1. โข Biodiversity and its conservation: - Introduction, definition, genetic, species & ecosystem (types).
โข Value of biodiversity: Consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option
values
โข Biodiversity at global, National and local levels, India as a Mega-diversity nation Hot-spots of
biodiversity.
โข Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts.
โข Endangered and endemic species of India.
โข Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.
Dr. Rinku Verma
Forestry & Environmental Science
UAS, GKVK, Bangalore
Biodiversity
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5. What is amazing about our planet Earth is the huge diversity that it houses!
Look around and you can find diverse forms of organisms, each one different
than the others. This is just a minuscule way to look at it. Imagine the earth as
a whole! Isnโt that fascinating? Let us look at this diverse biological aspect of
our planet and learn more about conservation of biodiversity.
6. What is Biodiversity?
Going by the raw definition, biodiversity is the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a
given region. Edward Wilson coined this term for the first time. Conservation of biodiversity can be
studied in different segments. They are:
โขGenetic diversity
โขSpecies diversity
โขEcological/Ecosystem diversity
โขGlobal Biodiversity
Let us look at these forms of diversity in brief.
7. Genetic Diversity
Organisms of a single species that have greater genetic diversity tend to have more sustenance against
environmental disturbances. Genetically uniform species are usually prone to disease harsh environments.
Species Diversity
The diversity of species is further classified into:
โขSpecies richness: It refers to the number of species per unit area.
โขSpecies Evenness: It refers to the relative abundance with which each species is represented in an area.
Ecological/ Economic Diversity
Ecological Diversity is very related to the species diversity. In our country, you can find more ecosystem diversity
compared to other countries. We have several biomes like alpine meadows, rainforests, deserts, wetlands,
and mangroves etc.
It is amazing to know that the total number of plant and animal species on this planet is about 1.5 million. This
data is according to the IUCN (2004). More than 70% of the species recorded are animals and plants account for
about 22%; 70% of the animals are insects. However, one drawback of these estimates is that they do reveal any
data for prokaryotes. This is because:
โขThe conventional taxonomic methods are insufficient to find these microbial species
โขYou cannot culture many of these species under laboratory conditions.
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12. Global biodiversity is the measure of biodiversity on planet Earth and is defined as the
total variability of life forms.
More than 99 percent of all species that ever lived on Earth are estimated to be
extinct. Estimates on the number of Earth's current species range from 2 million to 10ยนยฒ,
of which about 1.74 million have been databased thus far and over 80 percent have not
yet been described. More recently, in May 2016, scientists reported that 1 trillion species
are estimated to be on Earth currently with only one-thousandth of one percent
described. The total amount of DNA base pairs on Earth, as a possible approximation
of global biodiversity, is estimated at 5.0 x 10ยณโท, and weighs 50 billion tonnes. In
comparison, the total mass of the biosphere has been estimated to be as much as 4 TtC
(trillion tons of carbon).
13.
14. โข Biodiversity in India
India is one of the twelve mega biodiversity countries of the world. It
has only 2.4 % of the land area in the world. However, it has 8.1 % of
the global species diversity. As an estimate, there are around 45,000
species of plants and about 90,000-1,00,000 species of animals. There
are still quite a number of species that are yet to be discovered.
15. Various Patterns of Biodiversity
Biodiversity varies with latitude and altitude of the place. If the
environmental conditions are favorable for the speciation, you will find more
diversity in such areas.
Latitudinal Gradients
Biodiversity depends upon the latitudinal gradients of a place. They
are decreased from the equator towards the poles. For example, Colombia
(near the equator) has 1400 species of birds whereas New York(41ยฐ N) has
105 species. Why is species diversity important to the ecosystem?
According to ecologists, communities with more species tend to be
more stable than those with fewer species.
16. Diversion slide: Washington: As people across the globe stay home to stop the spread of the new
coronavirus, the air has cleaned up, albeit temporarily. Smog stopped choking New Delhi, one of the most
polluted cities in the world, and Indiaโs getting views of sights not visible in decades.
Nitrogen dioxide pollution in the north eastern United States is down 30 per cent.
