This document discusses biodiversity around the world, including definitions of biodiversity, why it is important, threats to biodiversity, and examples of biodiversity in different regions. It defines biodiversity as the variety of life on Earth, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. It notes that biodiversity provides important services like pollination, pest control, and nutrient recycling. The top threats to biodiversity are habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. Examples are given of the biodiversity found in India, Australia, Greenland, and America, including distinctive plants and animals in each region.

1.  Defining Biodiversity
 Importance of Biodiversity
 Threats to Biodiversity
 Consequences of its Loss
 Conserving Biodiversity
 Impact of Loss of Biodiversity
 Biodiverse Hotspots
 Diversity of life forms in
different Regions.

2.  Short for biological diversity, biodiversity includes all
organisms, species, and populations; the genetic variation among
these; and all their complex assemblages of communities and
ecosystems.
 It’s a measure of the variety of organisms present in
different ecosystems.
 This can refer to genetic,ecosystem,species variation
within an area, biome or planet.
• Ecosystem diversity is all the different habitats, biological
communities, and ecological processes, as well as variation
within individual ecosystems.

3.  Biodiversity also supplies indirect services to humans which are often taken for
granted. These include drinkable water, clean air, and fertile soils. The loss of
populations, species, or groups of species from an ecosystem can upset its normal
function and disrupt these ecological services. Recent declines in honeybee
populations may result in a loss of pollination services for fruit crops and flowers.
The Earth’s biodiversity contributes to the productivity of natural and agricultural
systems.
 Insects, bats, birds, and other animals serve as pollinators. Parasites and predators
can act as natural pest controls. Various organisms are responsible for recycling
organic materials and maintaining the productivity of soil.
 Genetic diversity is also important in terms of evolution. The loss of individuals,
populations, and species decreases the variety of genes—the material needed for
species and populations to adapt to changing conditions or for new species to
evolve.
Why is Biodiversity Important?

4. BIODIVERSITY is threatened by the sum of all human activities. The loss of biodiversity
is a significant issue for scientists and policy-makers and the topic is finding its way into
living rooms and classrooms. Species are becoming extinct at the fastest rate known in
geological history and most of these extinctions have been tied to human activity.
• Habitat loss and destruction, usually as a direct result of human activity and population
growth, is a major force in the loss of species, populations, and ecosystems.
• Alterations in ecosystem composition, such as the loss or decline of a species, can lead to a
loss of biodiversity.
• The introduction of exotic (non-native) species can disrupt entire ecosystems and impact
populations of native plants or animals. These invaders can adversely affect native species by
eating them, infecting them, competing with them, or mating with them.
• The over-exploitation (over-hunting, over-fishing, or over-collecting) of a species or
population can lead to its demise.
• Human-generated pollution and contamination can affect all levels of biodiversity.
• Global climate change can alter environmental conditions. Species and populations may be

5. Contemporary biodiversity declines will lead to subsequent declines
in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem stability.
Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. More than 99 percent of all
species, amounting to over five billion species , that ever lived on Earth are estimated to be
extinct. Estimates on the number of Earth's current species range from 10 million to 14 million,
of which about 1.2 million have been documented and over 86 percent have not yet been
described.
During the last century, decreases in biodiversity have been increasingly observed.
In 2007, German Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel cited estimates that up
to 30% of all species will be extinct by 2050. Of these, about one eighth of known
plant species are threatened with extinction. Estimates reach as high as 140,000
species per year. This figure indicates unsustainable ecological practices, because few species
emerge each year.
Almost all scientists acknowledge that the rate of species loss is greater now than at any time
in human history, with extinctions occurring at rates hundreds of times higher than
background extinction rates. As of 2012, some studies suggest that 25% of all
mammal species could be extinct in 20 years.

