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Biodiversity and conservation
- 1. Biodiversity and Conservation Section1: Biodiversity Section 2: Threats to Biodiversity Section 3: Conserving Biodiversity
- 2. Biodiversity - Definition Thevariability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
- 3. Concept of biodiversity Extinctionis a process that happens when an entire species permanently disappears from the biosphere due to the death of the speciesâ last member. Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area. Biodiversity increases the stability of an ecosystem and contributes to the health of the biosphere.
- 4. The term 'biodiversity'is being taken in its holistic sense, to encompass all levels of biodiversity, ecological and evolutionary processes, including: Natural ecosystems: e.g. forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, mountains, coastal and marine areas, including the historical changes taking place in such ecosystems. Wild species and varieties: species of plants, animals, and micro-organisms existing in their natural state and the genetic variation within each of these species. Biodiversity
- 5. Agricultural ecosystems: e.g.farmlands, pastures, capture fisheries, aquaculture, including historical changes in land-use patterns. Domesticated species and varieties: species of crops livestock (including poultry), captive-bred fish, pets, and micro organisms in ex-situ collection and the genetic variation within each of these species. In general we may say that Biodiversity exist at a various levels such as species, genetic and habitat Biodiversity
- 6. Biodiversity According to Conventionon Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity is âthe variability among all living organisms from all sources, including, interlayer, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystemsâ.
- 7. Biodiversity Biological diversity isthe central tenet of nature, one of its key defining features. Evolution has produced an amazing variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms, intricately interconnected, and worthy of respect and conservation in their own right. Biodiversity is also the basis for the continuous evolution of species. This diversity is also the backbone of human societies and cultures, in terms of the ecological functions it provides and the myriad survival and livelihood it meets.
- 8. Levels of Biodiversity 1.Genetic diversity: the gene pool within a population 2. Species diversity: the number and types of species in an area 3. Higher taxonomic diversity 4. Community Diversity 5. Ecosystem diversity (Habitat diversity)
- 9. 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
- 10. Genetic Diversity The varietyof genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population comprises its genetic diversity. Genetic diversity within an interbreeding population increases the chances that some species will survive during changing environmental conditions or during the outbreak of disease.
- 11. 2.Species diversity -diversity between different species Example ; Felis tigris Felis domestica
- 12. Species Diversity The numberof different species and the relative abundance of each species in a biological community is called species diversity.
- 13. Species diversity has twocomponents: 1. Species richness: how many different species are present in a habitat 2. Relative abundance: total number of individuals of each species present
- 14. Number of Living Species ofAll Kinds of Organisms Currently Known Insects 54% Other Animals 20% Bacteria 4% Fungi 5% Algae 2% Plants 18% Protozoa 2%
- 15. What do weknow? Estimates of the # of species More species are located in the tropical regions of the world ïź 2/3rd â 3/4th of all species live in tropical rain forests which cover only 7% of the earthâs surface
- 16. Why do weknow so little? 1. Not all species have been discovered ïź #âs are biased toward animal species ïź Know more about species in developed Nations ïź Not all species are named as a result of unclear species concepts in taxonomy 2. On-going extinction: species loss in tropical forest is estimated at 6000/year,
- 17. There are- An endangeredspecies ïź Is one that is in danger of becoming extinct throughout its range Threatened species ïź Are those that are considered likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future
- 18. 3.Ecosystem Diversity The varietyof ecosystems that are present in the biosphere is called ecosystem diversity. An ecosystem is made up of interacting populations and the abiotic factors that support them. All of the ecosystems on Earth support a diverse collection of organisms.
- 19. Ecosystem diversity âdiversity within a region Grassland Shola forest
- 20. Ecosystem Diversity ïź Identifiesthe variety of ecosystems in the biosphere ïź Is being affected by human activity
- 21. Facts related toBiodiversity ï Total Land Area of Earth â 510,065,284 sq.km ï Forest Cover â 38.7 m. sq.km (26%) ï 40% of Global Forest Land is in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
- 22. Facts related toBiodiversity contd.. ïź There are 5 million to 100 million species on earth. ïź Only about 1.9 million species have been catalogued so far. ïź There are 34 recognised âHotspotsâ in the world. ïź 44.4% of Global Plant species and 35.3% of Vertebrate species are present in Hotspots.
