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UNIT III:
BIODIVERSITY & BIOTIC RESOURCES
• Introduction
• Definition
• Genetic,
Species
and
Ecosystem diversity
• Value of biodiversity
Hot-spots of biodiversity
• Threats
to
biodiversity:
habitat loss, poaching of
wildlife,
man-wildlife
conflicts
• Endangered
and
endemic
species of India
• Conservation of biodiversity:
In-situ
and
Ex-situ
conservation of biodiversity
• Food and Fodder resources
Introduction
• Biodiversity comprises the
total range of plants, animals
and other living things on the
earth
• It is an index of a nation’s
wealth and forms the basis of
human survival and economic
well being
• The term ‘biodiversity’ was
coined by Walter Rosen (1986)
• Biodiversity has an intrinsic
value and needs to be
protected for its value to
humans
• According to the biologist
Edward Osborne Wilson,
only 1.4 million different
species of plants, animals and
microorganisms
were
identified till now
• It is quite possible that nearly
10 to 100 million other species
may be present undiscovered
in many regions of the world
that are unexplored (E.g. Rain
forests)
Animals
Plants
ORGANISMS
Jellyfish, worms, arthropods, molluscs,
echinoderms, amphibians, fish,
reptiles, birds and mammals
Seed bearing plants and non-seed
bearing plants
Prokaryotes
Bacteria and primitive algae
Protists
Single-celled organisms
Fungi
Moulds, mushrooms and toadstools
Animals
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Protozoans, Poriferans
Coelenterates
Flatworms
Annelids
Fishes
Amphibians
Reptiles
Arthropods
Birds
Molluscans
Mammals
Echinoderms
Definition
Biodiversity can be defined in
many ways
The functional components of
biodiversity include
(a) Genetic diversity
According to United Nations
Environmental Program (UNEP)
it is defined as “the totality of
genes, species and ecosystems in a
region”
According
to
the
Resources Institute
World
"Biodiversity is the variety of the
world's organisms, including their
genetic
diversity
and
the
assemblage they form
(b) Species diversity
(c) Ecosystem diversity
Genes are the components of
species, and species are the
components of ecosystems
Therefore, alterations in the
make-up of any level of this
hierarchy can change the species
and are central to the concept of
biodiversity
(a) Genetic diversity
The variety of genes that exists
within a single species is called
genetic
diversity.
Examples
include numerous breeds of dogs
and cats
These differences among the
same species are due to the
difference in their genes
Species with good genetic
diversity have more chances of
survival
in
changing
environment. E.g. Food crops like
rice, wheat and corn
On the other hand, species with
low genetic diversity cannot
adapt
successfully
to
environmental changes and may
become extinct
Value of Genes
• Rice grown in Asia is protected
from the four main rice diseases
by genes brought in from a wild
species from India
• The sugarcane industry in the US
was saved from collapse by
disease – resistant genes brought
in from wild Asiatic species
• A tomato discovered in Andes
has been used to increase the
sugar content of cultivated
varieties,
increasing
their
commercial value
(b) Species diversity
• A species includes a group of
interbreeding organisms of a
natural population
• They generally share similar
appearance,
characteristics
and genetics due to having
relatively recent common
ancestors
• The species is one of the basic
units of biodiversity
• Species diversity is the
variety and abundance of
various species in a given
habitat
(c) Ecosystem diversity
• This refers to the variety of
ecosystems that exist on our
planet such as rivers, oceans,
forests, deserts, mangroves
grasslands etc.
• These ecosystems provide
people with food and other
useful products
• Ecosystems
also
show
variations with respect to
physical
parameters
like
moisture,
temperature,
altitude, precipitation etc and
create a microclimate
• This diversity has developed
over millions of years of
evolution
• If we destroy this diversity, it
would disrupt the ecological
balance
• We cannot even replace the
diversity of one ecosystem by
that of another
Biodiversity indices
• Alpha diversity refers to diversity
within
a
particular
area,
community or ecosystem, and is
measured
by
counting
the
number of taxa (distinct groups of
animals) within the ecosystem
(eg. families, genera, species)
• Beta diversity is species diversity
between ecosystems; this involves
comparing the number of taxa
that are unique to each of the
ecosystems
• Gamma diversity is a measure of
the overall diversity for different
ecosystems within a region. It
refers to the total biodiversity
over a large area or region
VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY
(A) Consumptive Value
The biodiversity products can be
harvested and consumed directly by man
E.g. fuel, food, drugs, fibre etc.