Air pollution levels from mid-March to mid-April were down 49 per cent from a year ago. Stars seem more
visible at night. People are also noticing animals in places and at times they donโt usually
Coyotes have meandered along downtown Chicagoโs Michigan Avenue and near San Franciscoโs Golden
Gate Bridge. A puma roamed the streets of Santiago, Chile. Goats took over a town in Wales. In India,
already daring wildlife has become bolder with hungry monkeys entering homes and opening refrigerators
to look for food. When people stay home, Earth becomes cleaner and wilder. Conservation scientist
Stuart Pimm of Duke University says,
Coyotes
Puma
18. India as a Mega-diversity nation Hot-spots of
biodiversity.
โข Rich biodiversity of India
Out of 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world India has 4 hotspots, India
In India there are approximate
350 mammals- 7.6% of world species
1224 birds- 2.6% of world species
197 amphibians- 4.4% of world species
408 reptiles- 6.2% of world species
2546 fishes- 11.7% of world species
15000 flowering plants- 6% of world species
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27. Biodiversity hotspots of India
1. The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
2. The Eastern Himalayas
3. Indo Burma Region
4. Sundaland
28. Western Ghats and Sri lanka
โข Hills along western edge of peninsular India, near ocean, receive good amount of
rainfall.
โข Decidious & rainforest
โข 77% amphibians 62% reptiles found, not spotted elsewhere
โข Connected to India via land bridge 140km
โข 6000 > vascular plants here belong to above 2500 genus
โข 3000 plants are endemic
โข Black pepper /cardamom originated in Western Ghats
โข Most spp present in Agasthyamalai hills in the extreme south
โข 450 spp birds, 140 mammals, 260 reptiles, 175 amphibians (toward extinction)
Vegetation reduce to 43,000 km2 from 1,90,000km2
โข Only 1.5% of the original forest is still prevalent in Srilanka
30. The Eastern Himalayas
โข Bhutan, North East India, Southern, Central & Eastern Nepal.
โข Himalayan Mountains are the highest in the world
โข Major rivers originate from Himalayas
โข Himalayas comprise more than 100 mountains beyond 7200 meters
โข 163 endangered species found in this region
โข One horned rhinoceros
โข Asian water buffalo 45 mammals, 50 birds, 12 amphibians, 17 reptiles, 3
invertebrate & 36 plant species
โข Endangered Relic Dragonfly found in Japan
โข Himalayan Newt
โข Flora 10,000 species in Himalayan belt & 1/3rd are ENDEMIC CANNOT BE located
else where in the world
โข Threatened ones Cheer pheasant, Western Tragopan, Himalayan quail,
Himalayan vulture, white bellied heros etc.,
โข Asiatic wild dog, sloth bears, snow leopards, black bear, blue sheep etc.
Namadapha flying squirrel in the verge of extinction needs immediate attention
36. Under IUCN RED LIST INDIA
Namdapha flying squirrel ( Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying
squirrel endemic to northeastern India,
Eastern Himalayan spp
37. Indo Burma Region
This region consists of numerous
countries
North Eastern India/South of
Brahmaputra river
Myanmar, China Yunnan Province
Vietnam
Cambodia
Thailand
38. Indo Burma Region
โข The region is quite rich in its biodiversity, it has worsened over the
past few decades
โข 6 mammals discovered in this region, antlered muntjac, Annamite
muntjac, Gray shanked douc, leaf deer, saola striped rabbit
โข Monkeys langurs and gibbons
โข Fresh water turtles
โข 1300 species of birds โwhite eared night heron, Gray crowned
corocias orange necked patridge endangered
โข 13500 plants endemic and cannot be found in any other place in the
world
41. Sundaland
โข South east Asia includes Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia Brunei and
Malaysia
โข Nicobar Island
โข Worlds biosphere reserve in 2013 by United Nations: rich terrestrial
and marine ecosystem including mangroves, seagrass, beds coral reef
โข Dolphins, whales, turtles, crocodiles, fishes, prawns, lobsters sea
shells comprise marine biodiversity.
42. Major reasons for loss of biodiversity in
hotspots
โข Destructions of habitats
โข Pollution and environmental degradation
โข Poaching
โข Climate change
43. Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-
wildlife conflicts. Endangered and endemic species of India.
Loss of Biodiversity
Today the earth is facing a loss of biodiversity at rapid rates. It is mainly caused by industrialization, population,
and urbanization. Today, 31% gymnosperms,32%amphibians,12% bird species and 23% of mammals face the
threat of loss of biodiversity.