- 23. Total land areaof India - 143 million.ha India occupies 2.47% of the Worldâs geographical area and has only 1% of the forest Facts related to Biodiversity contd.. India has 16.1% of world human population and 15.1% of cattle population Forest Cover in India â 23.57 %
- 24. India is sharing12.53 % of worldâs 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..
- 25. Facts related toBiodiversity contd.. India recorded : ï¶ 45,000 + species of wild plants ï¶ 89,000 + species of wild animals ï¶ At least 320 species of wild relatives of crops have been originated here.
- 26. Facts related toBiodiversity 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
- 27. PLANT SPECIES ININDIA AND WORLD Taxa Species India World Bacteria 850 4000 Viruses unknown 4000 Algae 6500 40,000 Fungi 14,500 72,000 Lichens 2000 17,000 Bryophyta 2850 16,000 Pteridophyta 1100 13000 Gymnosperms 64 750 Angiosperms 17,500 250,000
- 28. ANIMAL SPECIES ININDIA AND WORLD Taxa Species India World Insects 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 Mammals 872 4,231
- 29. Hotspots 1. Endemism- (0.5% or1500 species of the worldâs 3 Lakh Plant species as endemics should be present) 2. Degree of Threat Hotspots of India â Four 1. Western Ghats 2. Eastern Himalayas 3. Indo-Burma region 4. Sundaland (Indonesia, Malaysia, parts of India especially Nicobar Islands)
- 30. Threats to Biodiversity 1.Deforestation and overgrazing 2. Habitat destruction and fragmentation of the area.
- 31. 3. Poaching andhunting for flesh, fur, skin, horn, naiI and recreation. 4. Forest fires including smoking in the woods. 5. Over-exploitation of the resources.
- 32. 6. Natural calamitieslike floods, high wind velocities, earthquakes, etc.,. 7. Pollution of various kinds and release of toxic substances. 8.Soil erosion and loss of soil nutrients.
- 33. 9.Population pressure andunequal distribution of the resources 10. Agricultural expansion 11.Spreading urbanization and establishment of industries. 12.Construction of hydro-electric power projects
- 34. 13. Climatic changeslike depletion of ozone, global warming, increased concentration of carbon dioxide, etc, 14. Mining activities and quarrying. 15. Lack of awareness.
- 35. Threatened Species: Theterm is used in conservation context for species which are in one of the categories â Endangered Vulnerable Rare Indeterminate RED DATA BOOK IUCN categories Extinct A species not definitely located in the wild and never sighted even once in the last 50 years
- 36. Why Biodiversity isimportant? Provides food, fodder, fruit, fuel, timber, medicine 1.Commercial value : Oil, Fertilizers etc. extracted from species of plants and animals. 2.Biological value: Pollination Soil formation Nutrient enrichment
- 37. 3.Recreational Value: Can notbe measured in terms of money. 4. Aesthetic Value: Art, Poetry, Literature. 5.Scientific Value: Gene Pool, Evolution, Human Welfare, etc,.
- 38. The Importance ofBiodiversity There are direct and indirect economic, aesthetic, and scientific reasons for preserving biodiversity. Domestic corn plant Teosinte plant Madagascar periwinkle
- 39. Natural Resources Indestructible ---Air Water Destructible --- Renewable : Soil Forest Wildlife Non-renewable : Minerals
- 40. Direct Economic Value Humansdepend on plants and animals to provide food, clothing, energy, medicine, and shelter. Genetic diversity in species that might be needed in the future is important becauseâŠ ïź Most of the worldâs food crops come from just a few species. ïź Wild species serve as reservoirs of desirable genetic traits that might be needed to improve domestic crop species (disease- and insect-resistance). ïź Many of the medicines that are used today are derived from plants or other organisms. ïź Scientists continue to find new extracts from plants and other organisms that help in the treatment of human diseases. ïź However, many species of organisms are yet to be identified, especially in remote regions of Earth, so their usefulness in providing extracts or useful genes is unknown.