Drugs and medicines:
•
•
•
About 75% of the world's population
depends upon plants or plant extracts for
medicines
The wonder drug Penicillin is derived
from a fungus called “Penicillium”
Recently Vinblastin and Vincristine, two
anticancer drugs, have been obtained
from Periwinkle (Catharanthus) plant,
which possesses anticancer alkaloids
A large number of marine animals are
supposed
to
possess
anti-cancer
properties
Table 2.1 Medicinal uses of some selected plant species
Medicine
Plant source
Use
Cochicine
Autumn crocus
Cancer prevention
Digitalis
Common foxglove
Heart stimulant
L-dopa
Velvet bean
Treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Penicillin
Penicillium fungus
Antibiotic
Quinine
Yellow cinchona
Antimalarial agent
Resperine
Indian snakeroot
Lowering of blood pressure
Taxol
Pacific yew
Anticancer agent
Vinblastine
Rosy periwinkle
Anticancer agent
Bacitracin
Bacterium
Antibiotic
Tetracycline
Bacterium
Antibiotic
Erythromycin
Bacterium
Antibiotic
Bee venom
Bee
Arthritis relief
Morphine
Poppy
Analgesic
Poppy Plant
Morphine from seeds
Foxgrove digitalis
Cinchona Plant
Rauwolfia
Fuel
Our forests are being used since ages for fuel wood
Fossil fuels like
coal
petroleum
natural gas
are also products of fossilized biodiversity.
(B) Productive Value
Biodiversity provides us with
many benefits and goods that
have a price tag because of
their commercial value
• These are the commercially
usable values where the
product is marketed and sold
Animal products like
• tusks of elephants,
• musk from musk deer,
• silk from silk-worm,
• wool from sheep,
• fur of many animals,
• lac from lac insects etc, all of
which are traded in the market
(C) Genetic Value
• Biological diversity is
valuable genetic resource
a
• A few of them are mentioned
as under
• Most of the hybrid varieties of
crops under cultivation have
been
developed
by
incorporating useful genes
from different species of plants
to produce better quality of the
product with longer shelf-life
or having better resistance to
pests
• The genes from a wild variety
of melon grown in U.P. helped
in imparting resistance to
powdery mildew in muskmelons grown in California
• There
are
hundreds
of
examples which illustrate how
genetic modification helped in
improved quality of the
products
• The genes from the Kans grass
(Saccharum
spontaneum)
grown in Indonesia helped in
imparting resistance to red rot
disease of sugarcane
• A wild variety of rice from UP.
saved millions of hectares of
paddy crop from Grossy-Stunt
virus
(D) Social Value
• Human cultures co-evolves with
their environment, and the
biological
diversity
can
be
important for cultural identity of a
region
• Biological diversity is an integral
part of many areas across the
globe valued for tourism and
recreational purposes
• These are the values associated
with the social life, customs,
religion and aspects of the people.
• Many of the plants are considered
holy and sacred in our country
like Tulsi (holy basil), Peepal,
Mango, Lotus, Bael etc
Many animals like Cow,
snake, Bull, Peacock, Owl
etc have significant place
in psycho-spiritual arena
and thus hold social
importance.
(E) Ethical Value
• It is also sometimes
known as existence value.
It involves ethical issues
like "'all life must be
preserved
• It is based on the concept
of "Live and Let Live”
• If we want our human
race to survive then we
must
protect
all
biodiversity,
because
biodiversity is valuable
In many cultures, a
particular
species
or
landscape
may
be
inseparably linked to a
sense of identity and
meaning.
Some
religious
organizations call for the
protection
of
nature
simply because it is God’s
creation.