Adverse Impacts of Loss of Biodiversity
โขA decrease in plant production.
โขLess resistance to environmental disturbances such as droughts.
โขIncreases variability in ecosystem processes like plant productivity, water use, pest
45. โข Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Destruction of the natural habitat
is one of the main reasons for the extinction of species.
โข High population growth and resource consumption and resources
have shrunk. 98% tropical dry forest along- Central American pacific
coast has disappeared. Thailand has lost 22% of its mangroves b/w
1965 & 1985
โข Over-Exploitation: When a biological system is overexploited by
man for the natural resources, it results in degradation and extinction
of the resources.
โข Plants animals and numerous forest, fisheries and wild life resources
have been over exploited, sometimes to point of extinction.
โข Including as a result of mechanical fishing & commodities such as
46. โข Co-extinction: When a species becomes extinct, the plant and
animal species associated with it in an obligatory manner, also
become extinct.
โข Recent Extinctions: Quagga, Africa, The Dodo Bird, Mauritius,
Thylacine, Australia, Stellerโs sea cow, Dugong resembling the
Stellerโs sea cow.
49. โข Pollution of water, soil and atmosphere
Affects ecosystem functioning & reduces or eliminates sensitive species. Water pollution
affects biodiversity.
Industrial effluents are destroying coral reefs and marine life. The oil pollution is affecting
marine flora and fauna reducing light penetration and interfering with photosynthetic
activity.
Affects animals thus killing aquatic organisms.
Thermal pollution has resulted in fish killing and affecting marine forms.
โข Global climate change
Massive side effects of air pollution is global warming which play havoc with worlds living
organisms. The green house gases in the atmp are increasing temp from 1 to 3 degree C
during the next century which would rise in sea level of 1-2mts each degree rise in temp
Rise in temp will displace the limits of tolerance of land species some 125 km towards the
poles or 150 m vertically on the mountains
โข Modern agriculture & Forestry practices
Modern plant breeding programs- and the resulting productivity gains achieved by
planting comparatively new varieties of crops that respond better to water, fertilizers &
pesticides. Single species plantation have been encouraged in different places for
commercial purpose replacing several species (Eg: Teak plantation, South India).
51. Poaching of Wild Animals
Many species of vulnerable, endangered, and threatened animals
continue to be poached to be turned into medicinal products.
Wildlife poaching is the unlawful hunting or capturing of live animals. Hunting animals is
regulated by governments with the input of local wildlife officials who are knowledgeable with the
number of animals within its jurisdiction and the number required to maintain a sustainable
ecosystem.
Today, the species inhabiting our planet are so critically threatened that it has generated the
question of whether the earth is going through its sixth mass extinction. A variety of factors like
habitat destruction, persecution, poaching, climate change, and the introduction of non-
native species, are triggering the loss of species. Poaching for traditional medicines is also a
major cause of decimation of wild populations of a large number of threatened species.
52. Animals Poached are
1. Feral Water Buffaloes
2. Rhinoceroses
3. Sun Bears
4. Musk Deer
5. Hawks-Bill Sea Turtles
6. Grevy's Zebras
7. Chinese Alligators
8. Banteng Feral Cattle
9. Asian Tigers
10. Asian Elephants
11. Feral Water Buffaloes
53. Feral Water Buffaloes
Though domestic water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are widespread in the
world today, wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee), the ancestors of the
domestic ones, are listed as endangered by the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Domestic water buffaloes are reared for
their meat, hide, horn, milk, and physical strength (such as to be used in
fields for plowing). Though protected by law, wild water buffaloes are also
poached for their body parts. In Southeast Asia, especially in China, the
horns of these animals are used for preparing traditional Chinese medicines
and are regarded as alternatives to rhino horns. This has led to the
extermination of large populations of wild buffaloes in South Asia and
Southeast Asia and they have completely disappeared from countries
like Bangladesh, Laos, and Vietnam.
