Module-2 Biodiversity

Importance, types, mega-

biodiversity; Species interaction -
Extinct, endemic, endangered and
rare species; Hot-spots; GM crops;
Threats to biodiversity: Natural
and anthropogenic activities;
Conservation: Terrestrial and
aquatic biodiversity.
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Which one do you like better?
Which one do you like better?
Which do you like better?
Biodiversity refers to the variety and
variability among all groups of living
organisms and the ecosystem complexes
in which they occur

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of

life
How much of Biodiversity
is there on earth?
How many species?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the
essential interdependence of all living things
among themselves and with their environment

•Scientists have identified more than 2 million

species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown
•The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made
possible by complex interactions among all living
things including microscopic species like algae and
mites.
•The diversity exists in different levels

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What species is this?
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 Ecological
Species diversity
diversity

Genetic
diversity

Biodiversity Types
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35
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- Native type

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a tourist attraction 39
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 Benefits (VALUE) of Biodiversity

 Ecological services:
 Consumptive value:
 Balance of nature
 Food/Drink
 Biological productivity
 Fuel/Wood
 Regulation of climate
 Medicine
 Cleaning of air and water
 Cycling of nutrients  Batter crop varieties

 Maintenance of Soil fertility  Industrial Material

 Aesthetic and cultural benefits  Ethical And Moral Value.

 a tourist attraction
 Non-Consumptive Value:
 Recreation
 Education and Research
 Most religious and secular
creeds believe that all form of
life have the right to exist on
Earth.
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Biogeographical regions of India
 Tropical – Not much change in temperature, heavy
rain
 tropical deciduous regions – moderate rain, hot
summer, short winter
 Arid and semi arid - deserts
 Regions of Extreme cold and extreme heat
 Oceans, rivers, …
 Islands
 Snow covered mountains
Biogeographical classification of India
Areas which exhibit high species richness as well as high
species endemism are termed as hot spots of biodiversity.

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 Hot spots of biodiversity

Criteria for recognizing hot spots are,

 Richness of the endemic species

 Should have a significant percentage of

specialized species
Hot spots of the world and India
 There are 35 hotspots in the world
 4 of them are in India
 World’s 35 Biodiversity Hotspots
I. Africa III. Europe and Central Asia
1. Cape Floristic Region 23. Caucasus
2. Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa 24. Irano-Anatolian
3. Eastern Afromontane 25. Mediterranean Basin
4. Guinean Forests of West Africa
5. Horn of Africa
26. Mountains of Central Asia
6. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
7. Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany IV. North and Central America
8. Succulent Karoo 27. California Floristic Province
28. Caribbean Islands
II. Asia-Pacific 29. Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands
9. East Melanesian Islands 30. Mesoamerica
10. Himalaya
11. Indo-Burma V. South America
12. Japan 31. Atlantic Forest
13. Mountains of Southwest China 32. Cerrado
14. New Caledonia 33. Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian
15. New Zealand Forests
16. Philippines 34. Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
17. Polynesia-Micronesia 35. Tropical Andes
18. Southwest Australia
19. Forests of Eastern Australia (new)
20. Sundaland
21. Wallacea
22. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN INDIA
Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region
(and that falling in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China
and Myanmar)

Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-eastern India, except

Assam and Andaman group of Islands (and Myanmar,
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China)

Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands (and

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines)

Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Includes entire

Western Ghats (and Sri Lanka)
 Hot spots of India
 Himalayas: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region
 35,000 plant species of which 30% are endemic species,
63% mammals, 60% of the Indian birds are from North
East
 Eg: Banana, citrus, chilli, rice, jute and sugarcane
Eastern Himalayas
Eastern Himalayas
 Hot spots of India
Himalayas:
 Varied topography which is one of the
reasons for species diversity
 In sikkim, 4250 plant species are found
out of which 2550 (60%) are endemic
 In the remaining parts of the area 5800
plant species of which 36% are endemic
are found.
 Eg; for endemic species is

 Sapria Himalayana
 Hot spots of India
 35,000 plant species of which
30% are endemic species, Eg:
Banana, citrus, chilli, rice, jute
and sugarcane
 Hot spots of India
 Endemic species :63% mammals,
 Hot spots of India
 Endemic species :63% mammals,
 Hot spots of India
 Himalayan endemic species: 60% of the
Indian birds are from North East