E.g. Ramasethu
(F) Aesthetic Value
Natural and wild habitats
harbors rich biodiversity and
man gets much needed
aesthetic pleasure by watching
native plants and animals of a
region
Millions of people enjoy
hunting, fishing, camping,
hiking, wildlife watching and
other nature based activities
which forms the basis for
‘Ecotourism’.
Wild
life
conservation
programs including national
parks, zoological and botanical
gardens, snake, crocodile,
butterfly parks
Developing
of
new
horticultural species and other
novel species by biotechnology
contribute to the existing
aesthetic value of naturally
occurring biodiversity
(G) Optional Value
According to the biologist
Edward Osborne Wilson,
only 1.4 million different
species of plants, animals and
microorganisms
were
identified till now.
It is quite possible that nearly
10 to 100 million other species
may be present undiscovered
in many regions of the world
that are unexplored (E.g. Rain
forests).
• Such unexplored biodiversity
provides man with an option
to find, realize and value its
ecological services and other
economical, social, aesthetic,
ethical and medical uses for
the benefit mankind
• However, this is possible only
when conservation programs
are taken up proactively.
Otherwise,
many
plants,
animals and microorganisms
disappear
before
their
discovery which is as good as
'book-burning’ that destroys
former and future knowledge
Hotspots of Biodiversity
• Hotspots are the main areas of
focus
for
biodiversity
conservation
• The term was introduced by
Norman Myers (1988).
• Extremely rich in biodiversity
• Myers et al (2000) recognized
25 hot spots
• Have high level of endemism
and are under constant threat
of species extinctions and
habitat destruction
• These are on a global level
out of which two are present
in India, namely the Eastern
Himalayas
and
Western
Ghats
• These hotspots covering less
than 2% of the world's land
area are found to have about
50%
of
the
terrestrial
biodiversity
• According to Myers et al.
(2000) an area is designated as
a hotspot when it contains at
least 0.5% of the plant species
as endemics
Global Hot spots
• 1. Tropical Andes
• 13. Succulent Karoo
• 2. Mesoamerica
• 14. Mediterranean Basin
• 3. Caribbean
• 15. Caucasus
• 4. Brazil's Atlantic Forest
• 16. Sundaland
• 5. Choco/Darien/Western
Ecuador
• 17. Wallacea
• 6. Brazil's Cerrado
• 19. Indo-Burma
• 7. Central Chile
• 20. South-Central China
• 8. California Floristic Province
• 21. Western Gnats/Sri Lanka
• 9. Madagascar
• 10. Eastern Arc and Coastal
Forests of Tanzania/Kenya
• 11. Western African Forests
• 12. Cape Floristic Province
• 18. Phillipines
• 22. SW Australia
• 23. New Caledonia
• 24. New Zealand
• 25. Polynesia/Micronesia
• The 25 hotspots contain
44% of all vascular plant
species and 35% of
terrestrial vertebrates and
encompass only 1.4% of
the earths surface
• It has been estimated that
50,000 endemic plants,
which comprise 20% of
global plant life, probably
occur
in
only
18
‘hotspots’ in the world
• However,
collectively
they have lost 88% of
their original primary
vegetation
• Countries which have a
relatively
large
proportion
of
these
biodiversity hotspots are
referred to as ‘Megadiversity nations’
• Species in these areas are
at risk from extinction if
further habitat loss occurs
Hotspots in India
• Eastern Himalayas and Western
ghats
• These areas are particularly rich
in floral wealth and endemism
• In addition to flowering plants
some reptiles, amphibians ,
swallow tailed butterflies, and
some mammals also exist
•
Many deep and semi isolated valleys
are exceptionally rich in endemic
plant species
•
In Sikkim, in an area of 7298 km2 , of
the 4250 plant species , 2550 (60%) are
endemic
•
In Nepal, there are around 7000 plant
species, many of which overlap with
those of India, Bhutan, and even
Yunnan. Of these species, at least 500
(8%) are believed to be endemic to
Nepal
•
Bhutan, possesses an estimated 5000
species, of which as many as 750
(15%) are considered to be endemic to
the Eastern Himalayas
Eastern Himalayas
•
•
The area comprises Nepal, Bhutan,
and neighboring states of northern
India, along with a continuous sector
of the Yunnan province in Southwest
China
All Himalayan forests lie north of the
Tropic of Cancer, and some of them
