Contents

Chapter - 4
BIODIVERSITY
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Biodiversity
The variety or variability of organisms and ecosystem is referred to
as biodiversity.

The existence of million of plants, animals, and micro-organisms,

their genetic backgrounds, and the complex ecosystems to which
they belong show the immense biodiversity present in the
biosphere.

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Types of Biodiversity

• Genetic diversity - Diversity of genes within a species, i.e., genetic

variability among the populations and the individuals of the same
species.

• Species diversity- Diversity among species in an ecosystem.

‘Biodiversity hotspots’ are excellent examples of species diversity.

• Ecosystem diversity- Diversity at a higher level of organization,

i.e., the ecosystem. It concerns the variety of ecosystems on Earth.

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Value of Biodiversity

•Survival

•Health and healing

•Food security

•Productive value

•Ethical value

•Aesthetic pleasure

•Ecological services

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Hotspots of Biodiversity

Hotspots are the richest and the most threatened reservoirs of plant
and animal life on earth.

Hotspots are classified on the basis of three criteria :

•The number of species present

•The number of those species that exist exclusively in the given
ecosystem
•The degree of threat they face

Hotspots of India
• Western Ghats
• North–East Himalaya

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Endangered Species
The species which are at the verge of extinction are known as
endangered species. For example
•Asiatic elephant
•Great Indian Rhino

Endemic Species

The species which are confined to a particular region are

known as endemic species.
These species remain limited in their distribution
because of certain geographical barriers, such as sea, valley,
mountain, etc.

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Threats to Biodiversity
•Unplanned development and habitat destruction

•Poaching

•Environmental pollution

•Global climate change

•Invasion by introduced species

•Nature of legal systems

•Mining

•Exploitation of water resources

•Eutrophication

•Waste disposal
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Conservation of Biodiversity
In situ Conservation
•National parks

•Wildlife sanctuaries

•Biosphere reserves

Ex situ Conservation
•Gene banks

•Botanical gardens

•Aquaria

•Tissue culture technique

•DNA technology
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Bi o geographical Classification of India

•The Western Himalayas

•The Eastern Himalayas

•Western Deserts

•Gangetic Plains

•Central India

•Western Coast

•Deccan Plateau

•North –East India

•Andaman and Nicobar Islands

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India --- A Megadiversity Nation

•Geographical diversity

•Climatic diversity

•Biodiversity

•Habitat diversity

•Cultural diversity

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Biodiversity at Global L evel

On the Basis of Vegetation On the Basis of Fauna

•Oriental Region
•Arctic Zone
•Australian Region
•Northern Temperate Zone
•Neotropical Region
•South Temperate Zone
•Nearctic Region
•Tropical Zone
•Paleartic Region

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© 2009 Cengage Learning India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved