Biodaversity

Surmount International School-NeetuYadav(ClassXII-A)
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this project work is submitted by
Talat Pravan, XII(BIO),
Central Academy Sr. Sec. School.
This Project was carried out by her under the supervision
of
Mrs.Siprya Verma
During the
Academic year of 2017-18.
PRINCIPAL TEACHER
Mrs. Siprya Verma Mrs. Talat Parveen

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to express my thanks of gratitude to my
teacher Mrs.Talat Praveen as well as my principal
Mrs. Siprya Verma who gave me the golden opportunity
to do this wonderful project on the topic “Biodiversity”
which help me in doing a lot of research.
I am really thankful to them.
Secondly I would also like to thank my Parents and
friends who helped me a lot in finishing this project
within the limited time.
I am making this project not only for marks, but also to
increase my knowledge.
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO HELPED ME.

CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Value of Biodiversity
3. Typesof Biodiversity
4. Factors Affecting Biodiversity
5. Conservationof Biodiversity
6. Bibliography
Introduction

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life. This can refer to genetic
variation, species variation, or ecosystem variation within an area,
biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be highest near the
equator, which seems to be the result of the warm climate and high
primary productivity.
Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of all types of microbes,
plants and animals on the earth. It includes not only the many species
that exist, but also the diversity of population that makes up a species,
the genetic diversity among individual’s life form and the many different
habitats and ecosystems around the globe.
The existence and welfare of the human race depends on health and
well-being of other life forms in the biospheres. Marine biodiversity
tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea
surface temperature is highest and in mid-latitudinal band in all oceans.
The term biological diversity was used first by wildlife scientist and
conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann in 1968 in this book A Different
Kind of Country advocating conservation. Biologists most often define
biodiversity as the “totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a
region”.
An advantage of this definition is that it seems to describe most
circumstances and presents a unified view of the traditional three
levels at which biological variety has been identified:
i. Species diversity
ii. Ecosystem diversity and
iii. Genetic diversity.

iv. Agricultural biodiversity
Biological diversity, simply stated, is the diversity of life. As defined in
the proposed US Congressional Biodiversity Act, HR1268
(1990), “biological diversity means the full range of variety and
variability within and among living organisms and the ecological
complexes in which they occur, and encompasses ecosystem or
community diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.” India
is one of thel2 mega biodiversity countries in the world.
Value of Biodiversity

The value of biodiversity is difficult to define and is often impossible to
estimate. However, biodiversity provides a variety of environmental
services from its species and ecosystems that are essential at the global,
regional and local levels.
Food, clothing, housing, energy, medicines are the various resources that
are directly or indirectly linked to the biological variety present in the
biosphere. Thus, it is obvious that the preservation of biological
resources is essential for the well-being and the long-term survival of
mankind.
These values of biodiversity are:
i. Consumptive Values:
These include utilisation of timber, food, fuel wood and fodder by local
communities. For example, fisher-folks are completely dependent on
fishes and know where and how to catch them and other edible aquatic
animals and plants.
ii. Productive Value:
The genetic properties of microbes, plants and animals are used
biotechnologically to develop better varieties of crops for use in farming
and plantation programs or to develop better livestock.
Many new species of plants and animals are being constantly discovered
in the wild which may be useful for the betterment of human life. Their
loss, however, is a great economic loss for mankind.
iii. Social Value:
The social values are linked to consumptive and productive value of
biodiversity. ‘Ecosystem people’ or traditional societies value
biodiversity as a part of their livelihood, as well as through cultural and

religious sentiments. Cultivation of rice and many other cereals are
linked to certain social culture and customs.
A great number of crops have been cultivated in traditional agricultural
systems and this permitted a wide range of produce to be grown and
marketed throughout the year, which helps to overcome the failure of
one crop.
iv. Ethical and Moral Values:
There are several cultural, moral and ethical values which are associated
with the sanctity of all forms of life. Nature in Indian civilisation has
been preserved for hundreds of generations through local traditions and
customs. Tribal people in several states of our country have a number of
sacred groves or ‘deorais’ around ancient sacred sites and temples. This
acts as gene banks for several wild plants.
v. Aesthetic Value:
Biodiversity with its inherent beauty and value creates in us aesthetic,
imaginative and creative knowledge. It is wonderful to watch a spider
weave its complex web, to watch the majestic gaite of a lion, to sit in a
forest and listen to the noises of birds, to watch a fish feeding and many
other such fascinating things.
vi. Optional Values:
There is every possibility that many species including traditional
varieties of crops and domestic animals may come of use in the future.
To keep such future possibilities open our preservation of biodiversity
must also include traditionally used strains already in existence in crops
and domestic animals.

