Introduction

• Bio means “life” and diversity means “variety”. Hence

biodiversity refers wide variety of life on the earth.
• It is the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and prokaryotic organisms
living together that form nature.
• Each of the mentioned species live and work together in an
ecosystem to maintain the ecological balance.
• Diversification in the species is influenced by various physical and
chemical, climatic factors, resulting in the production of new
species, the new species which are unable to adjust with the new
environment gradually become extinct.
“Biodiversity is defined as the variety and variability among
all groups of living organisms and the ecosystem in which
they live”.
• The word BIODIVERSITY
• originates from the Greek word BIOS = LIFE
• and Latin word DIVERSITAS = VARIETY or DIFFERENCE.
• The whole word BIODIVERSITY generally therefore means:
VARIETY OF LIFE (Diversity in all form of life)
• Edward O Wilson- Father of biodiversity- sociologist
Biodiversity in Nature
 Why is biodiversity important?

• Everything that lives in an ecosystem is part of the web of life,

including humans. Each species of vegetation and each creature
has a place on the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life.
Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend upon one
another for what each offers, such as food, shelter, oxygen, and
soil enrichment.

Maintaining a wide diversity of species in each ecosystem is

necessary to preserve the web of life that sustains all living
things. In his 1992 best-seller, "The Diversity of Life," famed
Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson -- known as the
"father of biodiversity," -- said, "It is reckless to suppose that
biodiversity can be diminished indefinitely without threatening
humanity itself."
How much biodiversity is present?

• IUCN- International union of conservation of natural

resources. (species level- 1.5 million)
• Many species are undiscovered.
• Robert May predicted – 7 million species undiscovered.
• At present conservation scientists have been able to identify
and categories about 1.8 million species on earth.
• Hotspots- areas that are rich in species diversity.
• Threatened species (TN): is one that is likely to
become endangered in the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
• Critically Endangered (CR): A species facing
an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Endangered (EN): A species considered to be facing
a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Vulnerable (VU): A species considered to be facing
a high risk of extinction in the wild.
 Ecological services:
Balance of nature
BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY
Biological productivity
Consumptive value: Regulation of climate
Food/Drink
Degradation of waste
Fuel
Medicine Cleaning of air and water
Batter crop varieties Cycling of nutrients
Industrial Material
Control of potential pest and disease causing
Non-Consumptive Value:
Recreation species
Education and Research Detoxification of soil and sediments
Traditional value
Stabilization of land against erosion
Carbon sequestration and global climate
change
Maintenance of Soil fertility
 THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Natural causes:
Narrow geographical area
Low population
Low breeding rate
Natural disasters
Anthropogenic causes:
Habitat modification
Overexploitation of selected species
Innovation by exotic species.
Pollution
Hunting
Global warming and climate change
Agriculture
Domino effect
Threatened endangered species In India
Diversity of subspecies
Endangered golden lion tamarin,
endemic to Brazil’s Atlantic
rainforest, which has been
almost totally destroyed.

Within species,
diversity exists in
subspecies, or
geographic variations.

The tiger, Panthera

tigris, had 8 subspecies.
5 persist today,
including Panthera
tigris altaica, the
Siberian tiger.
Flora and fauna diversity depends on-
Climate
Altitude
Soils
Presence of other species
 Most of the biodiversity concentrated in Tropical region.

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS:
A region with high biodiversity with most of spices being
Endemic.
India have two Biodiversity Hotspots- East Himalayan
Region and Western Ghat
 Country (or dependent
territory) Bird Amphibian Fish Mammal Reptile Vascular Plant Biodiversity Index

