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Biodiversity Notes
Biodiversity Notes
INTRODUCTION
• Biological diversity’ or biodiversity is that part
of nature which includes the differences in
genes among the individuals of a species, the
variety and richness of all the plant and
animal species at different scales in space,
locally, in a region, in the country and the
world, and various types of ecosystems, both
terrestrial and aquatic, within a defined area.
Types of Biodiversity
• Genetic Diversity
• Species Diversity
• Eco System Divesity
• Landscape Diversity
Genetic Diversity
• Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic
characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.
• It is distinguished from genetic variability, which
describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to
vary.
• Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to
adapt to changing environments.
• Ex: Rice varieties -All rice varieties belong to the
species "oryzasativa". However there are thousands of
rice varieties that show variation at the genetic level in
the form of different size, shape, colour and nutrient
content
Species Diversity
• Species diversity refers to the measure of
diversity in an ecological community.
• Species diversity takes into consideration
species richness, which is the total number of
different species in a community.
• EX:-
• Plant species: Apple, Mango, Wheat, Grapes, Rice etc
• Animal species: Lion, Tiger, Elephant,Deer etc
Eco System Diversity
• A set of biotic components (plants, animals and
microorganisms) and abiotic components (soil, air,
water, etc) interacting with each other is known as an
ecosystem. The diversity at an ecological level or
habitat level is known as ecosystem diversity.
• Ex: River ecosystem Rivers include fish, aquatic insects,
mussels and a variety of plants that have adapted.
Ecosystem diversity is the aggregate of different
environmental types in a region.
• NOTE:- It explains the interaction between living
organisms and physical environment in an ecosystem.
Landscape Diversity
• It refers to the placement, size and
distribution of various ecosystems and their
interactions across a given land surface.
BIOGEOGRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION OF INDIA
– Skin and bones from tigers, ivory from elephants, horns from rhinos and the
perfume from the musk deer are extensively used abroad.
– Corals and shells are also collected for export or sold on the beaches of
Chennai and Kanyakumari.
– A variety of wild plants with real or at times dubious medicinal value are being
over harvested.
• There are several species which are under threat by human activity.
• Several plant and animal species in the country are now found in only one
or a few protected areas.
• The less well-known major mammals restricted to a single area include the
Indian wild ass, the Hangul or Kashmir stag, the Golden langur, the pygmy
hog and a host of others.
Endangered and Endemic Species of India
• Endangered Birds : Siberian crane, the Great Indian
Bustard, the Florican, vultures are highly threatened.
• Types of Conservation
– In-Situ Conservation
– Ex-Situ Conservation
Conservations of Biodiversity
In-situ Conservation
• In-situ Conservation
– In-situ conservation is on site conservation or the conservation
of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal
species, such as forest genetic resources in natural populations
of tree species.