“THREATS AND CONSERVATION OF TERRESTIAL AND AQUATIC BIO-DIVERSITY”

ASSIGNMENT-1Submitted for the course – Environmental Science (CHY1002)

By

SAHIL JAIN

16BCE0372

Slot- G1

Name of faculty – AKHILA MAHESHWARI M-SAS

(SCHOOL OF ADVANCED SCIENCES)

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August, 2016

BIODIVERSITY-

The number and type of plants, animals and different organisms that exist is known as multifariousness or normally it is the total variety of life on earth. it's an important part of nature and it ensure the survival of human species by giving food, fuel, shelter, medicines and different helpful resources to human race. The abundance of biodiversity depends on the weather conditions and space of the region. All species of plants taken together are known as flora and regarding 70,000 species of plants are identified so far. All species of animals taken together are known as fauna which includes birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.

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Rapid environmental changes usually cause mass extinctions. Over 99 of all species, amounting to over 5 billion species that ever lived on Earth are calculable to be extinct. Estimates on the amount of Earth's current species vary from ten million to fourteen million, of which about 1.2 million are documented and over 86 % haven't yet been described. Most recently, in May 2016, scientists reported that one trillion species are estimated to be on Earth presently with only one-thousandth of 1 % described.

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AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY-

Aquatic diverseness may be outlined a variety of life and the ecosystem that frame the fresh, tidal, and marine regions of the globe and their interactions. Aquatic biodiversity encompasses freshwater ecosystems, includinglakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, streams, groundwater, and wetlands. It additionally consists of marine ecosystems, including oceans, estuaries, salt marshes, ocean grass beds, coral reefs, kelp beds, and mangrove forests. Aquatic diversity includes all distinctive species, their habitats and interaction between them. It consists of phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals, and others.

IMPORTANCE OF AQUATIC BIO-DIVERSITY-

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Aquatic biodiversity has enormous economic and aesthetic value and is largely responsible for maintaining and supporting overall environmental health. Humans have long depended on aquatic resources for food, medicines, and materials as well as for recreational and commercial purposes such as fishing and tourism. Aquatic organisms also rely upon the great diversity of aquatic habitats and resources for food, materials, and breeding grounds.

Factors including overexploitation of species, the introduction of exotic species, pollution from urban, industrial, and agricultural areas, as well as habitat loss and alteration through damming and water diversion all contribute to the declining levels of aquatic biodiversity in both freshwater and marine environments. As a result, valuable aquatic resources are becoming increasingly susceptible to both natural and artificial environmental changes. Thus, conservation strategies to protect and conserve aquatic life are necessary to maintain the balance of nature and support the availability of resources for future generations.

THREATS OF AQUATIC BIO-DIVERSITY-

Human activities are causing species to disappear at an alarming rate. Aquatic species are at a higher risk of extinction than mammals and birds. Losses of this magnitude impact the entire ecosystem, depriving valuable resources used to provide food, medicines, and industrial materials to human beings. Runoff from agricultural and urban areas, the invasion of exotic species, and the creation of dams and water diversion have been identified as the greatest challenges to freshwater environments.

Following factors affect the aquatic biodiversity directly or indirectly. Excessive mortality of organisms due to any of these factors may lead to two types of effects. 1) Extinction of the species / populations 2) reduction of population size.

1) Overexploitation of species - Overexploitation of species affects the loss of genetic diversity and the loss in the relative species abundance of both individual and /or groups of interacting species. The population size gets reduced because of disturbances in age structure and sex composition. Efficient gears remove quick growing larger individuals. Consequently, the proportion of slow growing ones increases and the average size of individuals in a population

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decreases. Over-fishing causes change in the genetic structure of fish populations due to loss of some alleles. Thus, genetic diversity gets reduced.

2. Habitat modification - Physical modification of habitat may lead to species extinction. This is mainly caused due to damming, deforestation, diversion of water for irrigation and conversion of marshy land and small water bodies for other purposes. Construction of dams on river impedes upstream migration of fishes and displaces populations from their normal spawning grounds and separates the population in two smaller groups. Deforestation leads to catchment area degradation due to soil erosion which results into sedimentation and siltation. This not only affect the breeding ground of aquatic organisms but cause gill clogging of small fishes also.

3. Pollution load — Four forms of pollutants can be distinguishedPoisonous pollutants

Suspended solids Sewage and organic pollutants

Thermal pollution

Agrochemicals, metals, acids and phenol cause mortality, if present in a high concentration and affect the reproductive functionality of fish.

It affects the respiratory processes and secretion of protective mucus making the fish susceptible to infection of various pathogens.

They cause deoxygenation due to eutrophication causing mortality in fishes.

They cause deoxygenation due to eutrophication causing mortality in fishes.