Vietnam 835 263 2,423 313 512 8,500 216.97

Venezuela 1,386 365 1,735 376 419 30,000 273.39

United States 844 326 3,081 531 556 15,500 280.13

Thailand 936 153 2,150 314 468 6,600 200.77

Tanzania 1,074 207 1,773 412 346 10,100 213.10

South Africa 762 132 2,094 331 421 21,250 207.94

Peru 1,861 655 1,583 490 510 19,812 330.12

Papua New Guinea 743 416 2,884 282 384 13,634 226.57

Myanmar 1,034 540 1,088 304 364 16,000 221.77

Mexico 1,105 411 2,629 533 988 23,385 342.47

Malaysia 721 278 1,951 348 502 14,060 214.71

Indonesia 1,723 383 4,813 729 773 19,232 418.78

India 1,212 446 2,601 440 715 45,000 301.63

Ecuador 1,629 659 1,111 392 492 18,466 291.58

1,110 227 1,528 465 313 8,860 214.43

Democratic Republic of the Con
go

Colombia 1,863 812 2,105 477 634 24,025 369.76

China 1,285 540 3,476 622 554 31,362 365.84

Brazil 1,816 1,141 4,738 693 847 34,387 512.34

Bolivia 1,435 259 407 382 315 14,729 209.55

Australia 725 245 4,992 355 1,131 19,324 337.18

 Significance Of Biodiversity
• Biodiversity protects the fresh air, clean water and
productive land.
• It is also important for forestry, fisheries and
agriculture which depend on rich water variety of
various biological resources available in nature.
• Loss of biodiversity has series economic and social
costs for any country.
• It is very important for human life, we depend on
plants, microorganisms, earth’s animals for our food,
medicine and industrial products.
Biodiversity is usually considered at 3
different levels
1) Genetic diversity
2) Species diversity
3) Ecosystem diversity
Ecosystem diversity Genetic diversity