54. โข . Rhinoceroses
Today, each of the five extant species of rhinoceroses, including Indian
Rhinos and White Rhinos, are threatened with extinction. One of the primary
reasons responsible for this is rhino poaching for body parts that are used in
alternative medical practices. Though medical researchers have found rhino horn
to be composed of only keratin (a substance making up human hair and nails), the
extensive use of rhino horns in traditional medical practices is still carried out. In
the 1990s, China signed the CITES treaty and removed the mention of rhino horn
use for medical purposes from its Chinese medicine pharmacopoeia. For a few
years, rhino populations began to recover. However, the blissful situation was not
to last long. Soon, a section of the Vietnamese developed a new fascination for
rhino horns. A rumor about a high-profile Vietnamese official being cured of liver
cancer by consuming rhino horn spread far and wide. Thus, the poaching of rhinos
resumed again, now at a much faster rate.
55. Sun Bears
โข Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) are another species threatened by human
exploitation and greed. These bears are farmed in large numbers in
China, Vietnam, South Korea, Myanmar, and Laos for their bile. The bile
extracted from the gall bladders of these bears is believed to cure sore
throats, gallstones, and hemorrhoids. Animal welfare organizations and
animal lovers claim that these animals are treated with cruelty with no
regard paid to their pain and suffering. They are stored in cramped cages
for their entire lifetime where they are often unable to even straighten
their backs. The surgical procedures implemented on these bears for
extracting bile are usually conducted in a crude manner with little attention
paid to the risks to the animalโs health from such procedures. Wild bears
are also captured and killed for their gall bladder.
56. Musk Deer
โข Musk deer refers to the seven species of deer belonging to the
genus Moschus. These deer are well-known for their musk glands that
produce a sweet smelling compound called musk. For years, these deer
have been poached for their musk that is used in perfumery and
traditional Chinese medicines. Large populations of musk deer have been
decimated in Russia and Mongolia for commercial gain. For over 5,000
years, musk has been utilized by the Chinese for treating ailments of the
circulatory and nervous system and also as a sedative. Preparations of
perfume also involve the use of musk. The high demand for musk in the
market has led to the annual killing of over 17,000 to 20,000 musk deer
stags in Russia. Currently, all the species of this deer are endangered.
57. Hawks-Bill Sea Turtles
โข Though the Hawks-bill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) have a
widespread distribution, today they are designated as critically
endangered by IUCN due to their highly reduced numbers. Extensive
poaching of these turtles for their body parts is the primary reason
for their demise. The shell of these turtles has been used as travel
souvenirs and for making decorative items. The oil extracted from
them have been used in traditional medicine in parts of Southeast
Asia. A large number of turtles have also been killed as
marine bycatch. Though trade in turtle parts have been banned in
most parts of the world, human greed continues to threaten the
survival of this species.
58. Grevy's Zebras
โข An endangered species of zebra, the Grรฉvy's zebra (Equus grevyi) is the
only extant wild equid living in the forests of Kenya and Ethiopia in Africa.
From 15,000 Grรฉvy's zebras in the 1970โs, the number has plummeted
down to only 3,500 in the early 21st Century. The primary reasons for loss
of these zebras are habitat loss and poaching. The locals persecuted the
zebras to reduce the competition for food offered to their livestock by
these creatures. Some ethnic populations also poach the zebras for their
meat, hides, and fat. The meat and fat of these zebras are often used by
traditional healers in Africa to prepare alternative medications for
tuberculosis. Conservation efforts have been initiated in Kenya and
Ethiopia to save these zebras and this has helped stabilize the zebra
population to some extent.
59. Chinese Alligators
โข The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is a critically endangered
species of alligator that has been hunted down over the years for its
meat and organs that are believed to have cold and cancer curing
abilities as per traditional Chinese medicine. These alligators are
endemic to eastern China and currently have a negligible population
in the wild. Large numbers of alligators are, however, bred in captivity
in Chinese breeding centers where they are also used for commercial
purposes. The breeding centers sell alligator meat, use alligators for
tourism purposes, and also sell live alligators to the European pet
market.
60. Banteng Feral Cattle
โข The wild banteng (Bos javanicus) is an endangered species of wild
cattle native to Southeast Asia. Though domesticated banteng
populations are large, the population of wild bantengs is only around
2,000 to 5,000. For years, the bantengs have been hunted for their
meat and other body parts and like many other wild species of
Southeast Asia, the banteng body parts have often been utilized for
traditional remedies.