6. CONSERVING
BIODIVERSITY Reduce use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture as they often run off into
adjacent lakes and streams which have adverse effects on the plants and animals
living there.
 Produce organic foods. This helps reduce inputs of fertilizers and pesticides into the
environment, which in turn reduces negative impacts on nearby beneficial insects (for
pollination and pest control) and adjacent aquatic biodiversity.
 By reducing your energy demand, you reduce carbon dioxide release into the
atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.
 Use environment friendly products for cleaning. This reduces chemical contamination
of habitats both during manufacturing and when these chemicals go down the drain.
 Get involved with ecological restoration in your area. Most areas have groups active in
restoration. By volunteering, you can help restore habitat for native species and
eliminate invasive species, all while learning something about your local plants and
animals and getting active out in the fresh air.
 Ecologists are working with other biological scientists, as well as social scientists,

7. Influences the natural environment producing
negative, direct or indirect, effects that alter the
flow of energy, the chemical and physical
constitution of the environment and abundance of
the species
Increases the risk of species extinction.
Ecological imbalance
Reduced sources of food, structural materials,
medicinal and genetic resources.
Loss of the vegetable as well as animal species.
Increases the net cost to the society.

10. •There are more than 3000 officially
documented plants in India that
holds great medicinal potential. India
comprises seven percent of world's
flora.
•Animals of India include the Asian
elephant, Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion,
Indian rhinoceros and several types
of monkey. There are also antelope,
hyenas and jackals, and the
increasingly endangered Indian wolf.
India has the largest wild population
of tigers in the world.
Orange treeOrchards
Lotus Rose

11. Peacock
Indian
Rhino
Royal Bengal Tiger
Elephant
Indian Bison
Indian Hornbill
Some Animals found in
India

12.  Australia is one of the most bio-
diverse countries in the world. This
makes 92% of our vascular plants
endemic. 85% of our flowering plants
(angiosperms) are also endemic. The
Australian Native Botanic Gardens
states that Australia has 15, 638
native vascular plants.
 Australia has approximately 1489
endemic non-fish vertebrate animals.
Australia is having 793 birds, of which
32 are naturalized and 21 are
presumed extinct. Australia also has
796 species of reptiles.
Waratah
Albany pitcher
plant
Barren's Claw
flower

13. Some Major Animals found in
Australia:
Koala Bear
Kangaroo
Cassowary
Emu Tasmanian Devil

14.  During Arctic summer the mountain
landscapes are adorned with a wealth of
colors from flowers, herbs, mosses and
heather. Five types of orchid flower in
Greenland. Although Greenland
geographically belongs to North
America, the majority of plant species
originate from Europe.
 There are approximately 700 known
species of insects in Greenland, which
is low compared with other countries.
The sea is rich in fish and invertebrates
and a large part of the Greenland fauna
associated with marine production,
including large colonies of seabirds.
Bilberry Crowberry
Juniper-Berry Alpine-Bearberry
Lingonberry

15. Well-known animals of Greenland:
Bearded-Seal
Musk-Ox
Arctic-Hare
Arctic-Fox
Humpback-Whale

16.  At least 7,000 species and subspecies of
indigenous US flora have been categorized.
The eastern forests contain a mixture of
softwoods and hardwoods that includes
pine, oak, maple, spruce, beech, birch,
hemlock, walnut, gum, and hickory.
 An estimated 432 species of mammals
characterize the animal life of America.
Among the larger game animals are the
white-tailed deer, moose, pronghorn
antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goat,
black bear, and grizzly bear. The Alaskan
brown bear often reaches a weight of
1,200–1,400 lbs. Some 25 important
furbearers are common, including the
muskrat, red and gray foxes, mink, raccoon,
beaver, opossum, striped skunk,
woodchuck, common cottontail, snowshoe
Canavalia
Cullen
Parkensonia
Mitchella
Paederia

17. Fauna of
America:
Raccoon Mountain Lion
American Alligator American Bison
American Black Bear

19.  http://slideonline.com/presentation/107594-biodiversity-
powerpoint-presentation-silver-line-prestige-school