uploaded on 2014-15

3. Biodiversity
• The sum total of genes, species and ecosystems of a
given region is called biodiversity.
• The term biodiversity was coined by Edward wilson.
• Levels of biodiversity: The biodiversity is studied in
three levels.
1. Genetic biodiversity.
2. Species biodiversity.
3. Ecological biodiversity.

4. • Genetic biodiversity: Variation of genes found
with in a species is called gene diversity.
• Ex: There are more than 50,000 genetically
different strains of rice and 1000 varieties of
mango are in India.
• Species biodiversity: The variety of species found
in a habitate is called species biodiversity.
• Ex: The Western Ghat has greater diversity of
amphibian species than Eastern Ghat.
• Ecological biodiversity: The variety of different
habitate found in the particular area is called
ecosystem biodiversity.

5. • Global Biodiversity: According to IUCN (2004) the
total number of plant and animal species described
is about 1.5 million.
• It is estimated that global biodiversity has 7 million
species.
• More that 70% of all species recorded are animals.
Plants account for about 22% of the total.
• Insects are more species rich group. 70% of the
animal are insects.

6. Measurement of biodiversity.
• Biodiversity is measured in three ways,
1. α-Biodiversity: It refers to number of species
found in the particular area.
2. β- Biodiversity: It is the comparison of
biodiversity between two habitats.
3. γ- Biodiversity: It is the measure of overall
biodiversity in large land scale.

7. • Importance of Species Diversity to Ecosystem:
• Communities with more species tend to be more
stable than those with less species.
• A stable community has following characters,
• Productivity should not vary too much from year to
year.
• It should not show too much variation
• It has resistance to seasonal disturbances and to
invasion by alien species.

8. • Losses of biodiversity:
• The four major causes of biodiversity loss are,
1. Habitat loss :– Habitat loss is the destruction of ecosystem
by unwanted human activities such as urbanization,
intensive farming, deforestation, mining activities and so on.
• When the vegetation is cleared for human activities the
continuous habitats become fragmented. This is called
habitat fragmentation.
Degradation of natural habitats are threatening the species.
2. Over-exploitation :– It is the harvesting of renewable
resources to the extent.
3. Alien species :– Invasion of alien species in the natural
habitats cause decline in the native species.
4. Co-extinction :– when one organism becomes extinct , the
other associated obligatory species also tend to extinct.

9. Endemic species:
• The species that confined to particular area is
called endemic species.
– Important endemic species of India are,
–

11. It is reported from Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu.
It was originally misidentified as a short-nosed fruit bat but
later identified by Kitti Thonglongya Bangkok as a new species
and was named after Indian ornithologist Salim Ali in 1972.

13. • The Nilgiri Langur
found in the Nilgiri Hills
of the Western Ghats
in South India.
• Its range is Kodagu in
Karnataka, Kodayar
Hills in Tamil Nadu and
many other hilly areas
in Kerala.

14. The species is reported from
the Nilgiris, parts of southern
Kodagu and northern Kerala,
up to the Charmadi ghats.

15. The brown palm
civet's distribution
extends from the
southern tip of
Western Ghats in
Kalakkad Tiger
Reserve ( Tamilnadu -
kanyakumari ) to
Castle Rock in Goa .
They are nocturnal
carnivore.

16. Madras
Shrew
distributed
in Western
Ghats

17. • Biological hotspots: Biological hotspots are
natural environment with high biodiversity
and endemic species.
• Among 34 hotspots of world, the two
biodiversity hotspots of India are western
Ghats and Eastern Himalayas.

18. Threatened species: The species whose population
number is decreasing and likely to decrease more in
future is called threatened species.
• IUCN: International union for conservation of
nature and natural resource.
• Red Data Book: The book maintained by IUCN in
which threatened species are recorded is called red
data book.
• MAB: Man and Biodiversity Programme
• WWF: The World Wildlife Fund for nature
• IBWL: Indian Board for Wildlife
• IBP: International Biological Programme
• UNDP: United Nation Development Programme.

19. • Major categories of threatened species:
• Extinct species: The species that completely
disappeared from earth are called extinct
species.
• Endangered species: The species whose
population is drastically reduced and are in
danger of extinction are called endangered
species. Ex: Asiatic lion, One horned
rhinoceros. Lion tailed macaque. Nilgiri tahr.

