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Some Concepts in Biodiversity
Presentation by:
Dr. Gazala Habib
Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Delhi
Biodiversity
 Bio: Life
 Diversity: Variety
 Biodiversity: Variety of life forms
• From an ocean to a drop of ocean water has biodiversity of all sizes
and forms.
• Biological diversity (abbreviated as biodiversity) represent the sum
total of various life forms such as unicellular fungi, protozoa,
bacteria, and multi cellular organisms such as plants, fishes, and
mammals at various biological levels including gens, habitats, and
ecosystem .
INTRODUCTION
•
The term Biodiversity was first coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1986.
•
The biosphere comprises of a complex collections of innumerable organisms, known as
the Biodiversity, which constitute the vital life support for survival of human race.
•
Definitions:
 As defined in convention on Biological diversity singed at Rio De Jenerio (Brazil) in
1992 by 154 countries, the Biodiversity defined as “the variability among living
organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
eco-systems and the ecological complexes of which the area part- this include diversity
with in species, between species and of ecosystem.”
 According to IUCN in 1998, “the variety and variability of species of their population,
the variety of species of their life forms, the diversity of the complex association with
species with their interaction and their ecological process which influences perform.”
Three types of biodiversity
 Diversity of Species
 Diversity of Ecosystem
 Diversity of Genes
Types of Biodiversity
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
2. Species diversity - Diversity between different
species
Example ; Felis tigris
Felis domestica
3. Ecosystem diversity: Diversity within a region
Grassland
forest
DISTRIBUTION OF BIODIVERSITY
 Flora and fauna diversity
depends on Climate
 Altitude
 Soils
 Presence of other species
 Most of the biodiversity
concentrated in Tropical region.
Values of Biodiversity
1. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Protection of Water Resources & species.
Soil formation and Protection
Nutrient Storage and Cycling
Degradation of waste, Pollution breakdown and Absorption
Biological productivity
Carbon sequestration and Regulation of global climate
Control of potential pest and disease causing species
Detoxification of soil and sediments, Stabilization of land against erosion
Maintenance of Soil fertility
2. ROLE OF BIODIVERSITY IN REGULATING CLIMATE
3. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
•
Food/drink
•
Medicinal Resources
•
Wood Products
•
Fuel
4. SOCIAL BENEFITS
•
Recreation
•
Traditional values
•
Research & Education
ENDANGERED SPECIES OF INDIA
•
VULNERABLE:
Species whose population has still not reduced but face the threat of extinction as the
causal factors like reduction in habitat can be easily observed.
E.g. Black Buck, Spotted deer, Golden langur, Asiatic wild ass.
•
RARE:
Species which have small populations in the world and are confined to limited areas or
are thinly distributed over a more wide area.
E.g. Asiatic Pheasants, Satyr Tragopan, Temminick Tragopan.
•
•
THREATENED:
Species which are under the threat of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the
causal factors like habitation loss continue operating. E.g. vultures.
EXTINCT:
A particular species is considered extinct when its last surviving member dies and has
not been seen in wild for the last 50 years.
E.g. dodo, passenger pigeon.
Baseline data on Biodiversity
• Red Data Book: The IUCN published a Red Data Book in
2000 where categorization of various species into extinct,
endangered, vulnerable and rare was done. It is updated
frequently.
• Green Book: The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) published a
Green Book which enlists rare plants growing in Protected
areas like botanical gardens.
• Blue Book: The United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) has compiled data on endangered species of the
world in the Blue Book.
CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
• In situ conservation
• Ex situ conservation
zoo
Gene Bank
Bandhavgarh National Park
IN-SITU CONSERVATION
• The conservation of species done in their own ecosystem or habitat where
they survive is called In-Situ conservation.
• This is done by declaring certain areas as Protected to save the whole area or
certain endangered species.
• This could be forests i.e. natural environment or man made i.e. national
parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves etc. as discussed below:
 National Park (103): It is a land strictly and legally reserved for conservation
of wildlife. It is funded and maintained by Central Government. Keoladeo
Ghana National Park (Bharatpur, Rahasthan), Kaziranga National Park
(Assam), etc.
 Wildlife Sanctuaries (536): It is an area of land strictly and legally reserved
for conservation of wildlife. It is funded and maintained by State Government
with aid from Central Government. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (Gujarat),
Bamboo Island (Andaman) etc.
 Biosphere Reserves (18): It is an area where multiple use of land is
permitted. E.g. Gulf of Mannar, Great Nicobar, Nanda Devi, etc.
ZONES OF BIOSPHERE RESERVE
EX-SITU CONSERVATION
The conservation of species outside their habitat in scientifically managed facilities is
termed as Ex-Situ Conservation. The species are provided their natural habitat
artificially. E.g. Zoos, botanical gardens, gene banks etc.
 Plant Seed Bank: Seeds can be dried to low moisture content and stored at low
temperature (cryo-preservation) without losing their viability in seed banks which
provide a controlled environment. Approximately 90% of all "ex situ" accessions are
stored as seeds.
 Animal Seed Bank: The semen and eggs of stronger, better adaptable and more
productive individuals of species are preserved and stored. These can be transported
far and wide as well as in future.
 Field gene banks: Such as arboreta, plantations and botanical gardens are useful for
species that are difficult or impossible to store as seed, including vegetatively
propagated crops and tree species.
 In-vitro methods: They conserve species that do not readily produce seeds. The cells
or tissues in a culture media or where the seeds cannot be dried without damaging
them.
 Gene Banks: This process involves the selection of useful genes and cross breeding
them to produce better varieties of plants and animals.
Biodiversity
Conservation
In situ
Sacred
groves and
lakes
Terrestrial
Biosphere
Reserves
Ex situ
National
parks, wildlife
sanctuaries
Sacred plant home
garden
Seed Bank, Gene
bank,
Cryopreservation
Marine
Botanical garden,
Zoological garden,
Aquaria
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Natural causes:
 Narrow geographical area
 Low population
 Low breeding rate
 Natural disasters
Anthropogenic causes:
 Habitat modification
 Overexploitation & Hunting
of selected species
 Innovation by exotic species
 Pollution
 Global warming and climate
change
Facts related to Biodiversity
 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.
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..