are at altitudes of 1780 -3500 m, they
can be considered tropical forests
Western Ghats:
• Out of India’s 49219 plant species
, 1600 endemics (40% of the total
number of endemics) are found
in an 17000 km2 along the sea
side of the Western Ghats in
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu, Kerala
• Forest track up to 500 m in
elevation, comprising 1/5th of the
entire forest expanse,
• mostly evergreen
• while those in 500-1500 m range
are semi- evergreen
• There are two main centers of
diversity, the Agasthyamalai
Hills and the Silent Valley/New
Amambalam Reserve Basin
• The forest cover in western Ghats
has reduced to 34 % from 19721989
Floral and faunal commonality
exists in India's two hot spots
• Although the two areas, the
Eastern Himalayas and the
Western Ghats are today disjunct
and have their own characteristic
flora and fauna, there are a
number of species common to
both
Threats to Biodiversity
• ‘Extinction’ is the elimination of
a species which is a normal
process of the nature
(A) Natural Extinction
• All organisms die and are usually
replaced by their own progeny as
a part of evolution
• Fossil records suggest that
more than 99% of all species
that existed in the past are
now extinct
• This rate of extinction is very
slow and occurs naturally. For
example,
in
undisturbed
ecosystems, about one species is
lost every decade
• Mass extinctions have wiped
out vast numbers of species
due to climate change
• On
the
other
hand,
anthropogenic
impacts
on
populations and ecosystems have
accelerated the rate of extinction
and eliminated thousands of
species
• For example, at the end of
cretaceous
period,
large
asteroids hit the earth and
might have triggered climate
changes
• Thus biodiversity is threatened
by both nature and man in many
ways
• Dinosaurs disappeared along
with 50% of existing species
1.Population Risk
Random
variations
in
population rates (i.e. birth
rates and death rates) can
cause a species in low
abundance to become extinct
It is a risk especially to
species that consist of only a
single population in one
habitat
• For example—blue whales
swim over the vast areas of
ocean, and if in one year most
whales were unsuccessful in
finding a mate then births
could be dangerously low
2.Environmental Risk
These are variations in the
physical
or
biological
environment,
including
variations in predator, prey,
symbiotic or competitor species
In case of species that are
sufficiently rare and isolated,
such
normal
environmental
variations can lead to their
extinction
3.Natural Catastrophe:
Natural catastrophes like fires,
storms,
floods,
earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, changes in
oceanic currents and upwelling,
etc. cause the local extinction of
most forms of life there
4.Genetic Risk
Detrimental
change
in
genetic characteristics in a
small population of a species,
due to
• reduced genetic variation
• genetic drift or mutation
makes the species more
vulnerable to extinction
This is because it lacks the
variety once present or
because a mutation that leads
to poor health becomes fixed
in population
(B) Man induced Extinction
• According to some ecologists,
almost one million species are
lost in a year which is equal to
27 species per day due to
anthropogenic activities
• At this rate, millions of
organisms will be eliminated
in the next few decades which
may trigger a mass extinction
• This may be not due to
asteroids or volcanoes, but
human impacts alone will be
held responsible
(i) Habitat Loss
A ‘habitat’ refers to a place
where a specific species can
be found
From a habitat, an organism
obtains food, water, sunlight,
minerals,
and
other
substances that are needed for
its survival and reproduction
The removal or destruction of
such
habitat
where
an
organism lives is called
‘habitat loss’
It is difficult to estimate how
many species become extinct
each year because of habitat
loss but it poses a serious
threat to biodiversity
The growth and expansion of
human population has caused
both quantitative and qualitative
loss of the habitat
Deforestation, construction of
houses, roads, cities, bridges and
dams for meeting the man’s
demands have destroyed the
habitat for many native species
Habitat loss may be quantitative
and qualitative
E.g.
