2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

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Bio =

Biodiversity

Diversity = Variety Biodiversity is the tremendous variety of life on Earth and

is made possible by complex interactions among all living

things.

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A B

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A B

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Which do you like better?

A B

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A B

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Scientists have identified more than 1.9 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown (www.thecatalogueoflife.org)

Total Land Area of Earth – 510,065,284 sq.km Forest Cover – 38.7 m. sq.km (26%) 40% of Global Forest Land is in South America, Africa, and South Asia.

There are 5 million to 100 million species on earth. Only about 1.9 million species have been catalogued so far. There are 34 recognised “Hotspots” in the world. 44.4% of Global Plant species and 35.3% of Vertebrate species are present in Hotspots.

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Australia (7.68 m km2)

Brazil (8.55 m km2)

China (9.57 m km2)

Colombia (1.14 m km2)

Ecuador (0.27 m km2)

Democratic Republic of Congo (2.35 m km2)

India (3.16 m km2)

Indonesia (1.90 m km2)

Madagascar (0.59 m km2)

Malaysia (0.33 m km2)

Mexico (1.96 m km2)

Peru (1.28 m km2)

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1 China 27,000

2 Australia 23,500

3 Indonesia 20,000

4 Russia 20,000

5 Malaysia 15,000

6 India 14,500

7 Thailand 11,500

8 Vietnam 11,500

9 Philippines 8,000

10 Burma 7,000

Out of 1.9m identified

750,000 insects 300,000+ plants 43,000 vertebrates

9000 birds 6300 reptiles 4200 mammals 4200 amphibians 18,000 bony fishes 900 cartilaginous

fishes and jawless fishes

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Intense species richness;

Very high rates of endemism and rarity;

Large number of congeneric species; and

Unique species assemblages in specialised habitats.

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1. Genetic diversity - genetic variability or diversity within a species, i.e. between the individuals of a species

Example ; 5,000 recorded varieties of mango 88,000 recorded varieties of Oryza sativa

Genetic Diversity

•populations

•individuals

•chromosomes

•genes

•nucleotides

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2.Species diversity - diversity between different species Example ; Felis tigris Felis domestica

Organism

Diversity

•kingdoms

•phyla

•families

•genera

•species

•subspecies

•populations

•individuals

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3. Ecosystem diversity – diversity within a region.

Grassland Shola forest

Ecological Diversity

•biomes

•bio-regions

•landscapes

•ecosystems

•habitats

•niches

•populations

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Species richness ( diversity)—measures the number of species within a given area, giving equal weight to each species; Species diversity—measures the species in the area, adjusting for both sampling effects and species abundance; Taxic diversity—measures taxonomic dispersion of species; emphasizing evolutionarily isolated species that contribute to the assemblage of features; Functional diversity – the richness of functional features and inter-relations in an area, e.g., food webs, keystone species, guilds; Diversity across communities/ecosystems ( diversity); and Systems diversity – richness of ecological zones/ecosystems in a region or landscape.

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(1977)

(1969)

(1990)

(1700)

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(1977)

(1990)

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(1977)

(1990)

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Why classify organisms? Method of organizing creatures into some meaningful pattern

Current method uses similar shared observable characteristics that are unique to that group of organisms (phenetic scheme)

Scientific Naming System

Includes the organism’s genus and species name.

Genus is capitalized

Species is lower case

The scientific name is written in italics

Scientific name of the crayfish:

Procambarus clarkii

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Phylum Common Name Number of Species Porifera sponges 10,000 Symplasma glass sponges 500 Placozoa placozoan 1 Cnidaria hydroids, jelly fish, sea anemones, corals 10,000 Ctenophora comb jellies 100 Rhombozoa small; obscure parasites 75 Platyhelminthes flatworms 25,000 Orthonecta orthonectidans 10 Gnathostomula gnathostomulans 100 Gastrotricha gastrotrichs 450 Nematoda roundworms 20,000 Nematomorpha nematomorphs 325 Kinorhyncha mud-dragons 150 Loricifera loriciferans 100 Priapula priapulans 17 Rotifera rotifers 1800 Acanthocephala thorny-headed worms 1000 Onychophora velvet worms 70 Uniramia uniramians or ateloceratans 1,000,000 Chelicerata chelicerates (98% arachnids) 63,000

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Phylum Common Name Number of Species