SPECIES
DIVERSITY

species = a particular type of organism; • Includes the differences

a population or group of in DNA composition
populations whose members share among individuals
certain characteristics and can freely within a given species.
breed with one another and
produce fertile offspring
 Include diversity • Adaptation to particular
above the species › Species diversity = the number or environmental conditions may weed
level. variety of species in a particular out genetic variants that are not
 Habitat diversity region successful.
 Landscape
› Species richness = number of species • But populations benefit from some
diversity genetic diversity, so as to avoid
 Community inbreeding or disease epidemics.
diversity
Genetic Diversity
• Each member of any animal or plant species differs widely
from other individuals in its genetic makeup because of the
large number of combinations possible in the genes that give
every individual a specific characteristics. Ex – each human
being is very different from each other.
• Genetic variability is important for a healthy breeding
population of a species.
• No of breeding individual decrease-dissimilarity of genetic
makeup decrease- in breeding occurs-lead to extinction of sps.
• Gene pool- the diversity in wild species- to create new variety.
• Ex – Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpgandha)- reserpine
Species Diversity
• The number of species of plants and animals that are present
in a region constitute its species diversity.
• Some areas are richer in species than other.
• Natural undisturbed tropical forests have a much greater
species richness than plantation developed by the forest dept.
for timber production.
• A natural forest ecosystem provides a large number of non-
wood products that local people depend on (fruits, fodder,
fiber, gum, resin and medicine).
• The value of natural forest is more for sustainability.
 Ecosystem diversity
• Ecosystem Diversity
• Ecosystem variety refers to the differences in ecosystems
found within a given geographic area, as well as their overall
impact on human life and the environment.
• It is a sort of biodiversity that pertains to species variety
rather than ecosystem diversity.
• Principles of Ecosystem Diversity
• The range of ecosystems found in a biosphere is also referred
to as ecological diversity.
• An ecosystem is made up of a population of living species as
well as physical elements like water, soil, and climate.
• The number of ecosystems found in a given area is the
earliest definition of ecosystem biodiversity.
• The number of ecological interactions among organisms in a
given area is the second definition of ecosystem biodiversity.
 Genetic diversity:- Within individual species there are
number of varieties which are slightly different from one
another. These differences are due to difference in the
combination of genes.
Genes are the basic unit of hereditary information, transmitted
from one generation to the other.
 Species diversity:- A discrete group of organisms of the
same kinds is known as species. Species diversity is the
diversity between different species. The sum of varieties of
all the living organisms at the species level is known as
species diversity.
 Ecosystem diversity:- It is set of biotic components [plants,
animals and micro-organisms inter-acting with one another
and with one a biotic components like soil, air, water etc.,]
 Values Of Biodiversity
• The value of biodiversity provides a variety of environmental
services from its species and ecosystem that are essential at
the global, regional and locally maintaining the water cycle
and protecting soil are some of important services.
• Biodiversity is also essential for preserving ecological
processes, such as fixing and recycling of nutrients, soil
formation, maintaining the water balance with-n ecosystem.
• Food, clothes, housing, energy, medicines are all resources
that are directly (or) indirectly linked to the biological variety
present in the biosphere. An agricultural community,
biodiversity is used to grow their crops to suit the
environment.
1- Environmental Value: The environmental value of
biodiversity can be found by examining each ecosystem
process and identifying the ecosystem services that result. For
instance, in wetlands the vegetation captures water- carried
sediment and the soil organisms break down a range of
nutrients and pollutants washed into the area.
2- Social Value: The social value of biodiversity includes
aesthetic, recreational, cultural and spiritual values. To this can
be added health benefits resulting from recreational and other
activities. While traditional societies which had a small
population and required less resources had preserved their
biodiversity as a life supporting resource, modern man has
rapidly depleted it even to the extent of leading to the
irrecoverable loss due to extinction of several species.
3- Ecosystem Services: These services also support human
needs and activities such as intensely managed production
ecosystems.
4- Economic Value: The economic potential of biodiversity is
immense in terms of food, fodder, medicinal, ethical and social
values. Biodiversity forms the major resource for different
industries, which govern the world economy.
5- Consumptive use value: This is related to natural products
that are used directly for food, fodder, timber, fuel wood etc.
Humans use at least 40,000 species of plants and animals on a
daily basis. Many people around the world still depend on wild
species for most of their needs like food, shelter and clothing.
The tribal people are completely dependent on the forests for
their daily needs.
6- Productive Use Value: This is assigned to products that are
commercially harvested and marketed. Almost all the present
date agricultural crops have originated from wild varieties. The
biotechnologists continuously use the wild species of plants for
developing new, better yielding and disease resistant varieties.
Biodiversity represents the original stock from which new
varieties are being developed.
7- Ethical and Moral Value: It is based on the principle of
‘live and let others live’. Ethical values related to biodiversity
conservation are based on the importance of protecting all
forms of life. All forms of life have the right to exist on earth.
Man is only a small part of the Earth’s great family of species.
8- Aesthetic Value: The beauty of our planet is because of
biodiversity, which otherwise would have resembled other
barren planets dotted around the universe. Biological diversity
adds to the quality of life and provides some of the most
beautiful aspects of our existence. Biodiversity is responsible
for the beauty of a landscape.
 Values of
Biodiversity

