“Biodiversity is the diversity of biological organisation ranging from cellular macromolecules to biomes. Edward Wilson popularised the term ‘biodiversity.” LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY (AD Genetic diversity: Diversity shown by a single species at genetic level. E.. Rauwolfia vomnitoria Himalaya) shows genetic variation in the potency & concentration of the chemical reserpine, india has ‘more than $0,000 different strains of rice and 1000 varieties of mango. GB) Species diversity: Diversity at species level. £.9. Western Ghats have greater amphibian species than Eastemn Ghats. + COEcolagical diversity: Diversity at ecosystem level. % 9. In indo, deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wet lands, estuaries & alpine meadows are seen GLOBAL SPECIES DIVERSITY FACT BOX @ According to IUCN (2004) more than 1.5 million species described so far, id According to Robert May's estimate, globo! species diversity is 7 milion. 22% of the total species have been recorded so far. i) Animals are more diverse Cabove 70%) than plants including Plantae and Fungi (22%). Gi) rong animale, ects are mast specie ch group 7OR, ie out of every 10 animals, ? re insects). @ Number of Fungi species is more than the combined total of the species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles & mammals. Ga) India hos only 2.4% of worlds land area, but has 8.1% of the species diversity, India is one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the worl, Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as many of animals have been recorded from Indi Cid) Applying May's global estimates, India would have more than | lakh plont species and 3 lakh ‘animal species to be estimated iii) Biologists are not sure about total number of prokaryotic species because + Conventionel taxonomic methods are not suitable for identifying microbial species. In laboratory, many species cannot be cultured.PATTERNS OF BIODIVERSITY o LATITUDINAL GRADIENTS (0) Species diversity decreases from the equator to the poles. (2) Tropics (latitudinal range of 23.5° N to 23.5° S) have more species than temperate or polar areas. E.g. Number of bird species in different latitudes: Colombia Cncor equator): about 1400 species. India Cin tropics): > 1200 species. ‘New York Cal'N): 10S species. Greenland C7I°N): 56 species. X (3) Tropical forest region like Equador has up to 10 times of vascular plant species as compared to a temperate forest region like the Midwest of USA, (GA Tropical Amazonian rin forest Seuth America) isthe greotest bicdversty on earth It contains + > 40000 species of plants + 3000 species of fishes #1300 species of birds #427 species of mammals #427 species of omphibions + 378 species of reptiles # >1,25,000 species of invertebrates \ - (5) Biodiversity (species richness) is highest in tropics becouse © Tropics had more evolutionary time Relatively constant environment (less seosonel). + They receive more solar energy which contributes to greater productivity XQ @ SPECIES-AREA RELATIONSHIP » ‘According te the study of Alexander von Humboldt German naturalist & geographer) in South hmerican jungles, within a region, species richness Increases with increasing explored area, but anly up to a limit. Relation between species richness ond area gives a rectangular hyperbola On «a logarithmic scole, the relationship is a straight line described the equation Log S= log C+2 log & Generally, for small areas, the 2 value is 0.) to 0.2. mn species-area relationship among the large areas lke entire continents, slope of the line is steeper (2 value: 0.6 to 1.2) Siete Hie Eg. for frugivorous birds and mammals in the tropical forests of different continents, the 2 value is 1S, RaIMPORTANCE OF SPECIES DIVERSITY TO THE ECOSYSTEM CD According to David Tilman, plots with more species shows less year-to-year variation in total biomass, Increased dlversity contributes to higher productivity. Rich biodiversity is essential for ecosystem health and survival of the human race. (2) "Rivet popper hypothesis It is an analogy used to understand the importance of biodiversity. It is proposed by Stanford ecologist Paul Ehrlich. In an airplane Cecosystem) all parts are joined together using ‘many rivets (species). If passengers pop a rivet extinction of a species), it may not affect flight safety Cunctioning of the ecosystem). But as more and more rivets are removed, the plane becomes dangerously weak. Loss of rivets on the wings Ckey stone species that drive majar ecosystem functions) is more dangerous to fight safety than loss of a few rivets on the seat or windows inside the plane. LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY A) IUCN Red List (2004) soys that 784 species (33% vertebrates, 359 invertebyates & 87 plants were extinct in the last 500 years. E.9. Dodo (Mauritius), Quagga, (Africa), Thylacine CAustralia), Stellers sea cow (Russia) and 3 subspecies (Bali, Javan, Caspian) of tiger. 