Crustacea crustaceans 40,000 Pentastoma tongue worms 100 Tardigrada water bears 600 Mollusca molluscs 100,000 Sipuncula peanut worms 350 Echiura echiuroid worms 150 Annelida segmented worms 15,000 Pogonophora beard worms 150 Nemertea nemertine worms 900 Entoprocta entoprocts or kamptozoans 150 Cycliophora cycliophoran 1 Phorona phoronans 20 Brachiopoda brachiopods 350 (25,000 fossil) Bryozoa bryozoans or ectoprocta or polyzoa 4300 Chaetognatha arrow-worms 90 Echinodermata star fish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins 7000 Hemichordata hemichordates 90 Chordata chordates (including ourselves!) 42,500

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Multicellular heterotrophs

No cell wall

External or internal skeletons for support

Skin to reduce muscle loss

Muscles for moving to find food

Brains, nervous system for integration of signals

Internal digestive systems

Heterotrophs

Herbivores – eat plants

Granivores – eat seeds

Frugivores – eat fruits

Foliovores – eat leaves

Carnivores – eat other animals

Piscivores – eat fish

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Phylum Proifera Sponges, primitive filter feeders

Phylum Cnidaria Jellyfish, corals, sea anemones

Phylum Mollusca Bivalves - scallops, oysters, mussels,

clams Gastropods – snails, slugs Cephalopods – squids, octopi

Phylum Echinodermata Sea urchins and sea stars

Phylum Arthropoda Spiders, scorpions, crabs, shrimp,

insects, millipedes, and more

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50,000 vertebrates

2 groups

Jawless forms (Class: Agnatha)

Hagfishes, lampreys

Jawed forms – most of the animals we know

Class: Condrichthyes – cartilaginous fishes, sharks, rays

Class: Osteichthyes – bony fishes

Class: Amphibia – salamanders, frogs, toads

Class: Reptilia – snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles

Class: Aves – birds

Class: Mammalia - mammals

Jawless forms

Osteichthyes Condrichthyes

Amphibia Reptilia

Aves

Mammalia

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Tolerance Limits - Minimum and maximum levels beyond which a particular species cannot

survive or reproduce.

Adaptation – A trait that allows a species to survive more easily and reproduce.

Evolution - Inheritance of specific genetic traits that control adaptations, giving a species an advantage in an environment.

Natural Selection - Describes process where better competitors survive and reproduce more successfully.

Caused by:

Random mutations – Changes in DNA are usually bad, but can be beneficial.

Selective pressure – Limited resources mean only the best competitors survive.

Sexual selection – Females choose a mate based on certain characteristics.

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Adaptation Evolution Natural Selection - Caused by:

Random mutations Selective pressure Sexual selection.

Physical Similarities

Most animals have similar bones in their limbs (fins, arms, wings)

Comparing DNA

Vestigial Structures

Still exist in the body but are no longer needed

Ex: Appendix, wisdom teeth

Phylogenetic Tree also known as a “tree of life”.

Organisms are grouped and classified based on three characteristics: Physical characteristics DNA Behavioral characteristics

Mating rituals, territorial, aggression, etc.

The more of these characteristics two organisms have in common, the more closely related they are according to evolution.

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Given enough time, enough mutations occur that a new species develops from an old one.

When are two groups considered a different species?

They cannot or will not interbreed to produce healthy, fertile offspring.

• Divergent - Separation of one species into new species.

Convergent - Unrelated organisms evolve to look and act alike. •Not related •Caused by living in similar environments

Coevolution The process of two species evolving in response to long-term interactions with each other.

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Direct Use

Value(Goods)

Indirect Use Value

(Services)

Non-Use Values

Food, medicine,

building material,

fiber, fuel

Atmospheric and climate

regulation, pollination,

nutrient recycling

Potential (or

Option) Value

Future value either

as a good or service

Cultural, Spiritual and

Aesthetic

Existence Value

Value of knowing

something exists

Bequest Value

Value of knowing

that something will

be there for future

generations

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Provides food, fodder, fruit, fuel, timber, medicine 1.Commercial value : Oil, Fertilizers etc. extracted from species of plants and animals. 2.Biological value: Pollination Soil formation Nutrient enrichment Photosynthesis

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3.Recreational Value: Can not be measured in terms of money. 4. Aesthetic Value: Art, Poetry, Literature. 5.Scientific Value: Gene Pool, Evolution, Human Welfare, etc,.