Direct values Indirect values

Produc Social Enviro

Consu
and Aesthet
mptive tive nment
cultural ic value
values values values
values
Mega Diversity
• The term mega diversity country is used for any country that
harbors majority of earth’s species along with the endemic
species.
• Seventeen mega diversity countries were declared in the year
1998.
India as a mega diversity
• India is one of the seventeen mega diversity countries in the
world.
• India has a diversified ecosystem.
• Four areas of India have been declared as mega diversity hot
spot.
• India ranks 8th among all the mega – diverse nations
• India has 500 species of mammals, 30,000 species of insects,
and about 200 species of birds.
• India constitute of 101 national park, 35 zoological park, and
333 wildlife sanctuaries.
List of Biogeographical zones in India
Biological Diversity to National level
• Every country is characterized by its own biodiversity
depending mainly on its climate.
• India has a rich biological diversity of flora and
fauna overall 6% of the global are found in India.
• India ranks 10th among the plant rich countries of
the world, 11th in term of number of endemic
species of high vertebrates and 6th among the
centers of diversity and origin of agricultural crops.
India as a Mega diversity nation
• India has a rich and varied heritage of biodiversity,
encompassing a wide spectrum of habitats from tropical rain
forests to alpine vegetation and from temperature to coastal
wetlands.
• India is one of the 17 mega diversity countries in the world.
Government of India, 2000 records 47000 species of plants
and 81000 species of animals which is about 7% and 6.5%
respectively of global flora and fauna.
• Centre of origin:- A large number of species are known to
have originated in India. India has been the Centre of origin
of 166 species of crop plants and 320 species of wild relative
of cultivated crops. Nearly 5000 species of flowering plants
had their origin in India.
 MARINE BIODIVERSITY
• Along 7500km long coastline of our country in mangroves, estuaries, coral
reefs, back water etc., there exist a rich biodiversity.
• The marine diversity is rich in moleskin, crustaceans [crabs], polychquetus
and corals several species of mangroves plants and sea grasses, marine
algae] are also found in our country.
• India’s forest cover of 64.01 million hectares having a rich biodiversity of
plants in the trans-Himalayan, north-west, central and eastern Himalayan
forest, coasts, deserts, Gangetic plain, Nicobar and Lakshadweep island.
 HOT SPOTS OF BIODIVERSITY
• Areas which exhibit high species richness as well as high
species endemism are termed as “hot spots of bio diversity”.
The term was introduced by MYERS.
• Characteristic features of hot spots:-
a. They are of global importance and are the hosts of priceless
gift of nature.
b. Very rich in biodiversity, genetic diversity, species diversity
(or) combination of all.
c. Being the habitats of endemic and endangered species. They
are having a high level of endemic and are under threat of
habitual destruction that again leads to extinction of species.
 List of biodiversity hotspots in the world

Sl. No. Name of the Hotspot Location

1. Tropical Andes South America

2. Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena South America

3. Madrean Pine–Oak Woodlands North and Central America

4. Cerrado South America

5. Chilean Winter Rainfall and Valdivian Forests South America

6. Atlantic Forest South America

7. Mesoamerica North and Central America

8. Caribbean Islands North and Central America

9. California Floristic Province North and Central America

10. Guinean Forests of West Africa Africa

11. Cape Floristic Region Africa

12. Succulent Karoo Africa

13. Maputaland–Pondoland–Albany Africa

14. Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa Africa

15. Eastern Afromontane Africa

16. Horn of Africa Africa

17. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Africa

18 Mediterranean Basin Europe and Central Asia

19. Caucasus Europe and Central Asia

20. Irano-Anatolian Europe and Central Asia

21. Mountains of Central Asia Europe and Central Asia

22. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka South Asia

23. Himalaya South Asia

24. Mountains of Southwest China East Asia

25. Indo-Burma South Asia

26. Sundaland Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

27. Wallacea Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

28. Philippines Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

29. Japan East Asia

30. Southwest Australia Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

31. East Melanesian Islands Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

32. New Zealand Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

33. New Caledonia Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

34. Polynesia–Micronesia Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

35. Forests of East Australia Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

36. North American Coastal Plain North and Central America

HOT SPOTS OF BIODIVERSITY
 Loss of Biodiversity
• Today’s threats to species and ecosystems are the greatest
recorded in recent history and virtually all of them are
caused by human mismanagement of biological resources
often stimulated by misguided economic policies and faulty
institutions.
• Habitat alteration / destruction
• Overharvesting / over-exploitation of biological resources
• Pollution
• Introduced species / biological invasions
• Climatic changes
• Population
• Institutional / policy failure
CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
Conservation refers to management of human activities in the
environment. So, that it does not lead to habitual destruction and loss
of biodiversity.
 To preserve and protect the species of their habitat.
 To maintain essential ecological process. So that there is no ecological
imbalance created.
 To use the species and ecosystem sustainably without exploiting them.
 The creation of natural parks, sanctuaries biosphere reverses etc., to
preserve flora and fauna.
 Conservation of genetic biodiversity by establishing zoo’s botanical
gardens, nurseries etc.,
 Proper planning of land use and other natural resources affecting the
biodiversity.
 By prohibiting of hunting, poaching of animals, fishing etc., beyond the
productive capacity of ecosystem.
 By regulation through acts, laws, legislative controls such as India forests
act, endangered species act etc.
 There are two approaches of Biodiversity
Conservation
Biodiversity Conservation

