Download - Biodiversity by Dr Basharat Mushtaq
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.
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.
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.