Sustainable occupation of biodiversity
c. Sharing of benefits inwards the utilization of genetic resources.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002):
In this summit, 190 countries pledged to bring down the electrical flow charge per unit of measurement of biodiversity loss.
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