In-situ Ex-situ
conservation conservation

1- Seed bank 1- Home garden

Protected Area 2-Cryopreservation 2- Sacred plant

1- Botanical garden
National park Sanctuary Biosphere reserves 2- Zoological parks
3- Aquaria
4- Arboreta
Terrestrial Marine
Conservation measures of
biodiversity
1- Ex-situ conservation:
• Refers to conservation of components of
biodiversity outside their natural habitats, e.g. zoos,
museums, gene banks, botanic gardens/arboretums;
• Used for threatened and endangered species to avoid
their extinction; also known as captive conservation.
2- In-situ conservation:
• Refers to conservation of ecosystems and natural
habitats including maintenance and recovery of
viable populations of species in their natural habitats.
Strategies
In-situ conservation:
NATIONAL PARKS-
• It is an area abdicated for the conservation of wild life along with
its environment.
• It is also meant for enjoyment through tourism but without
impairing the environment.
• Each national park usually aims at conservation specifically of
some particular species of wildlife along with others.
• Overgrazing of domestic animals all private rights and forestry
activities are prohibited with in national parks.
 NATIONAL PARK STATE IMPORTANT WILD
LIFE
Kaziranga Assam One horned rhino

Sandspur Karnataka Elephant

Gir national park Gujarat Indian lion
Primer Kerala Elephant, tigers
Saransk Kagastharn Tigers
Dudwa Uttar Pradesh Tigers

Wild life sanctuaries-

This also protected areas where killing, hunting, and sharing (or)
capturing of wild life is prohibited except under the control of
highest authority. Some important wild life sanctuaries of India
Biosphere Reserves-
• It is a special category of protected areas where human
population also forms a part of the system. They are large
protected area of usually more than 5000 sq.km. A
biosphere reserves has 3 parts- core, buffer and
transition zone.
1- Core zone is the inner zone; this is undisturbed and
legally protected area.
2- Buffer zone lies between the core and transition zone.
Some research and educational activities are permitted
here.
3- Transition zone is the outermost part of biosphere
reserves. Here cropping, forestry, recreation, fishery and
other activities are allowed.
Ex-situ conservation:
1- Seed gene bank:
• These are cold storages where seeds are kept under controlled
temperature and humidity for storage and this is easiest way to store
the germ plasma of plants at low temperature. Seeds preserved under
controlled conditions (minus temperature) remain viable for long
durations of time.
2- Gene bank:
• Genetic variability also is preserved by gene bank under normal
growing conditions. These are cold storages where germ plam are
kept under controlled temperature and humidity for storage; this is
an important way of preserving the genetic resources.
3- Cryopreservation:
• This is the newest application of technology for preservation of
biotic parts. This type of conservation is done at very low
temperature (196°C) in liquid nitrogen. The metabolic activities of
the organisms are suspended under low temperature, which are later
used for research purposes.
4- Long term captive breeding:
• The method involves capture, maintenance and captive breeding on long
term basis of individuals of the endangered species which have lost their
habitat permanently or certain highly unfavorable conditions are present in
their habitat.
5- Botanical gardens:
• A botanical garden is a place where flowers, fruits and vegetables are
grown. The botanical gardens provide beauty and calm environment. Most
of them have started keeping exotic plants for educational and research
purposes.
6- Zoological Gardens:
• In zoos wild animals are maintained in captivity and conservation of wild
animals (rare, endangered species).
 Sustainable development
• This refers to development that meets the needs of the current
generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs; it simply refers to intra and
intergenerational equity. A balance between the environment,
development and society results to sustainable development
which ensures biodiversity conservation. This is only
possible in the presence of good enforced and implemented
policies/ conventions, environmental institutions
THANK YOU !