Types of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is generally analysed at three different levels, each of which
has its own significance.
i. Genetic Diversity:
Within each member of any animal or plant species there are often found
a number of varieties or races or strains which slightly differ from each
other in one, two or a number of characteristics such as shape, size,
resistance to insects, pests and diseases, ability to withstand adverse
conditions of environment, etc.
These differences result as individual differ widely from others of its
own species in its genetic make-up, owing to the large number of
combinations possible in the genes that give every individual its specific
characteristics. This diversity in the genetic make-up of a species is
referred to as genetic diversity.
For a healthy breeding population, genetic diversity is essential. If the
number of breeding individuals is reduced then dissimilarity of genetic

make-up is reduced and in-breeding results. It leads to genetic anomalies
which eventually lead to the extinction of a particular species.
The diversified ‘gene pool’ of wild species is from where own crops and
domestic animals have been developed over thousands of years. Wild
varieties today are being further exploited to create new varieties of
more productive, disease-resistant crops and to breed superior domestic
animals. Modern biotechnology are being utilised to manipulate genes to
develop better types of medicines and a variety of industrial products.
Thus, genetic diversity has considerable economic value whether bred
into advanced agro-system or inherent in traditional ones. Traditional
technologies are more stable and sustainable but are also considerably
less productive. While modern technologies such as Green Revolution
technologies form high- yielding varieties but are genetically narrow and
vulnerable.
Genetic diversity, thus, will remain extremely important in the future
because of the increasing genetic uniformity and due to the vulnerability
of improved varieties. New biotechnological techniques can be expected
to increase the use of wild germplasm in breeding programmes.
The threat presented by global climatic changes requires the retainment
of maximum biodiversity and also the access to important genetic
resources in the transitional zone be protected.
ii. Species Diversity:

In any ecosystem the biotic component is composed of a few species
only or a large number of microbe, plant and animals species. These
species react and interact with each other and with the abiotic factors of
the environment.
(I) Patterns of species diversity:
Geologists have observed a number of different patterns of species
diversity, which are:
a. Diversity in Geological Time:
Since the emergence of life, some 3.2 billion years ago, the number of
species on earth has varied over the ages. Fossil records provide a
glimpse of changes in diversity through geological time. There appears
to have been at least three periods of lineage proliferation. The initial
diversification of complex life forms began in the Cambrian period and
by the end of it there was a period of pervasive extinction.
b. Latitudinal diversity of species:
It is a recognised fact that the tropics hold a great store of un-described
species. Among plants, animals and probably also microbes, the number
of species increases markedly towards the equator, with a few
exceptions. Species, genus and family diversity in marine environment
also follow a similar trend. Species of terrestrial trees, birds and mam-
mals, show greater species richness toward the tropics.
c. Habitat and physical conditions:
Within a given latitudinal belt, the number of species may vary widely
among habitats according to their productivity, degree of structural
heterogeneity and suitability of physical conditions.
iii. Ecosystem Diversity:

Biodiversity viewed at the ecosystem level, that includes the great
variety of habitat types and biomes, are generally referred to as
ecosystem diversity. There are different types of ecosystems on earth,
each having its own array of distinctive interlinked species based on the
differences in the habitat.
Description of ecosystem diversity can be done for a specific geographic
region, or a country, a state or for a district. Distinctive ecosystems
include landscapes like forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains etc. or of
aquatic ecosystems like rivers, lakes, sea etc.
Ecosystems may be natural or modified. Modified type of ecosystems is
formed due to human interference and when it is changed to other types
of uses, such as farm- land or urban areas. Ecosystem are said to be
natural when it is relatively undisturbed by human activities.
Ecosystems are most natural in wilderness areas. When natural
ecosystems are misused or overused their productivity eventually
decreases and becomes barren. Such ecosystems are then said to be
degraded.
The above three levels of biodiversity describe .a hierarchy from the
individual and population levels of genetic diversity, through community
levels of species diversity and diversity of higher taxa to the ecosystem
level.
Factors Affecting Biodiversity

i. Site Selection:
Medicinal plant materials derived from the same species can show
significant differences in quality when cultivated at different sites,
owing to the influence of soil, climate and other factors.
These differences may relate to physical appearance or to variations in
their constituents, the biosynthesis of which may be affected by extrinsic
environmental conditions, including ecological and geographical
variables, and should be taken into consideration.
Risks of contamination as a result of pollution of the soil, air or water by
hazardous chemicals should be avoided. The impact of past land uses on
the cultivation site, including the planting of previous crops and any
applications of plant protection products, should be evaluated.
ii. Ecological Environment and Social Impact:
The cultivation of medicinal plants may-affect the ecological balance
and, in particular, the genetic diversity of the flora and fauna in
surrounding habitats. The quality and growth of medicinal plants can
also be affected by other plants, other living organisms and by human
activities.
The introduction of non-indigenous medicinal plant species into
cultivation may have a detrimental impact on the biological and
ecological balance of the region. The ecological impact of cultivation
activities should be monitored over time, where practical.
The social impact of cultivation on local communities should be
examined to ensure that negative impacts on local livelihood are
avoided. In terms of local income-earning opportunities, small- scale
cultivation is often preferable to large-scale production, in particular if
small-scale farmers are organized to market their products jointly.