Coringa
mangroves
decreased in the Kakinada bay
ecosystem due to deforestation
for aquaculture activities
Oceans, lakes and rivers are
damaged and destroyed by
pollution
Habitat Fragmentation
It is a process where a large,
continuous habitat is reduced in
area and even divided into two or
more fragments
Pollution
•
•
• Habitat fragmentation may take
place due to the development of
roads, towers, canals, fields,
industries, etc. in an original
large habitat
Diseases
• Pathogens, or disease organisms,
may also be considered Predators
• The incidence of disease in wild
species may increase due to
human activities
Environmental pollution is the most
subtle form of habitat degradation
The most common causes of which are
pesticides, industrial effluents and
emissions,
and
emission
from
automobiles
Introduction
Species
of
Exotic
• Organisms introduced into habitats
where they are not native are
termed as exotics
•
They act as biological pollutants
and are the most damaging agents
of
habitat
alteration
and
degradation in the world
(ii) Wild life Poaching
The illegal killing/trading of
animals and wildlife species
is called ‘poaching’ that
occurs across the globe
Many animals are mercilessly
and illegally killed for their
meat, skins and internal
organs and for sport
One of the drivers for the
illegal trade of animal parts is
the
multimillion
dollar
market that exists globally
Illegal wildlife trade is one of
the primary threats to a large
number of species
• For instance, more than 90% of
the world's wild rhinos have
disappeared or killed for their
magnificent horns
•
The elephant populations in
many
nations
declined
to
alarmingly low levels between
1979 and 1989, mainly due to the
worldwide demand for ivory
• During this period, due to huge
demand for ivory, poaching
reduced
Africa's
elephant
population to 50%
•
In 1977, for instance, 1.3 million
elephants lived in Africa while
only 6,00,000 remained as of 1997
• Savannah elephants were the
worstly affected species because
they sported largest tusks
Other species poached include
Tigers (Panthera tigris) for bones,
rhinos for their horns, and bears for a
variety of body parts
All bear species, including
Brown bear (Ursus arctos),
Black bear (Ursus americanus),
• Polar Bear Poaching
• Polar bear (Ursusmaritimus) is
among the largest carnivores in
the world and is primarily a
marine bear
•
Numerous adaptations help
them to lead life in icy habitats
•
They have thick which covers
even their feet, for warmth and
traction on ice and can swim as
far as 40 miles
•
According
to
the
‘World
Conservation Union’ (IUCN)
estimates that there are between
20,000 and 25,000 polar bears in
the
world,
distributed
throughout the Arctic region
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus),
Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus),
Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus),
Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus),
Giant Panda
melanoleuca)
bear
(Ailuropoda
are used traditionally in China
• The decreasing trends in wellstudied populations are alarming
• For example, in the western
Hudson Bay, from 1,200 bears in
1987 the numbers decreased to
935 bears in 2004
• In the Beaufort Sea north of
Alaska, the population dropped
15 % in five years, from 1,800 to
1,526 bears
•
It is feared that this population
of bears may be declining due to
illegal hunting, pollution, oil
exploration, tourism and climate
change
• Recognizing
these
alarming
trends, Russia made polar-bear
hunting illegal
• Canada, Denmark, Greenland,
Norway, and the United States)
entered into the International
Agreement for the Conservation
of Polar Bears in 1973
(iii) Man- Wildlife Conflicts
• A major problem associated
with the conservation of wild
animals
especially
the
herbivores like elephants in
India is that of crop
depredation
and
manslaughter
• Animals such as elephants,
wild boar and birds like
peacock
cause
extensive
damage to the crops
• This
phenomenon
has
registered significant increase
in recent years due to habitat
fragmentation
and
degradation of natural forests
and corridors
• Instances of man animal
conflicts keep on coming to
lime light from several states
in our country
• In Sambalpur, Orissa 195
humans were killed in the
last 5 years by elephants
• In retaliation the villagers
killed 98 elephants and badly
injured 30 elephants
• Several instances of killing of
elephants in the border
regions
of
Kote
Chamarajanagar
belt
in
Mysore have been reported
recently
ENDANGERED SPECIES OF INDIA
The International Union of
Conservation of Nature and
Natural
Resources
(IUCN)
maintains called a 'Red Database'
at the World Conservation
Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in
which
information
on
endangered
and
vulnerable
species of plants and animals is
kept
From time to time, this database
is translated into popular form
and published as 'Red Data
Books‘
The red data symbolizes the
warning signal for those species
which are endangered and if not
protected are likely to become
extinct in near future
•
In India, nearly 450 plant species
have been identified in the categories
of endangered, threatened or rare
•
Existence of about 150 mammals and
150 species of birds is estimated to be
threatened while an unknown
number of species of insects are
endangered
•
A species is said to be endangered
when its number has been reduced to
a critical level or whose habitats,
have been drastically reduced and if
such a species is not protected and
conserved, it is in immediate danger
of extinction
•
It may not be of direct relevance here
to give a complete list of endangered
flora and fauna of our country
•
However,
a
few
species
of
endangered reptiles, birds, mammals
and plants are given below:
•
(a) Reptiles: Gharial, green sea turtle,
tortoise, python
•
(b) Birds: Great Indian bustard,
Peacock, Pelican, Great Indian
Hornbill, Siberian White Crane
•
(c) Carnivorous: Indian wolf, red fox,
Sloth bear, red panda, Mammals
tiger, leopard, striped hyena,
Indian lion, golden cat, desert cat,
dugong
•
(d) Primates: Hoolock gibbon, liontailed macaque, Nilgiri langur,
Capped monkey, golden monkey
•
(e) Plants: A large number of plant
species
like
Rhododendrons,
Rauwolfia serpentina, the sandal
wood tree Santalum, Cycas beddomei
etc
Gharial
Peacock
Pelican
Indian Tiger
Leopard
Indian Lion
Red Fox
Great Indian Bustard
Siberian White Crane
Capped Monkey
Golden Monkey
Rhododendron
Rauwolfia serpentina,
Cycas beddomei
(i) Endangered Species
•
A species is said to be
endangered when its number has
been reduced to a critical level or
whose habitats, have been
drastically reduced and if such a
species is not protected and
conserved, it is in immediate
danger of extinction.
• (ii) Vulnerable Species
• The species that are under threat
such that they may have to be
classified as endangered in the
near future if causal factors
continue to operate
• Species whose populations have
been seriously depleted
• Species whose populations are
still abundant but are under
threat throughout their range
(iii) Rare Species
• These are species with small
population size in the world
usually
localized
within
restricted habitats
• It is necessary to mention here
that a species that is rare is not
necessarily
in
danger
of
becoming extinct ; some species,
like the Whooping Crane, are
naturally rare
(iv) Threatened Species
• The term 'threatened' is used in
the context of conservation of the
species which are in any one of
the above three categories
• These are species that have
declined significantly in total
numbers and may be on the
verge of extinction in certain
localities
India contains globally important populations of some of Asia's rarest
animals, such
as the Bengal Fox, Asiatic Cheetah, Marbled Cat, Asiatic Lion, Indian Elephant, Asiatic
Wild Ass, Indian Rhinoceros, Markhor, Gaur, Wild
Asiatic Water Buffalo etc.
According to IUCN, India contains 172 species of animals that are considered globally
threatened. In other words, 2.9% of the world's total number of threatened species
occurs in India The impact of man-related actions could result in the loss of such
valuable species
Group
IUCN Red List Threat Category
Endangered
Vulnerable
Rare
Indeterminate
Insufficiently known
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fishes
Invertebrates
13
6
6
0
0
1
20
20
6
0
0
3
2
25
4
0
2
12
5
13
5
3
0
2
13
5
2
0
0
4
Total
26
49
45
28
24
53
69
23
3
2
22
172
Endemic Species of India
• Endemics are species that are found in a single
locality/area and nowhere else in the world. They, thus
have a value in their uniqueness
• The endemism of Indian biodiversity is quite high
• About 33% of the country's flora are endemic to the
country and are concentrated mainly in the North-East,
Western Ghats, North-West Himalaya and the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Out of about 47,000 species of animals in our country
7000 are endemic
CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
• Conservation is defined as
'the management of human use
of the biosphere so that it may
yield the greatest sustainable
benefit to present generation
while
maintaining
its
potential to meet the needs
and aspirations
of future
generations'
• Given the value and importance
of biodiversity, there is a great
need to conserve the ever
threatened organisms.