20. • Vulnerable species: The species that likely
enters the endangered category are called
vulnerable species.
• Ex: wild goat. Wild yak. Barasinga. Wild
ass, etc.
• Rare species: the species with small
population which are neither endangered nor
vulnerable are called rare species.

21. • Approaches to Biodiversity conservation
• Conservation of biodiversity is done by two
methods:
• In-situ conservation: It is the conservation of
wildlife within their natural habitat.
• Ex: National parks, sanctuaries and biosphere
reserves.
• Ex-situ conservation: It is the conservation of
wildlife outside their natural habitat.
• Ex: Zoo, Botanical garden, Seed bank etc.

22. • Ethical believes play imp role in conservation of
biodiversity.
• Sacred species: The traditionally conserved species
of plant and animals on religious believes are
called sacred species.
• Ex: cow, snake, monkey, elephant, tulasi, neem,
banyan tree, etc.
• Sacred groves: Traditionally conserved patches of
forest that dedicated to local deity are called
sacred groves.
• Ex: Devara kadu. Nagarabana, Boothasthana,
Devabana etc.

23. • Sacred landscape: It is the traditionally
conserved land areas with its natural features.
In these areas human activities and hunting is
banned. It includes forest, grass land, rivers,
ponds etc.
• Ex: kodachdri hills at kollur. Biligiri ranganatha
hills. Etc.
• Biodiversity depletion: The reduction or loss
of plants and animals of biodiversity is called
biodiversity depletion. It causes due to natural
disasters and human activity.

24. • Anthropocentric causes of biodiversity
depletion:
• The cause of biodiversity depletion due to human
activity is called Anthropocentric causes. These
are ,
1. Urbanization.
2. Expansion of agriculture.
3. Deforestation.
4. Pollution.
5. Acidification of soil and water.
6. Soil erosion.
7. Mining activity.
8. Desertification.

25. • Deforestation: The
destruction of forest for
agriculture, industrial or
domestic use is called
Deforestation.
• It leads to loss of habitat,
soil erosion, Desertification,
global worming, and
biodiversity depletion.

26. • Acidification of soil and
water: The decrease in
pH value of soil and
water is called
Acidification of soil and
water.
• It causes due to acid
rain usage of high
chemical fertilizer.
Mining activity,
industrialization, etc.

27. • Most of the soil microbes,
insect, plants aquatic
animals are sensitive to
acidic condition. Hence
acidification leads to
biodiversity depletion

28. • Mining activity: It is the
extraction of non
renewable geological
materials from earth. It
results in,
1. Exploitation of non
renewable resource.
2. It brings deforestation.
3. It causes air, water soil and
noise pollution.
4. It causes soil erosion.
5. It result in biodiversity
depletion.

29. • The smoke combines
with fog and forms
smog.
• It destroys the plant
vegetation.
• In human beings
smog causes
respiratory disorders
and asthma.

30. Biosphere reserves:
• The large undisturbed area where the wild life is protected in their
natural habitat is called biosphere reserves.
• The biosphere reservoir is divided into 3 zones:
• 1. Core zone: Inner most area of biosphere reservoir where
human activity is prevented.
• 2. Buffer zone: It is out side the core zone where human activity
is permitted.
– In buffer zone I, publics are not allowed, only research activities
to wild life is allowed.
– In buffer zone II public can enter for the purpose of observing
wild life. The traditional activity like collection of fruit, seeds
honey are allowed.
• 3. Transition zone: Agricultural activities are noticed in this area.
Soil erosion, deforestation and over grazing are common in this
area.

31. National park
• National parks are protected
areas which is strictly
reserved for conservation of
wild life. The human activity,
grazing, cultivation are
strictly banned in this area.
Imp national parks of India.
• Bandipur national park in
Karnataka. Protected
animals are elephants and
tigers.

32. • Kaziranga national park at Assam. Protected
animals are one horned rhinoceros.

33. • Sundarbans national park at West Bengal.
Protected animals are Bengal tigers. Ridley sea
turtle

34. • Kanha national park at madya Pradesh.
Protected animals are Swamp deer.