If large scale medicinal plant cultivation is or has been established, care
should be taken that local communities benefit directly from, for
example, fair wages, equal employment opportunities and capital
reinvestment.
iii. Climate:
Climatic conditions, for example, length of day, rainfall (water supply)
and field temperature, significantly influence the physical, chemical and
biological qualities of medicinal plants.
The duration of sunlight, average rainfall, average temperature,
including daytime and night-time temperature differences, also influence
the physiological and biochemical activities of plants, and prior
knowledge should be considered. WHO guidelines on good agricultural
and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants.
iv. Soil:
The soil should contain appropriate amounts of nutrients, organic matter
and other elements to ensure optimal medicinal plant growth and quality.
Optimal soil conditions, including soil type, drainage, moisture
retention, fertility and pH, will be dictated by the selected medicinal
plant species and/or target medicinal plant part (Aslam, 2006).
The use of fertilizers is often indispensable in order to obtain large
yields of medicinal plants. It is, however, necessary to ensure that
correct types and quantities of fertilizers are used through agricultural
research. In practice, organic and chemical fertilizers are used.
Conservation of Biodiversity

Being one of the so-called mega diversity countries, India has a broad
range of ecosystems that contain a vast array of flora and fauna. The loss
of biodiversity is occurring worldwide and in India, too, this trend pre-
sents a clear threat.
Its forest biodiversity faces increasing pressure from tree felling for fuel
and timber, cattle grazing, gathering of non-timber forest products,
poaching, uncontrolled fires, and conversion of land to agriculture etc.
Conservation steps have been taken in the following ways:
i. In-Situ Conservation:
Biodiversity at all levels can be best preserved by setting aside an
adequate representation of wilderness as protected areas through in-situ
conservation. Setting up a network of National Parks, Wildlife
Sanctuaries etc., each with distinctive ecosystems, would preserve the
total diversity of life of a region.
The conservation of genetic resources through their maintenance within
natural or even human-made ecosystems in which they occur is termed
as in-situ conservation. It includes a system of protected areas of
different categories, managed with different objectives to bring benefit
to the society.
The in-situ conservation includes an extensive system of protected areas
such as National Parks, Sanctuaries, Nature Reservoir, Natural
Monuments, Cultural Landscapes, and Biosphere Reserves etc. The
objective of these areas is the preservation of relatively intact natural
ecosystems, where biological diversity from microbes, microscopic
plants and animals to the giant trees and large mammals are all equally
protected.
ii. Ex-Situ Conservation:

Endangered species can be conserved outside its natural habitat through
ex-situ conservation by carefully controlled situation such as a botanical
garden for plants and zoological parks for animals.
When conservation is done outside the natural habitat of organisms, it is
called ex-situ conservation. Here, sample populations are conserved in
genetic resource centres, zoological parks, botanical gardens, culture
collections etc. or are conserved in the form of gene pools and gamete
storage for fishes, germplasm banks for seeds, pollen, semen, ova, cells
etc.
Plants are readily maintained than animals. These breeding programmes
for rare plants and animals are, however, very expensive and requires
expertise to make these species multiply under artificially managed
conditions.
iii. Conserving Biodiversity through Eco-Development:
India’s Forest Research Education and Extension Project (FREEP) have
enlisted local communities to preserve its precious biodiversity through
a strategy known as eco-development.
Eco-development involves developing alternative resources and sources
of income for the many thousands of poor people who depend on pro-
tected natural habitats for their livelihood. This has initiated groups of
villagers to take responsibility for conserving natural resources in nearby
forests.
India has traditionally relied on policing to safeguard its protected areas.
They have used walls, gates, guards and guns to protect parks,
sanctuaries etc., which have proved ineffective in preventing
exploitation of these areas by local communities.

BIBLOGRAPHY
The following books were used in the completion of this
project:
 Biology lab manual class 12.
 NCERT Textbook class 12.
Also, the following websites were consulted for relevant
material:
www.wikipedia.org
www.google.com
www.icbse.in
www.yahoo.com
www.passmyexam.in

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