BIODIVERSITY

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.
 Kinds 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.
 Genetic diversity of rice in India

• As per the estimation of experts on rice, India was

home to 400,000 varieties of rice during the Vedic
period.

• Even today, 200,000 varieties of rice exist here.

• This clearly shows the genetic diversity within one

species.
Species Diversity
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.

.
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
biogeographical political boundary.
 Value of biodiversity

Survival

Health and
Food Security Healing

Productive Value Ethical and Aesthetic Value

 Hot spots of Biodiversity
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic
region with a significant reservoir of
biodiversity that is under threat from humans

These have been identified based on three criteria:–

i) The number of species present.

ii) The number of those species found exclusively
in given ecosystem.
iii) The degree of threat they face.
Hot Spots of India

Three regions that satisfy these criteria exist in

India

The Western Ghats

The Eastern Himalayas

Indo-Burma
 share is around US$ 116 billion.
Endangered species

Plant or animal species which are at the verge of

their extinction are called endangered species.

Flying squirrel, Gir lion, Crocodile, Flamingo,

Wild ass, Desert cat, desert fox, Asiatic
elephant etc. are some endangered animal
species of India.
 Endangered black buck
• The black buck is also known as kala hiran in India.
• Earlier, it was found all over India except in the north-eastern regions of the
country.
• Due to large scale-poaching and destruction of habitat, its existence now
restricted in some parts of Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and
Haryana.
 Endangered black buck
• The black buck does not require dense forests, even it is usually found in
open plains in herds. So, open plains need to be conserved in order to
enable the black buck to move freely.
•
Endangered plant and animal species of India
 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.. Eletaria repens, Ficus religiosa, Butea
monosperma, Ficus bengalensis, etc. are some of the endemic
plants of India.
Tea species in Assam
Edge species
Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally
Endangered (EDGE) species represent a
disproportionate amount of unique
evolutionary history. They have few close
relatives, are often the only surviving member
of their genus, and sometimes the last
surviving genus of their evolutionary family.

Some EDGE species, such as elephants and

pandas, are well known.
What is biodiversity and why is it important
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tgNamjTRkk

Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtuh368CW3c

Global biodiversity hot spots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWkJfIY2WCc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sopsGYK7wtM

Madagascar -­‐ Biodiversity Hot Spot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYzGo-N_VeI

Values of biodiversity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoS1-yOeEo4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tgNamjTRkk

Endangered and endemic species of India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZv3LOMiI9Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VokqA4cuwtc
 CQs
M Which one of the following areas in India, is a hotspot of biodiversity?
a) Sundarbans b) western Ghats c) eastern Ghats d) both a and b

Levels of biodiversity include all but one:

(a) Genetics (b) Species (c) Population (d) Ecosystem

Endemic species are

a)Rare species b) species localized in specific region
c) endangered species d) none of these

The most important reason for decrease in biodiversity is:

a) habitat destruction b) deforestation
c) hunting d) All of these

The reason for certain animals getting endangered are

a) Hunting b) Environmental pollution
c) Natural calamities d) All of these

Rose, Gerbera, lotus flowers included in --------------biodiversity :

(a) Genetics (b) Species (c) Ecosystem (d) None of these
Threats to biodiversity
Biodiversity: Importance and Threats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iThpkXWVeqE

Poaching of wildlife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cELeDzBwoFc&spfreload=5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ3Q047QT1U

Man-wildlife conflicts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5zfxmGAgTA

Biological invasions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mv2-5k6dAA&ab_channel=Divulgare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6IHoRYbaIc&ab_channel=Divulgare
 Conservation of Biodiversity

In situ Conservation: Protection of species in their

natural habitat.
•National parks

•Wildlife
sanctuaries

•Biosphere
reserves
Ex situ Conservation: Protection in a place away from
their natural habitat.
• Gene banks: seed banks, sperm
and ova banks

• Botanical gardens

• Aquaria

• Tissue culture technique

• DNA technology
In situ conservation – In situ means the natural or
the original place.
In situ conservation includes,
National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves,
etc.
National Parks in India
• National Parks: A national park conserves the environment and natural objects and
wildlife therein. National parks are areas dedicated to conserve wild animals and natural
scenery of the environment. All private rights are non existent and all forestry operations
and other activities such as grazing of domestic animals is prohibited. No human
inhabitation is allowed in the park apart from on duty public servants and people allowed

by chief wildlife warden. There are 103 parks in India. It comprises the core zone.
Wildlife Sanctuary:
A wildlife sanctuary is an area specially designated where it is illegal
to interfere in anyway with the natural life there. Hunting, shooting and
fishing would be prohibited

Sanctuary is a place where killing or capturing of any animal is

prohibited except under orders of the authorities concerned. they
provide protection and optimum living conditions to wild animals.

A wildlife sanctuary is dedicated the wildlife but it considers the

conservation of species only in addition, its boundary is not limited by
state legislation. In India there are about 514 wildlife sanctuaries.
Biosphere reserve: It may be described as natural
areas that are generally used for scientific study a list of
biosphere in India are core, buffer, restoration and culture
(transition) zones.

zones in biosphere reserves

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 28
Core zone:- Undisturbed and legally protected
ecosystem

Buffer zone:- It surrounds the core area and it’s

dedicated to research and educational activity

Transition zone:- Outer most region where

inhabitation, agriculture, recreational activity occur.

Note: Important to remember these three zones

 Biosphere reserve
In India, 18 biosphere
reserves have been set up

Four of those are recognized

as world heritage sites.

Nanda Devi,
Sunder bans,
Nilgiri and
Gulf of Manar.  
 Objectives Features Zone

National Conservation of No person resides in the Core

Parks species of a habitat park other than public
with minimal or very servants on duty and
low intensity of persons permitted by
human activities the chief wildlife warden

Wildlife Conservation of No person resides in the Core, Buffer

Sanctuary species and habitats park other than public and
by manipulative servants on duty and Restoration
management persons permitted by
the chief wildlife warden

Biosphere Conservation of Both natural and Core,

Reserves natural resources human-influenced Buffer,
and the improvement ecosystems; substantial Restoration
of the relationship human settlement and
between humans and Transition
the environment
Advantages of in situ conservation:

•Long term protection

•Better opportunity for conservation as well as evolution

• Cheaper

Limitations of in situ conservation:

•Proper protection against environmental pollution

may not be enough in natural types of ecosystems
Ex situ conservation –
In this technique, plant and animal species are conserved
outside their natural habitats. Ex situ conservation is the chief
mode of preservation of genetic resources. This can be done
through establishment of gene banks, zoos, botanical gardens,
culture collections, etc.
Gene Bank: Gene banks also known as
germplasm banks are established for ex situ
conservation. Seeds, pollen grains and other
vegetative propagating parts of various
endangered plants can be preserved in these gene
bank under viable conditions.

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 34

Botanical Gardens: Botanical gardens are used for
the conservation of rare and endangered plant species for
study and research of specific plant characters and for
widely circulating scientific information and experiences to
promote sustainable development.

Aquaria: The aquaria are mainly used for the captive

propagation of threatened of endangered fresh water
species

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 35

Tissue Culture Technique: Tissue culture
refers to a special technique used for
asexual propagation in plants a very small
piece of shoot apex ,leaf section or even
an individual cell is cut and placed in a
sterile culture in a test tube, petri dish.

DNA technology: DNA of plant or animal

cell or a part of it to be conserved.
DNA technology can provide an innovative
and effective approach for biodiversity
conservation

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 36

tissue culture techniques
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 37
Advantages of ex situ conservation

• Long-term conservation

• The species survive longer and may breed

more offspring than usual

• The quality of offspring may be improved

by genetic techniques if so required.

• Breeding of hybrid species is possible.

 
.
Limitations of ex situ conservation

•Not a viable option for protection of rare

species due to human interference

• Can be adopted for only a few kinds of

species

• Overprotection may result in loss of

natural occurrence
Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJyxOYfvIfA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RC3Hsk90t8

Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and ex-situ conservation of

biodiversity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1DuZQPoit4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQelRUkvy2U

ex-situ conservation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLTyIQZ8i9A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aVokvII-vA

In-situ conservation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFAvb0uqdw4
Endangered species can be preserved by
a) Gene pool b) Gene bank c) Gene library
d) Herbarium

Conservation of biodiversity outside the natural habitat is called as:

(a) Ex-situ (b) In-situ (c) Conservation (d) In-vivo
 
Conservation of biodiversity inside the natural habitat is called as:
(a)Ex-situ (b) In-situ (c) Conservation (d) In-vivo

Which one of the following is example ex-situ conservation?

a)National Park b) seed bank c) Wildlife sanctuary d) none

Which one of the following is not included under in situ conservation?

a)Wildlife sanctuary b) National Park c) Zoological gardens
d) biosphere reserve

Core, buffer and transition zones are the parts of

a)National park b) Zoological gardens
c) biosphere reserve d) Ex-situ conservation
 India – A Megadiversity nation
India is one of the four mega diversity nations of Asia

Geographical diversity
Climatic diversity
Biodiversity
Habitat diversity
Cultural diversity
 Biogeographical regions 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

The Western Himalayas- Kumaon, Kashmir, Uttaranchal
Temperate, Subtropical and Alpine

The Eastern Himalayas- Sikkim, Assam, Temperate forest belt, Subtropical forest
belt and Alpine forest belt.

Western Deserts- Haryana, Punjab, Some part of Rajasthan, Gujrat.

Gangetic Plains- Utter Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal

Central India - Madhay Pradesh, Orissa, Northern Gujrat

Western Coast- Malabar coast, southern Gujrat to north Kanyakumari

Deccan Plateau- Peninsular region, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka

North-East India- Valley of Bramhaputra

Islands- Andaman and Nikobar , Lakshadweep island

 Zoogeographical regions of India
On the type of fauna, India has been divided into following
zoogeographical regions:–
Himalayan Region- Yak, Gural, snow leopard, Kasturi deer

Malabar Region- Monkeys, deer

Nilgiri Region- Birds, Elephants,

lions
Northern Plains- Elephants,
Leopards, Neelgai, Jackals

Desert Lands- Deer, Sambars, Snakes,

lizards
Deccan Plateau Region- Elephants, Deer,
monkeys, tigers, lions
India as a mega diversity nation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_vRtHJZu4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQjvAO8azoA&ab_channel=ShirishkumarPatil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUX011WOrG0&ab_channel=priyankasatarkar

Biogeographic zones of India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L8cdcCjr6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ0OaY2CaoU
 CQs Which one of the following is the biogeographical area in India
M A. Himalayan Region
B. Malabar Region
C. Nilgiri Region
D. Central India

Which one of the following is the zoogeographical area in India

A. Western Deserts
B. Deccan Plateau
C. Nilgiri Region
D. Central India

Limitations of ex situ conservation is

a) Not a viable option for protection of rare species b) Can be
adopted for only a few kinds of species c) Overprotection may result
in loss of natural occurrence d) all of the above