35. • Gir national park at Gujarat. Protected animals
are Asiatic lion.

36. • Manasa national park at Himalaya foothills.
Protected animals are tigers, rhinoceros,
elephants.

37. • Ranathambore national park at Rajasthan.
Protected animals are tigers, leopards, Wild
Boars.

38. • Dachigam national park at Jammu- Kashmir.
Protected animals are Hangul (Kashmir stag)

39. Sanctuaries :
• These are the smallest area than the national parks.
In this area human activity is allowed to collect fruits,
seeds, honey, animal grazing etc.
• Wildlife sanctuaries of India.
• Ranganthittu bird sanctuary in Karnataka. Assembled
species of birds are protected.
• Badra wildlife sanctuary in Kanata. The protected
animals are Tigers.
• Periyar wildlife sanctuary at Kerala. The protected
animals are elephants.
• Annamalai wildlife sanctuary at Tamil nadu. The
protected animals are Tigers.

40. Zoological garden:
• The zoo are the place where different
endangered animals are protected.
1. Chamarajendra zoological park at Mysore.
2. Bannergatta zoological park at Bangalore.
3. Pilikula zoological park at Mangalore.
4. Lion safari in talaguppa shimoga
• IBWL: Indian board of wild life.
• WWFI: world wild life India.

41. Global issue:
• Biodiversity depletion and ecological
imbalance is discussed in international level is
called global issue concerned to environment.
• The major global issue are
• Global warming.
• Acid rain formation.
• Ozone depletion.
• Nuclear winter.

42. • Global warming: the
progressive increase in temp of
earth due to increase in green
house gases is called global
warming.
• The green house gases like
CO2,oxides of nitrogen, oxides
of sulphur, methane and water
vapors traps the infra red rays
that reflects back. This
increases the atmospheric
temp.

43. The solar spectrum of electromagnetic waves include
energy packed heat generating waves called radiation
waves. As they lie beyond red color waves of visible
spectrum, they are also called 'infra-red rays'. These
infrared rays lie in the wave length range of 700-900 mm.

45. Effect of global warming.
• The sea level rises due to
melting of ice caps at polar
region.
• It reduces agricultural
yields.
• Alters the rainfall patterns
due to variations in the
convectional current,
caused by difference in
heating pattern of earth's
air.
• Change or shifts in seasons
and seasonal characters
through out the globe.

46. • Control measures.
• Adopting afforestation and reforestation
programs.
• Reducing in use of fossil fuel.
• Using renewable energy resource like solar
energy, wind energy, tidal energy etc.

47. Ozone layer depletion.
• Ozone is the alternative form
of oxygen molecule. It is O3.
The ozone layer is present in
the stratosphere is about 25
km above the earth surface.
• It is a protective layer
protects life on earth by
preventing UV rays, alpha,
beta, and gama rays present
in solar rays.

48. • The thickness of the ozone is measured by an
instrument Ozone mapping spectrometer.
• The reduction in thickness of ozone layer leads
to ozone depletion and ozone hole.
• Through these holes harmful radiations
reaches the earth. It destroys the life and
biodiversity.
• 16th sep is celebrated as world ozone day to
create awareness about ozone layer depletion

49. • The ozone layer is depleting due to chloro fluro
carbon. Halogenated hydrocarbons, carbon
tetra chloride etc.
Effect of ozone layer depletion.
• It increases the influx of UV radiation to earth
surface.
• The UV rays are harmful to plants and animals.
• The harmful rays causes skin cancer, skin burn
etc.
• These rays causes mutation by damaging DNA.
• It effects crop yield.
• It destroys the ovum and larva of amphibians

50. Nuclear winter.
• It is the hypothetical climatic condition of earth that could
be outcome of nuclear war.
• The nuclear war if occurs in future causes nuclear winter.
The effects of nuclear winter are,
• The nuclear explosion set fire storms over cities and
forests.
• It generates enormous smoke and dust in atmosphere.
• It develops black clouds and prevents the sunlight to reach
earth surface.
• This results in fall of surface temp to freezing point.
• The semidarkness and freezing temp effects
photosynthesis and destroys vegetation.
• The radioactive pollutants causes mutations and cancers in
human beings and other animals.