Some of the international
agencies play a crucial role in
evolving
the
conservation
strategies
CGIAR -Consultative Group for
International of Agricultural
Research
CIFOR -Centre for Institute of
Forest Research
UNCED -UN
Convention
of
Environmental Development
WWF -World Wide Fund for
nature
UNEP - United
Nations
Environmental Protection
CITES -Convention
on
International
Trade
in
Endangered Species of wild
Fauna and Flora
• In addition to the developed
nations, efforts by G-15 countries
have significantly helped in
promoting the implementation of
conservation strategies in these
nations
STRATEGIES FOR CONSERVATION
There are two approaches of
biodiversity conservation:
• In situ conservation (within
habitat): This is achieved by
protection of wild flora and
fauna in nature itself
• Ex situ conservation (outside
habitats) This is done by
establishment of gene banks,
seed banks, zoos, botanical
gardens, culture collections
etc.
• Insitu conservation applies
only to wild fauna and flora
and not to the domesticated
animals and plants, because
conservation is achieved by
protection of populations in
nature
• E.g.,
National
Parks,
Sanctuaries,
Biosphere
reserves etc.
Ex- situ Conservation
• This type of conservation is mainly done for conservation of
crop varieties, the wild relatives of crops and all the local
varieties with the main objective of conserving the total genetic
variability of the crop species for future crop improvement or
afforestation programs
• In India, we have the following important gene bank/seed
bank facilities:
(i) National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) is
located in New Delhi. Here agricultural and horticultural
crops and their wild relatives are preserved by cryopreservation of seeds, pollen etc. by using liquid nitrogen at a
temperature as low as -196 °C
• Varieties of rice, pearl millet, Brassica, turnip, radish, tomato,
onion, carrot, chilli, tobacco, poppy etc. have been preserved
successfully in liquid nitrogen for several years without losing
seed viability
• National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
(NBAGR) located at Karnal, Haryana. It
preserves the semen of domesticated bovine
animals
• (iii) National Facility for Plant Tissue Culture
Repository (NFPTCR) for the development of a
facility of conservation of varieties of crop
plants/trees by tissue culture. This facility has
been created within the NBPGR
Seed Bank
• Endangered animal species are preserved using similar techniques
• The genetic information needed in the future to reproduce
endangered animal species can be preserved in gene banks, which
consist of cryogenic facilities used to store living sperm, eggs, or
embryos
• The Zoological Society of San Diego has established a "frozen zoo"
to store such samples from more than 355 species, including
mammals, reptiles, and birds
Maintenance of Repositories
• Since facilities are available for conservation of
valuable germplasm, it is necessary that other
resources
and
facilities
for
multiplication,
regeneration,
evaluation,
characterization,
documentation and distribution of this germplasm are
also made available
• However, the identity and genetic stability must be
ensured during conservation and management of
germplasm
• Samples must be maintained in duplicates at different
sites
• If these precautions are not taken and adequate
facilities for management of collections are not
extended, some of the germplasm repositories may
become germplasm mortuaries
• In other words, the germplasm collections would
become absolutely useless
Summary
(1) Biodiversity is of extreme importance for ensuring
ecological balance
(2) It has Consumptive, Productive, Genetic, Ethical,
Social, Aesthetic and Optional values
(3) There are 10 biogeographic zones and 26 provinces
(4) India is a megadiversity nation
(5) Hot spots are regions with rich biodivesity and there
are 25 hot spots in world while India has 2 hot spots
(6) Many species are threatened by both nature and man
(7) India has 2% of global endangered and endemic
species
(8) Biodiversity can be conserved by in-situ and ex-situ
methods