- 41. Indirect Economic Value Ahealthy biosphere provides many services to humans and other organisms that live on Earth. Green plants provide oxygen to the atmosphere and remove carbon dioxide. Natural processes provide drinking water that is safe for human use. Healthy ecosystems provide protection against floods and droughts, generate and preserve healthful fertile soils, detoxify and decompose wastes, and regulate local climates.
- 42. Indirect Economic Value Itis difficult to attach an economic value to the services that a healthy biosphere provides humans. An economic study determined that restoring the biodiversity in the ecosystem (1.5 billion) that filtered the water supply for New York City was less expensive than building a new water filtration system (6 billion).
- 43. Aesthetic and ScientificValue It is difficult to attach a value to something that is beautiful or something that is interesting to study. Perhaps it is best to consider how life would be if all that was present on Earth was a barren and desolate landscape. The value of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems would be more obvious to us then.
- 44. Extinction Rates The gradualprocess of species becoming extinct is known as background extinction. Mass extinction is an event in which a large percentage of all living species become extinct in a relatively short period of time. Five Most Recent Mass Extinctions 1. Cretaceous Period - about 65 million years ago â Ammonite 2. Triassic Period â about 200 million years ago â Cynognathus 3. Permain Period â about 251 million years ago â Trilobite 4. Devonian Period â about 360 million years ago â Dinichthys 5. Ordovician Period â about 444 million years ago â Graptolites
- 45.
- 46. Extinction Rates The acceleratedloss of species began several centuries ago. Many of the speciesâ extinction in the past have occurred on islands. Islands are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to several factors. ïź Many species evolved without the presence of natural predators. ïź Introduction of nonnative species with diseases. ïź Islands have relatively small populations sizes
- 47. Impact of LossOf Biodiversity Global warming and climate change
- 48. Increased pollution Soil erosionand loss of fertility Decomposition rate by microbes is altered Nutrient cycling is altered
- 49. Reduces gene pool- affects speciation Food chain is altered Alteration in Hydrologic Cycle
- 50. Conservation Measures: 1. Maintenanceof the integrity of the habitat and improvement of habitat in productivity and quality for the desired species to grow and reproduce well.
- 51. 2 Prevention andcontrol of forest fires. Burning of grasslands has to be controlled. By controlling the forest fire, protection can be given to wildlife. 3 Excessive cutting should be eliminated and only mature trees should be harvested. New seedlings should replace the harvested trees.
- 52. 4 Fragmentation ofthe forest area or wildlife habitat, which decreases the biological diversity (both genetic diversity and ecological diversity), should be minimised. 5 Wise management in the control of insects and disease that attack trees.
- 53. 6 Measures tocheck the velocity of wind in deserted areas, planting 'wind breaks' across the direction of wind is helpful. Trees and shrubs may be planted in several rows to check the blowing away of the fertile top soil, which determines the vegetational growth. 7 One should not smoke in the woods. Camps fire and trash fires should be carefully tended and thoroughly extinguished.
- 54. 8 Grasses suchas Cynodon dactylon are utilised as erosion resisting plants. Conservation of many such types of grasses help in improving the soil fertility of the region for luxuriant growth of the plants. 9 Reforestation in degraded forest and agricultural wastelands with suitable strains of tree species, which are viable, genetically superior and disease resistant
- 55. 10.Protection of forestfrom illicit felling and overgrazing. 11.Establishment and maintenance of 'germplasm banks' of wild species for future genetic improvement and breeding programme.
- 56. 12. The maintenanceand preservation of germplasm of vegetatively propagated species is often a difficult task. Hence to conseve these 'genepool' development of tissues culture techniques should be greatly emphasized.
- 57. 13. Improvement ofthe heredity of trees and proper adoption of breeding techniques. 14. The Management of natural forests, which will ensure future productivity and environmental stability, should be practiced.
- 58. 15. If theprinciples and procedures of "Social Forestry" are followed, the stress on the exploitation of renewable forest resources can be minimised.
- 59. 16. Conservation ofendangered and endemic species in natural forests, which are the âguardians of diversityâ, should be given prime importance. 17. Proper utilization and management of non-wood based resources and establishment of " Energy Plantations".