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Conservation Approaches-

1) Aquatic areas that have been damaged or suffered habitat loss or degradation can be restored. Even species populations that have suffered a decline can be targeted for restoration.

2) An aquatic bio- reserve is a defined space within a water body in which fishing is banned or other restrictions are placed in an effort to protect plants, animals, and habitats, ultimately conserving biodiversity. These bio-reserves can also be used for educational purposes,

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recreation, and tourism as well as potentially increasing fisheries yields by enhancing the declining fish populations.

3) Watershed management is an important approach towards aquatic diversity conservation. Rivers and streams, regardless of their condition, often go unprotected since they often pass through more than one political jurisdiction, making it difficult to enforce conservation and management of resources. However, in recent years, the protection of lakes and small portions of watersheds organized by local watershed groups has helped this situation.

4) Plantation of trees in the catchment area of water body prevent soil erosion and subsequently reduce the problem of siltation in water body resulting in better survival of aquatic organisms.

5) Avoid the establishment of industries, chemical plants and thermal power plants near the water resources as their discharge affect the ecology of water body resulted in loss of biodiversity.

6) Increasing public awareness is one of the most important ways to conserve aquatic biodiversity. This can be accomplished through educational programs, incentive programs, and volunteer monitoring programs.

TERRESTRIAL BIO-DIVERSITY-

Terrestrial biodiversity can be defined as the variety of life forms on the land surface of the Earth. High biodiversity is often used as an indicator of ecosystem health and has been shown to have direct links to human health. Climate change will affect terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems through both gradual and sudden changes in response to the average climate (e.g. increased temperatures, decreased rainfall, changes to seasonality), and extreme events (increased hot days, fire, increased frequency and severity of cyclones, heat waves, intensified wet seasons).

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THREATS OF TERRESTIAL BIO-DIVERSITY-

Biodiversity is under serious threat as a result of human activities. The main dangers worldwide are population growth and resource consumption, climate change and global warming, habitat conversion and urbanization, invasive alien species, over-exploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation.

The table below summaries the main threats occurring in world.

Main threats Some underlying causes

Degradation, destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats.

Spread of the urbanized areas, road network and industrial areas  and associated problems (noise, pollution); abandon of former agricultural practices that were favorable to biodiversity

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Decrease in the capacity of the agricultural areas to host wildlife

Intensification of agricultural practices (yielding pollution and disturbance) and disappearance of landscape elements that provide food and shelter that are exploitable by wildlife (such as hedges, trees, ponds, etc.)

Pollution of soils, air and water Excess of heavy metals (industry, roads), manure and pesticides (agriculture) and other pollutants.

Epidemics affecting wildlife Arrivals of pathogens that are favored by the introduction of exotic species, pollution and the destruction of habitats

Climate change Carbon emissions, deforestation and other land use changes due to human activities

Desiccation of soils and wetlands Excess pumping of underground water tables

Recreation and leisure Overuse of green open spaces and wild areas, little respect for nature, mountain biking and motor sports in fragile areas, dogs not on leash

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CONSERVATION APPROCHES-  Re-write 1) Clear cutting of forests should be prohibited. This may curb total depletion of the forest cover. It a practical solution and is extremely possible.

2) Land skinned of its tree cover for urban settlements should be urged to plant trees in the neighborhood and replace the cut trees. Also the cutting should get replaced by planting young trees to interchange the older ones that were cut.

3) Monitor and assess your pets’ impact on biodiversity. Some domestic animals, particularly cats, are predators of wild animals and might devastate local population of native species. Cats have been calculable to kill tens of millions of birds annually in North America.

4) Encourage and support local government initiatives that shield habitat and reduce threats to biodiversity.

5) Recycle, reuse and reduce. Recycling decreases pollution by decreasing energy, electricity, and water consumption and the need for landfills.

6) Use environmentally friendly product. Drive less, walk, ride or carpool more.

7) Each exams (Board exam, CAT & FAT test etc) should be conducted online that may save numerous paper. this may facilitate in saving trees. 

8) Hunting of animal should be prohibited and strict laws should be created for animal hunter. Because GOD gave everybody equal right to live.

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In-situ conservation: Conservation of a species is best done by protecting its habitat along with all the other species that live in it in nature.

Ex-situ conservation: However, there are situations in which an endangered species is so close to extinction that unless alternate methods are instituted, the species may be rapidly driven to extinction.

• In situ

• Sacred groves and lakes • Biosphere Reserves • Terrestrial • Marine • National parks, wildlife sanctuaries

• Ex situ • Sacred plant home garden • Seed Bank, Gene bank, Cryopreservation • Botanical garden, Zoological garden, Aquaria

THANK YOU

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