Unit 3-Biodiversity

Lecture10 and 11:

Biodiversity and conservation
(Levels of biological diversity : genetic,
species and ecosystem diversity, Values
of biodiversity, Biodiversity hot spots.)

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 Learning outcomes
After completing this lecture

• Student will get knowledge about

biodiversity.

• Student will get knowledge about

values of biodiversity, biodiversity hot
spots.
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BIODIVERSITY

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 Biodiversity

The term biodiversity is made up of two words - bio and diversity.

Bio means living and diversity means variety. So the variety or
variability of organisms and ecosystem is referred to as biodiversity.

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 Kinds/Levels of biodiversity

Genetic Diversity
Variations among the genes of the same species are known as
genetic diversity.
It is this type of diversity that gives rise to the different varieties of
rice, mangoes,etc.

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Species Diversity
Species diversity is the number of different species that are
represented in a given community
Or
Diversity which arises due to variations among species present in
specific areas is called as ‘species diversity’. Horses and donkeys
are distinct species, as are lions and tigers.

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Ecosystem Diversity
Ecosystem diversity is therefore, the diversity of habitats which
include the different life forms within. The term also refers to the
variety of ecosystems found within a biogeographically political
boundary
An example of ecological diversity on a global scale would be the
variation in ecosystems, such as deserts, forests, grasslands,
wetlands and oceans.

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Value of Biodiversity

• Consumptive values:
Food
Goods like fuel, timber, paper, and medicines

• Recreation: The biodiversity of the planet enables activities

like wildlife tourism, nature photography, bird watching etc.

• Genetic resources: Biotechnology and genetic engineering

use the genes of organisms to make new types of crops,
medicines etc.

• Ecosystem functions
• Aesthetic and cultural benefits
 Value of biodiversity

Survival

Health and
Ecological
Healing
Services

Productive Ethical and Aesthetic Value

Value

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 Hot spots of Biodiversity

The richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life
on earth.
• There are about 25 such hotspots in the world
• Mostly in the tropical forests.

These have been identified based on three criteria:–

i) The number of species present.

ii) The number of those species found exclusively
in an ecosystem.
iii) The degree of threat they face.

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Hot Spots of India

Two regions that satisfy these criteria exist in India

The Western Ghats

North–East Himalaya

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Endangered species

Plant or animal species which are at the verge of their extinction

are called endangered species.

Elephant, Gir lion, Crocodile, Flamingo, Bengal Tiger, etc. are

some endangered animal species of India.

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 Endangered species of India

Indian vulture
Red panda

Gharial 13
Extinction of species

• An irreversible loss of species is called biological extinction.

• By extinction we mean complete disappearance of a species,
that is not a single member of the extinct species is found on
earth.
• Local and ecological extinction
• Before a species goes biologically extinct, it goes through
stages of local and ecological extinction
• Local extinction means that the species is no longer found in
the area it once inhabited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Ua_zWDH6U

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 Endemic Species

The plant or animal species confined to a particular region and

having originated there or a species which occur continuously in
that area are known as endemic species. Restriction of species or
taxa in small region is known as endemism.. Camel in Desert,
Gir Lion in Gir region of Gujrat, Kangaroo in Australia, Bengal
Tiger in Bengal. etc. are some of the endemic plants of India.

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 Important Web Links

http://intranet.bhu.ac.in/unit4.pdf

https://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/modelcurriculum/C
hapter4.pdf

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Acknowledgment
Some images, animation, and material have been
taken from the following sources:

Textbooks: PERSPECTIVE IN
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES by ANUBHA
KAUSHIK, C P KAUSHIK, NEW AGE
INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS

References Book: TEXTBOOK OF

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES by D. DAVE
AND S. S. KATEWA, CENGAGE LEARNING

All slides can be used for reading purpose

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only