What is Biodiversity?

Short for biological diversity, biodiversity includes all organisms, species, and
populations; the genetic variation among these; and all their complex assemblages of communities and
ecosystems. It also refers to the interrelatedness of genes, species, and ecosystems and their
interactions with the environment. Usually three levels of biodiversity are discussed—genetic, species,
and ecosystem diversity.

Genetic diversity

is all the different genes contained in all individual plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It occurs
within a species as well as between species.

Species diversity

is all the differences within and between populations of species, as well as between different species.

Ecosystem diversity

is all the different habitats, biological communities, and ecological processes, as well as variation within
individual ecosystems.

 Biodiversity can be measured at many different levels including genetic, species,

community, and ecosystem. One way to measure biodiversity is to assess species richness
of an ecosystem, which is the total number of distinct species within a local community. 

Estimating Biodiversity

The differences in richness and evenness between two communities can be visualized by
rank-abundance curves. If the number of species is equal, the shape of the line can tell us
which community is more diverse. If the line is flat, there is high evenness among
species. However, if the line quickly dips, the evenness is low. If richness and evenness
are both different between two communities, biologists must use equations to calculate
diversity. These equations weight the importance of each component differently, and a
consensus on which equation is the best at calculating diversity is still debated.

Species By The Numbers

Scientists have found about 1.75 million different species. That includes 950,000
species of insects, 270,000 species of plants, 19,000 species of fish, 9,000 species of
birds and 4,000 species of mammals. This is only a small part of the total number of
species on Earth. There are millions more species that have not been discovered and
named yet.

Scientists have found about 1.75 million different species. That includes 950,000
species of insects, 270,000 species of plants, 19,000 species of fish, 9,000 species of
birds and 4,000 species of mammals. This is only a small part of the total number of
species on Earth. There are millions more species that have not been discovered and
named yet.

The loss of biodiversity is a significant issue for scientists and policy-makers and the topic is
finding its way into living rooms and classrooms. Species are becoming extinct at the fastest rate
known in geological history and most of these extinctions have been tied to human activity.

 Habitat loss and destruction, usually as a direct result of human activity and population
growth, is a major force in the loss of species, populations, and ecosystems.

 Alterations in ecosystem composition, such as the loss or decline of a species, can lead to
a loss of biodiversity. For example, efforts to eliminate coyotes in the canyons of
southern California are linked to decreases in song bird populations in the area. As
coyote populations were reduced, the populations of their prey, primarily raccoons,
increased. Since raccoons eat bird eggs, fewer coyotes led to more raccoons eating more
eggs, resulting in fewer song birds

 The introduction of exotic (non-native) species can disrupt entire ecosystems and impact
populations of native plants or animals. These invaders can adversely affect native
species by eating them, infecting them, competing with them, or mating with them.

 The over-exploitation (over-hunting, over-fishing, or over-collecting) of a species or

population can lead to its demise.

 Human-generated pollution and contamination can affect all levels of biodiversity.

 Global climate change can alter environmental conditions. Species and populations may
be lost if they are unable to adapt to new conditions or relocate.

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.

The Philippines is one of the 17 mega biodiverse countries, containing two-thirds of the Earth’s biodiversity
and 70 percent of world’s plants and animal species due to its geographical isolation, diverse habitats and high
rates of endemism. The Philippines’ biodiversity provides several ecosystem services. It provides food, water,
energy sources, pharmaceuticals, biomass fuels, carbon sequestration and climate regulation, crop pollination,
cultural and spiritual inspiration and ecotourism value.

Endemic: A biological taxon (genus, species, subspecies, variety, etc.) native to and restricted to a
particular area or region and not found naturally anywhere else in the world. Many species in
Galapagos are endemic to specific islands or volcanoes, while others are endemic to the
archipelago as a whole. Endemism on islands is generally much higher than on continents.
Endemic species are a subset of native or indigenous species.

Native or Indigenous: A biological taxon (genus, species, subspecies, variety, etc.) native to a
particular area or region; can be found naturally in other areas.

Invasive: A species that is non-native or introduced to an ecosystem that becomes established,

spreads, and is likely to cause damage to biodiversity, agricultural production, or human health.
Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes). They can compete
with and displace native plants and animals, alter ecosystem functions and cycles significantly,
hybridize with native species, and promote other invaders.

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is
an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Biopiracy is defined as, appropriation of life — micro-organisms, plants

and animals (including humans) and the
traditional knowledge that accompanies it"

Multinational corporations (MNCs) have been searching for rich natural

resources everywhere to make out a product along with the traditional
knowledge prevailing there, then patent it and mint money out of it.

What is Bioprospecting?

Bioprospecting, also known as biodiversity prospecting, is the exploration of

biological material for commercially valuable genetic and biochemical
properties.

In simple terms this means the investigation of living things to see how they
can be commercially useful to humans.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM

NIPAS (NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM) is the classification and adminis

tration of all designated protected areas to main tain essential ecological processes and life-
sup- port systems, to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure sustainable use of resources found
therein, and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible.