BYDr. BASHARAT MUSHTAQPh.D. Environmental Science

BiodiversityBio = Life Diversity = Variety

The word BIODIVERSITY Greek word BIOS = LIFE Latin word DIVERSITAS = VARIETY or DIFFERENCE. The whole word BIO DIVERSITY generally therefore means: VARIETY OF LIFE.

Biodiversity can be define as full range of variety and variability within and among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur and encompasses different ecosystem or community diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity.

BIODIVERSITY

Three levels of Biodiversity

Genetic diversity

Species diversity

Ecosystems

diversity

Genetic diversity

It includes the genetic

variations within species, both

among geographically

separated populations and

among individuals within

single population.

Species diversity

It includes full range of species from micro -organisms to giants and mammoth varieties of plants and animals, e.g. single celled viruses and bacteria etc. and multi-cellular plants, animals and fungi.

Ecosystems diversity

It studies variation in the biological communities in which species live, exist and interact. Depending upon the abiotic resources and environmental conditions an ecosystem develops its characteristic living organisms.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF BIODIVERSITY

FLORA AND FAUNA DIVERSITY DEPENDS ON-

CLIMATE

ALTITUDE

SOILS

PRESENCE OF OTHER SPECIES

MOST OF THE BIODIVERSITY CONCENTRATED IN

TROPICAL REGION.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY DISTRIBUTION

Initiative for Global biodiversity assessment 1991 UNEP

Biodiversity Country Studies Project

19 studies have completed & several more are yet to complete

The approach from gene to ecosystem was initiated as a Research Agenda for Biodiversity

Biodiversity Convention Agenda agreed by 101 Nations and signed by 159 GOVTs

Presently 174 GOVTs are working on the agenda

Global Biodiversity Assessment (1995) between13-14 million species are known

So far only 1.75 million plant and animal species have been discovered and described

Ecosystem diversity has not been even reasonably explored as yet

The approximate number of species of different taxonomic groups, which have been identified and described from all over the world

Group Number of species Higher plants 270,000Algae 40,000Fungi 72,000Bacteria (including Cyanobacteria) 4,000Viruses 1,550Mammals 4,650Birds 9,700Reptiles 7,150Fish 26,959Amphibians 4,780Insects 1,025,000Crustaceans 43,000Mollusks 70,000Nematodes and worms 25,000Protozoa 40,000Others 110,000

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS

A REGION WITH HIGH

BIODIVERSITY WITH MOST

OF SPICES BEING ENDEMIC.

INDIA HAVE TWO

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS-

EAST HIMALAYAN REGION

AND WESTERN GHAT.

India as Mega-Diversity NationGeological events in the landmass of India have provided conditions

for high levels of biological diversity.

Country of vast biodiversity in the world and quite a significant one all over the globe.

India's biogeographical composition is unique as it combines living forms from three major biogeographical realms, namely - Eurasian, Agro-Tropical and Indo-Malayan.

India’s strategies for conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity aimed at providing special status and protection to biodiversity rich areas by declaring them as national parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, ecologically fragile and sensitive areas.

Such strategies has helped in reducing pressure from reserve forests by alternative measures of fuel wood and fodder need satisfaction

Major facts of India as mega diversity nation

India has 16 major types and 251 subtypes of forests.

Indigenous medicine systems utilize nearly 6,500

native plants for both human and animal healthcare.

In 252 B.C., the Emperor Asoka established protected

areas (PAs) for mammals, birds, fish and forests

through a proclamation. Jim Corbett National Park

covering an area of 325 sq km being as the India’s first

and world’s third National Park in 1936.

India has currently 4.79 % of total geographic area under an elaborate network of Protected Areas, which includes: 99 National Parks, 513 wildlife sanctuaries, 43 conservation reserves, 4 community reserves and 3 biodiversity heritage sites.

India's fabulous biodiversity 45,000 plant species representing about seven percent of the world's flora;

Animal life represents 6.5 per cent of world's fauna.

15,000 species of flowering plants,

53,430 species of insects;

5050 species of molluscs,

6,500 species of other invertebrates;

2,546 species of fishes;

1228 species of birds,

446 species of reptiles,

372 species of mammals and 204 species of amphibians have been identified.

25 clearly defined and identified 'hot spots' are present in world which support about 50,000 endemic plant species, comprising 20 per cent of the world's total flora. India's defined location of 'hot spots' is the Western Ghats and the Northeastern regions.

Values of

biodiversi

tyDirec

t value

s

Indirect

values

Consumptive Use

Productive Use

Medicine

Ecological Benefits

Aesthetic Use

Cultural Benefits

Option Values

Direct values

Indirect Values 1. Carbon fixing through photosynthesis, which provides the support

system for species.

2. Pollination, gene flow, etc.

3. Maintaining water cycles, recharging ground water, protecting

watersheds.

4. Buffering from climatic extreme conditions such as flood and drought;

5. Soil production and protection from erosion

6. Maintaining essential nutrient cycles, e.g. carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen and

others.

7. Absorbing and decomposing pollutants, organic

wastes, pesticides, air and water pollutants;

8. Regulating climate at both macro and micro levels;

9. Preserving recreational, aesthetic, socio-cultural,

scientific, educational, ethical and historical values of

natural environments