- 60. 18. Implementation ofeffective and scientific methods to minimise the pollution of water, soil and air to ensure high productivity of the biomass in this region. Prevention of water pollution will protect the aquatic animal life. 19. Improper land degradation due to mining activities should be stopped.
- 61. 20. Sensible andwise use of forest products and the public awareness about the importance of forest wealth to mankind and ecosystem can promote the conservation 21. Control of soil erosion and establishment of vegetative cover will provide fruit or browse for wild animals.
- 62. 22. Efforts shouldbe intensified to curb the destructive activities of poachers. 23. Stabilization of water levels in pools, ponds and lakes should be undertaken so as to prevent seasonal destruction of aquatic life through evaporation. 24. Development of renewable resources in an area according to the need of organisms in the same area.
- 63. 25. Prey -predator relation should be worked out based on the carrying capacity of the habitat. This will help in promoting the habitat improvement. 26. Conservation also includes restoration of those species, which can and should be restored.
- 64. 27. Establishment ofNational Parks, National Sanctuaries are excellent areas for the preservation of natural biotic communities. 28. Establishment of Biosphere Reserves.
- 65. 29. Development ofelectronics as a tool in the conservation of wildlife should be given prime importance as electronic devices are helpful in aerial photography, data collection of plants and animals, detection of forest fires, educational programmes and monitoring of animal movements.
- 66. 30. Implementation ofeducational programmes to promote the knowledge of conservation and preservation of wildlife (including flora and fauna) should be done through literatures, scientific exhibitions, audio-visual aids and conferences stressing upon environmental conservation
- 67. ï National Park ïWildlife Sanctuaries ï Wetlands ï Mangroves ï Sacred Groves ï Protected Landscapes ï Ethnobiological Reserves ï Reserve and Protected Forests ï Preservation plots ï Biosphere Reserves
- 68. Factors that ThreatenBiodiversity The current high rate of extinction is due to the activities of a single speciesâHomo sapiens. Humans are changing conditions on Earth faster than new traits can evolve to cope with the new conditions. Evolving species might not have the natural resources they need. Natural resources are all materials and organisms found in the biosphere, including minerals, fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, plants, animals, soil, clean water, clean air, and solar energy.
- 69. Overexploitation Overexploitation, or excessive use,of species that have economic value is a factor increasing the current rate of extinction. Historically, overexploitation was the primary cause of species extinction. ïź Bison ïź Passenger Pigeons ïź Ocelot ïź Rhinoceros
- 70. Habitat Loss If ahabitat is destroyed or disrupted, the native species might have to relocate or they will die. Destruction of habitat - such as the clearing of tropical rainforests, has a direct impact on global biodiversity. Disruption of habitat - the declining population of one species can affect an entire ecosystem.
- 71. Fragmentation of Habitat Theseparation of an ecosystem into small pieces of land is called habitat fragmentation. ïź The smaller the parcel of land, the fewer species it can support. ïź Fragmentation reduces the opportunities for individuals in one area to reproduce with individuals from another area. (Genetic diversity decreases over time) ïź Carving the large ecosystem into small parcels increases the number of edgesâcreating edge effects.
- 72. Edge Effects Edge effectsare different environmental conditions (abiotic factors) that occur along the boundaries of an ecosystem. Edge effects often make species more vulnerable to predators and parasites. Edge effects do not always create a disadvantage for all species. Some species find these conditions favorable and they thrive.
- 73. Pollution - BiologicalMagnification Pollution and atmospheric changes threaten biodiversity and global stability. Biological magnification is the increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms as trophic levels increase in a food chain or food web. Pesticides - DDT
- 74. Pollution â AcidRain Sulfur and nitrogen compounds react with water and other substances in the air to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid precipitation removes calcium, potassium, and other nutrients from the soil, depriving plants of these nutrients. It damages plant tissue and slows their growth. Sometimes, the acid concentration is so high in lakes, rivers, and streams that fish and other organisms die.