27 species have disoppeared in the last 20 years. = More than 15,500 species are Facing threat of extinction, 12% birds, 23% mammals, 32% amphibians, 31% gymnosperm species face the threat of extinction. - The current extinction rate is 100-1000 times faster than in the pre-human times. If this trend continues, nearly 50% species might be extinct within next 100 years.IMPACTS OF LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY Environmental perturbation such as Decline in plant production drought * oN C IMPACTS.) 7 Increased variability in ecosystem processes such os plant productivity, water use and ppest and disease cycles CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSSES C'THE EVIL QUARTET) (1 Habitat ond fragmentation: Hest inpetat cus. -E.g, Tropical rain forest (loss from 19% to 6%) Thousand hectares of rain forest beng lost within hs. -The Amazon rain forest is being cut for cultivating soya beons or for conversion of grass lands for cattle Fragmentation badly affects animals requiring large temitories and migratory animal. 2. Over-exploitation: Stella's sea cow, passenger pigeon etc. extinct due to exploitation 3. Alin species imvasins: Alion species cause decline or extinction of indigenous species. 9 “Nile Perch introduced in Lake Victoria CEast Mice) caused extinction of more than 200 species of cchli fish, -Invasve weed species lke Parthenium Cearot grass),Lantana and EicchomiaGwater hyacinth) caused damage to cur native species Nga intreduction of the Afriean Catfish (Claris garpinus)for aquaculture is posing a threat to the indigenous catfishes in our vers XX - 4, Co-extinction: hen a species become extinct, the species associated with it also extinct. Eg -Extinction of the parasites when the host is extinct Co—evolved plant-polliator mutualism where extinction of one leads to the extinction of other. ~ \BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION “There are 3 categories of reasons for conservation”. @ Narrowly utilitarian arguments -Human derive economis benefits from nature such os food, firewood fibre,construction ‘moterialndustrial products tannins ubricants,dyesyesins,perfumes) and medicines. -More than 25% of the drugs are derived from plants. -25000 species of plants have medicinal value @) Broadly utilitarian arguments Biodiversity has many ecosystem services. “Amazon forest Clungs of the plonet produces 20% of total Oy in the eorth’s atmosphere.) Pollination through bees, bumblebees, birds and bats. ~Aesthetic pleasures. (©) Ethical arguments Every species has an intrinsic value, We have a moral duty to care for their well-being BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION I | (n_situ Conservation Con site) x situ conservation (off site) “It is the conservation of genetic resources within natural or human-made | | “It is the conservation of ecosystem in which they occur, Eg. Protected areas such as National organisms outside their habitats. Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, cultural-landscapes, natural Eg. genetic resource centre, ‘monuments-etc. zoological parks, wildlife safari parks, botanical gardens, gene 1. National Park: Strictly reserved for the welfare of the wildlife banks, cryopreservation etc” where private ownership, cultivation, grazing ete ore prohibited. E.g Eravikulam National Park in Kerala 2, Sanctuary: Here, protection is given only to the animals. Collection 2+ Muerte forest pods and pate ner ar alone Tap tng or tay Sono he onan Pog wie sanctuary in Kerala, 3. Biosphere Reserves: Arcos of land or coastol ecosystems for conserition and sustaineble use 4, Sacred forests (Sacred groves): E.< Sacred groves in Khas! Tata Hils in Meghalaya “Aravali Hills of Rajasthan -Westem Ghat regions of Kamataka & Maharashtra ~Sarguja, Chanda’ & Bastar orcas (Madhya Pradesh). S. India hos 14 Biosphere Reserves, 90 National Parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries,HOTSPOTS ) These are regions with very high species richness, high degree of endemism Cspecies confined only to a specific region) but most threatened. CBS There eve 30 hotspots in the word (3) 3 hotspots cover India's biodiversity regions-Westemn Ghats & Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya, INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS FOR CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY | CD The Earth Summit (Rio de Janerio,!992) 3 objectives: 1, Conservation of biodiversity bs, Sustainable use of biodiversity . Sharing of benefits in the utilization of genetic resources 2) The World Summit on Sustainable Development Gohannesburg, South Africa,2002): 190 countries pledged to reduce the current rote of biodiversity loss.