61. Asian Tigers
โข Tigers in Asia have undergone a drastic decline in numbers, and every species of
tiger is either critically endangered or endangered with only a few hundred to a
few thousand individuals of each species remaining in the wild. Though habitat
loss has been one of the primary factors driving these tiger species to extinction,
poaching for tiger parts is another major cause of worry. Every part of the tiger,
its bones, claws, hides, and teeth have been used in alternative medicine
preparations, especially Chinese traditional medicine. According to the traditional
healers , the medicine made from tiger parts is believed to cure a range of
disorders including toothaches. However, modern medical research resents such
claims. Tigers, though protected in all places they inhabit, are still subject to
illegal poaching activities. The lure for money and human greed thus continue to
threaten the Asian tigers.
62. Asian Elephants
โข Unlike all African elephants, only a few Asian elephant males have
long tusks. Thus, one would assume that the Asian populations are
relatively immune to poaching. However, this is far from the truth.
Humans have also managed to decimate Asian elephant populations
by poaching them for their meat, hide, and other body parts. In
Myanmar, a paste is made from pieces of elephant foot and is used
as an alternative medicine to treat hernias. Illegal hunting and
poaching of these animals, accompanied by habitat loss and
degradation, has thus led to the decimation of Asian elephant
populations. These elephants are now classified as endangered by the
IUCN.
64. Distraction slide
โข Chemical plant owned by LG Polymers and probe has been launched to find
the reason behind this tragedy.
โข At least 11 people lost their lives in Andhra Pradesh after chemical gas
leakage at LG Polymers industry in RR Venkatapuram village of
Visakhapatnam. Hundreds were reported sick after the incident. According
to reports, the gas leak has affected nearly 20 nearby colonies.
โข Poisonous styrene gas leaked from the plant during the early hours of the
morning, when families in the surrounding villages were asleep, news
agency Reuters reported.
โข The LG polymers company was making arrangements for reopening the
plant from Thursday (May 7), after more than 40 days of closure.
79. Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ
conservation of biodiversity.
โข Importance of Conservation of Biodiversity
โข Humans derive a number of economic benefits from nature like food,
firewood, fibres, medicines and more. More than 25% of the drugs
are derived from plants and more than 25,000 species of plants are
used by natives for medicine.
โข Besides this, biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining and
sustaining the supply of goods and services. It is also important to
preserve every species of plants and animals as each one has some or
the other role to play in our nature.
96. In Situ Conservation
โข Nagarhole National Park, Mysore
โข Bandipur National Park, Mysore
โข Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore
โข Kudremukh National Park, Chikkamagalur
โข Anshi National Park, Uttara Kannada
โข Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttara Kannada
โข Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodagu
โข Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Chikmagalur
โข Brahmagiri Wildlife sanctuary, Coorg
โข Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandya
97.
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101.
102. In situ Conservation Ex situ Conservation
Conservation of plants and animals in their habitat or
in areas where it grows or occurs naturally
More diversity is maintained
Evolutionary process is uninterrupted
As it is conserved in natural condition it is affected by
changed in environment
Conservation do not require much expenditure
Conservation do not require much skill and
technology
Conservation is for immediate use
Do not involve power requirement no risk of power
shortage
Eg: Gene sanctuaries, National park
Conservation of germplasm away from its natural
habitat
Only a small diversity can be maintained
Evolutionary process is interrupted
As it is conserved in controlled condition it is less
affected by environment
It requires expenditure for cryopreserving units and
for maintenance.
Skill and technology is required to conserve the
biodiversity
Conservation is for future use
Power is must to cryopreservation unit there is risk of
power
Eg: Seed bank, plant, field bank
103. Cryo-preservation or cryo-conservation is a process where organelles, cells, tissues,
extracellular matrix, organs, or any other biological constructs susceptible to damage
caused by unregulated chemical kinetics are preserved by cooling to very low
temperatures (typically โ80 ยฐC or โ112 ยฐF
105. Distraction slides, What Japan did during
COVID 19
โข Asks companies to work only 70% this is Japans way in addressing
Corona virus
โข Hotels not above 8pm
โข No mass testing
Targeting cluster of infection only targeted those places
Not more than 10,000 cases
Cherry blossoms, people moving around
106. Endangered and endemic species of India.
โขAsiatic cheetah
โขAsiatic Lion
โขAsiatic Wild Ass
โขBengal Fox
โขGaur
โขIndian Elephant
โขIndian Rhinocerous
โขMarbled Cat
โขMarkhor
