Conservation Biology

Lecture 27

Topic: Mapping of Biodiversity

❖ Biodiversity maps are a cartographic (art of drawing maps)

representation of any biodiversity data that have spatial(3-D) and

temporal(in sequence) units

⮚ Mapping of biodiversity means the skills involve in observing natural

phenomena, identifying different species of organisms, classifying them into

categories, and mapping the data for conservation and management in the

future.

⮚ Maps can reveal patterns between a specific landscape and the organisms

that live there.

⮚ Biodiversity mapping in which vegetative features and categories of land

use are mapped at coarse spatial(3-D) scales, has been proposed as a reliable

tool for land use decisions (e.g., reserve identification, selection, and

design).

⮚ The species richness data collected at coarse spatiotemporal scales provide

a first-order approximation to community and ecosystem representation and

persistence.
 ⮚ Decision-making based on mapped species richness patterns may be

sensitive to errors from

unreliable data and models, resulting in suboptimal conservation

decisions.

⮚ Therefore, a number of approaches and models have been proposed time to

time in which vegetation data are assumed to be known and mapped without

errors.

⮚ Especially concern over loss of biological diversity has accelerated efforts

to map biodiversity and its distribution and landscape characteristics

Importance

⮚ Biodiversity Maps are actually transforming Data into Visual Tools into

Meaningful Action for Biodiversity Conservation

⮚ The use of data mapping has become a vital component in biodiversity

studies, management and conservation.

⮚ Biodiversity maps allow visualization of data necessary for various

analyses whether for current or future condition of biodiversity.

⮚ Maps usually refer to mapping of species, populations or ecosystems,

eyeing on their presence or count within an area at a specific time.

⮚ They also illustrate the extent of impacts when variables relating to

anthropogenic pressures are integrated with biodiversity data.

⮚ Many biodiversity questions can be answered with the help of data mapping

applications.

⮚ They can clearly communicate which biodiversity areas are in critical

conditions and that require immediate attention for protection and

conservation.

⮚ Maps are very useful tool in identifying important locations for

biodiversity.
 ⮚ Maps display biodiversity information in graphical form, hence making it

simple to understand than long textual descriptions(written material in text).

For example, this interactive map of Victoria, Australia directly shows its

biodiversity.

Map of life

❖ The Map of Life is a biodiversity mapping tool that shows a huge collection

of biodiversity data into maps through different search queries. You can

search for a species and find its distribution across the globe, or search a

location and find the species within that region, or, search based on

biodiversity trends such as species data coverage, species habitat and species

protection.

Some important sites showing biodiversity maps

biodiversity hotspot map, global biodiversity

Map of Life web interface | www.mol.org

mapping software free, value of biodiversity