- 75. Pollution - Eutrophication Eutrophicationoccurs when fertilizers, animal wastes, sewage, or other substances rich in nitrogen and phosphorus flow into waterways, causing extensive algae growth. The algae use up the oxygen supply during their rapid growth and after their deaths during the decaying process. Other organisms in the water suffocate. Eutrophication is a natural process, but human activities have accelerated the rate at which it occurs.
- 76. Introduced Species Nonnative speciesthat are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new habitat are known as introduced species. Introduced species often reproduce in large numbers because of a lack of predators, and become invasive species in their new habitat. Introduced species are a worldwide environmental problem. An estimated 40% of the extinctions that have occurred since 1750 are due to introduced species, and billions of dollars are spent every year in an effort to clean up or control the damage caused by introduced species.
- 77. 5.3 Conserving Biodiversity Mainidea: People are using many approaches to slow the rate of extinction and to preserve biodiversity Objectives: ïź Describe two classes of natural resources. ïź Identify methods used to conserve biodiversity. ïź Explain two techniques used to restore biodiversity. Review vocabulary: ïź Natural resources â materials and organisms found in the biosphere.
- 78. Natural Resources An increasein human population growth increases the need for natural resources to supply the basic needs of the population. The consumption rate of natural resources is not evenly distributed.
- 79. Natural Resources Resources thatare replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed are called renewable resources. ïź Solar energy, agricultural plants, animals, clean water, and clean air Resources that are found on Earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural processes over extremely long periods of time are called nonrenewable resources. ïź Fossil fuels, mineral deposits, and radioactive uranium
- 80. Sustainable Use Sustainable usemeans using resources at a rate in which they can be replaced or recycled while preserving the long-term environmental health of the biosphere. Conservation of resources includes reducing the amount of resources that are consumed, recycling resources that can be recycled, and preserving ecosystems, as well as using them in a responsible manner.
- 81. Protecting Biodiversity Many effortsare underway worldwide to slow the loss of biodiversity and to work toward sustainable use of natural resources. Protected areas in the United States include national parks and nature reserves. First national park â 1872 â Yellowstone National Park. Currently, about seven percent of the worldâs land is set aside as some type of reserve. The United Nations supports a system of Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage sites.
- 82. Biodiversity Hot Spots Locationsaround the world that are characterized by exceptional levels of endemic species â species that are only found in that specific geographic area â and critical levels of habitat loss. ïź At least 1500 species of vascular plants are endemic. ïź The region must have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat. Approximately Âœ of all plant and animal species are found in hot spots. ïź These hot spots originally covered 15.7 percent of Earthâs surface, however, only about a tenth of that habitat remains.
- 83. Corridors between Habitat Fragments Improvethe survival of biodiversity by providing corridors, or passageways, between habitat fragments. Advantage - creates a larger piece of land that can sustain a wider variety of species and a wider variety of genetic variation. Disadvantage â Disease can easily pass from one area to the next and the edge effect increases.
- 84. Restoring Ecosystems Given time,biological communities can recover from natural and human-made disasters. The length of time for recovery is not related directly to whether the disaster is natural or human- made. The size of the area affected and the type of disturbance are determining factors for recovery time. Ecologists use two methods to speed the recovery process of these damaged ecosystems ïź Bioremediation ïź Biological Augmentation
- 85. Bioremediation The use ofliving organisms, such as prokaryotes, fungi, or plants, to detoxify a polluted area is called bioremediation. ïź Microorganisms can be used in ecosystems to remove toxins from soils that are contaminated by accidental oil or fuel spills. ïź Some species of plants are being used to remove toxic substances such as zinc, lead, nickel, and organic chemicals. From damaged soils.
- 86. Biological Augmentation Adding naturalpredators to a degraded ecosystem is called biological augmentation. Ladybugs can be introduced into an ecosystem to control aphid populations.
- 87. Legally Protecting Biodiversity Duringthe 1970âs, a great deal of attention was focused on the destruction to the environment and maintaining biodiversity. Laws were enacted in countries around the world and many treaties between countries were signed in an effort to preserve the environment. Since the 1970âs, many more laws and treaties have been enacted and signed with the purpose of preserving biodiversity for future generations.