There are estimated 5 million to 100
million species on earth (most yet to be
discovered).

Only about 1.9 million species have
been catalogued so far.
There are 35 recognised “Hotspots”
in the world.


44.4% of Global Plant species and
35.3% of Vertebrate species are
present in Hotspots.
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
Total land area of India - 143 million ha
India occupies 2.47% of the World’s geographical
area and has only 1% of the forest
India has 16.1% of world human population
and 15.1% of cattle population
Forest Cover in India –
23.57 %
(As per laws it should be
>33%)
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
•India hosts 12.53 % of world’s
biodiversity
•India has 3.9 % of grasslands,
2.0 % of hot deserts, 4.1 m.ha
of wetland ecosystems.
•India is the 7th largest country
in the world and one among the
17 mega diversity centers.
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
India:
 45,000 + species of wild plants
 89,000 + species of wild animals
 At least 320 species of wild
relatives of crops have been
originated here.
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
In India:
 1,39,000 species of plants, animals and
microbes are recorded
 More than 4 lakh species are yet to be
identified
 There are three mega centers of endemism
and 26 micro centers of endemism
PLANT SPECIES IN INDIA AND WORLD
Taxa
Species
India
World
Bacteria
850
Viruses
unknown
Algae
6500
40,000
Fungi
14,500
72,000
2000
17,000
Lichens
4000
4000
Bryophyta
2850
16,000
Pteridophyta
1100
13000
Gymnosperms
64
750
Angiosperms
17,500
250,000
ANIMAL SPECIES IN INDIA AND WORLD
Taxa
Species
India
World
60,000
8,00000
Mollusca
5000
100000
Fishes
2,500
23,000
Amphibians
190
4,520
Reptiles
400
6,550
Birds
1,175
8,400
Insects
Mammals
872
4,231
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.
Important Terms
• Vascular Plants: A plant that is characterized by
the presence of conducting tissue (like xylem,
Phloem, etc.)
• Endemic Species: A species unique to a
particular bio-geographic location and not found
elsewhere in the world. Ex. Habenaria
panigrahiana, Lasiococca comberi, Sapria
Himalayana, Ovaria Lurida are endemic to India.
Criteria
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must
meet two strict criteria:
1. It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as
endemics (i.e. 0.5% of the world’s total of
3,00,000).
2. It must have ≤30% of its original natural
vegetation left.
Important Statistics
• Worldwide 35 areas qualify as hotspots.
• They represent just 2.3% of Earth’s land surface.
• They support >50% of the world’s plant species and
~ 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian
species as endemics.
• India has 2 hot spots of biodiversity:
 Western Ghats.
 Eastern Himalayas.
Important Statistics
• The Hot Spots host about 1, 50,000 plant species as
endemics which is about 50 % of the world’s total.
• > 50% of the planet’s species are endemics to only 16 %
of its land area.
• About 11,980 terrestrial vertebrates i.e. 42 % of all
terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to Hot Spots.
List of Hotspots of Biodiversity: World
 North and Central America:
(California Floristic Province, Madrean pine-oak woodlands, Mesoamerica )
 The Caribbean:
(Caribbean Islands)
 South America:
(Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests, Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena, Tropical
Andes )
 Europe:
(Mediterranean Basin )
 Africa:
(Cape Floristic Region, Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa, Eastern Afromontane, Guinean Forests of West
Africa; Horn of Africa; Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands; Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany;
Succulent Karoo)
 Central Asia:
(Mountains of Central Asia)
 South Asia:
(Eastern Himalaya, Nepal; Indo-Burma, India and Myanmar; Western Ghats, India; Sri Lanka )
 South East Asia and Asia-Pacific:
(East Melanesian Islands; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Philippines; Polynesia-Micronesia; Southwest
Australia; Sundaland; Wallacea;)
 East Asia:
( Japan; Mountains of Southwest China )
 West Asia:
( Caucasus; Irano-Anatolian)
Hotspots of Biodiversity: World
Hotspots of Biodiversity: India
References
• Jyoti Sinha and Avdesh Bhardwaj (2011). Environmental
Science. Galgotia Publications.
• Myers, Norman, et al. "Biodiversity hotspots for
conservation priorities."Nature 403.6772 (2000): 853-858.
• http://www.conservation.org/How/Pages/Hotspots.aspx
• Roy Sovan, Environmental Science, Publishing Syndicate ,
2003,
Kolkata.
• Dara.S.S., Environmental chemistry and Pollution Control,
S.chand
& company Ltd., New Delhi
• Schulze Ernst- Detlef, Mooney Harold, Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Function, Springer- Verlag, London
• www.eolss.net
• www.ibc2010.com