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Photosynthetic biodiversity created an oxygenated atmosphere, and also has the potential to moderate the rising amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide linked to global climate change

Source: Frey © AMNH-CBC

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Forests and other vegetation modify climate: by affecting sun reflectance, water vapor release, wind patterns and moisture loss. Forests help maintain a humid environment, for example, half of all rainfall in Amazon basin is produced locally from forest-atmosphere cycle

Source: Bain © AMNH-CBC

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• Filters excess nutrients and traps sediments that would otherwise impact neighboring marine and aquatic areas

Other services: • Minimizes damage from

waves and floods • Serves as a nursery for

juvenile commercial fish • Provides habitat for many

birds, fish, and shellfish

Source: Ersts © AMNH-CBC

Example: Coastal wetlands and mangroves

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Biodiversity is critical to nutrient cycling and soil renewal

Decomposers such as algae, fungi, and bacteria

Source: Snyder © AMNH-CBC

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Many flowering plants depend on animals for pollination to produce food.

30% of human crops depend on free services of pollinators; replacement value estimated billions of dollars/year in US alone

Source: Spector© AMNH-CBC

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Biomimicry

Applied Biology

Medical Models

Education and

Scientific Research

Source: Brumbaugh © AMNH-CBC

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Hibernating bears may improve the treatment of:

trauma patients

kidney disease

osteoporosis

Source: New Jersey Fish and Wildlife

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The survival of natural

areas and species are

important to different

cultures around the world.

Thousands of cultural

groups in the world, each

have distinct traditions

and knowledge for relating

to natural world Source: Projecto Gato Andino Bolivia, Villalba & Bernal, 1998

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Source: Brumbaugh © AMNH-CBC

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Value of a Tree

A tree that lives for 50 years generates:

• Rs. 5.3 lakhs worth of oxygen • Facilitates Rs. 6.4 lakhs worth of

soil erosion control • Creates Rs. 10.5 lakhs worth of air

pollution control • Provides Rs. 5.3 lakhs worth of

shelter for birds and animals. • Recycles Rs. 6.4 lakhs worth of

fertility • Besides provide flower, fruits and

timber • When a tree is fell it is something

worth more than Rs. 33. 9 lakhs.

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• The global Living Planet

Index (LPI), has declined by

more than 30% since 1970,

• The Tropical LPI has

declined by almost 60%.

• The Temperate LPI showed

an increase of 15%, reflecting

the recovery of some species

populations in temperate

regions

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The Red List Index (RLI) for all these species groups is decreasing.

Coral species are moving most rapidly towards greater extinction risk

Amphibians are, on average, the group most threatened.

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The Red List Index (RLI) for all these species groups is decreasing.

Coral species are moving most rapidly towards greater extinction risk

Amphibians are, on average, the group most threatened.

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Threatened Species: The term is used in conservation context for species which are in one of the categories –

Endangered

Vulnerable

Rare

Indeterminate

RED DATA BOOK

IUCN categories

Extinct A species not definitely located in the wild and never sighted even once in the last 50 years

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• 1 mammal species every 400 years • 1 bird species/200 yrs

Now…………...

• 10,000 times the background rate! • 20-75 plant/animal species each day?

Background rates

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Threatened: population low but extinction less imminent

Endangered: nos so low that extinction imminent

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1. Deforestation and overgrazing.

2. Habitat destruction and fragmentation of the green or forest area. 3. Poaching and hunting for flesh, fur,skin, horn, naiI and recreation. 4. Forest fires including smoking in the woods. 5. Over-exploitation of the resources.

6. Natural calamities like floods, high wind velocities, earthquakes, etc.,.

7. Pollution of various kinds and release of toxic substances.

8. Soil erosion and loss of soil nutrients.

9. Population pressure and unequal distribution of the resources

10. Agricultural expansion

11. Spreading urbanization and establishmentof industries.

12. Construction of hydro-electric power projects

13. Climatic changes like depletion of ozone, global warming, increase concentration of carbon dioxide, etc

14. Mining activities and quarrying.

15. Lack of awareness.

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1. Prevention and control of forest fires. 2. Banned excessive logging, harvested trees. 3. Avoid forest fragmentation. 4. Manage and control insects and diseases that attack trees. 5. Grasses erosion resisting plants. 6. Reforestation. 7. Establishment of 'germplasm banks' and 'genepool' of wild species for

future genetic improvement and breeding programme. 8. The sustainable management of natural forests. 9. Apply the principles and procedures of "Social Forestry“. 10.Conservation of endangered and endemic species 11.Establishment of " Energy Plantations". 12.Implementation of effective and scientific methods to minimise the pollution

of water, soil and air. 13.Disallowed imroper mining method. 14.Development of renewable resources. 15.Conservation also includes restoration of species. 16.Establishment of National Parks, National Sanctuaries. 17.28. Establishment of Biosphere Reserves. 18.Environmental educational programmes.

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“Extinction is the most irreversible and tragic of all environmental calamities. With each plant and animal species that disappears, a precious part of creation is

callously erased” Michael Soule, 2004

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thank you Q & A