threats to biodiversity, status of terrestrial ecoregions and species under threat in india,addressing the threats.

2. UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL AND
HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES, SHIMOGA
By
CHANDANA B R
Jr MSc(GPB)

3. Contents
Introduction
Biodiversity at different levels
Threats to biodiversity
Status of terrestrial ecoregions
Species under threat
Animal biodiversity threats in India
Conclusion

4. Biodiversity
• Is a sum of all the different species of animals,
plants, fungi, and microbial organisms living
on earth and the variety of habitats in which
they live.

5. Biodiversity at different levels
• Genetic diversity
• Species diversity
• Ecosystem diversity

7. • Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is defined as the complete
elimination of a localized or regional ecosystem
leading to the total loss of its former biological
function.
• Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation is a secondary affect of
habitat destruction,occurs when remaining
populations are isolated because the links
between habitat patches have been destroyed

8. Habitat Destruction &
fragmentation

9. • Invasion by exotic species
Prominent examples are the spread of the Peruvian
thorny Prosopis juliflorain in the dry parts of
northern India where it replaced native species
such as Acacia nilotica and the spread of the South
American flowering bush Lantana camara in the
sub-Himalayan belt.

10. Introduced mallards, for instance, are driving the
native Hawaiian duck to a sort of genetic
extinction by breeding with them.
A fish native to Texas, eliminated by
hybridization with introduced mosquito fish.
mallards and Hawaiian duck

11. Genetic pollution:- genetic pollution occurs by
uncontrolled hybridization.
• Genetic pollution is detrimental to rare species
that come into contact with more abundant ones.
• Abundant species immediately colonize the new
area, vanishing the rare species.
• Alters the genetic pool, which is an irreversible
change.

12. Triturus cristatus Triturus carnifex

13. Pollution

14. Over –exploitation:-
• Mangroves have been cleared for fuel wood
• Prawn farming, which has led to a decrease in
the habitat essential for breeding of marine
fish.

15. Poaching: Specific threats to certain animals are
related to large economic benefits.
• Skin and bones from tigers,
• ivory from elephants,
• horns from rhinos and
• perfume from the must deer.

16. • Bears are killed for their gall bladders.
• The rare whale shark, a highly endangered
species, is being killed off the coast of Gujarat.

17. • Corals and shells are also collected for export or
sold on the beaches of Chennai and
Kanyakumari.

18. • A variety of wild plants with real or at times
dubious medicinal value are being over harvested.
The commonly collected plants include
Rauvolfia, Nuxvomica,Datura, etc. Collection of
garden plants includes orchids, ferns and moss.
• Bhringaraj Sandalwood
• RauvolfiaRauvolfia Rauvolfia

19. • Disease - Reduction in habitat causing
high population densities, encourages spread
of diseases.

21. IUCN Red list categories

23. Number of Indian
species(% of
world total)
Species threatened
in India as percent
of those evaluated
Number
extinct(% of
those evaluated)
Mammals 386 (7%) 41% 4 (1.8%)
Birds 1219 (12%) 7% Unknown
Reptiles 495 46% Unknown
Amphibians 207 (4%) 57% Unknown
Freshwater
fish
700 70% Unknown
Animal biodiversity threats in India

24. Nilgiritragus hylocrius, Nilgiri Tahr
• Red List Category : Endangered
• Justification: Listed as Endangered because
its population size is estimated to number
fewer than 2,500 mature individuals, there is
an observed continuing decline in the number
of mature individuals, and no subpopulation
contains more than 250 mature individuals.

25. • Previously Published Red List Assessments
2000 – Endangered (EN)
1996 – Endangered (EN)
1994 – Vulnerable (V)
1990 – Vulnerable (V)
1988 – Vulnerable (V)
1986 – Vulnerable (V)
1965 – Less rare but believed to be threatened-
requires watching

26. Threats
• Habitat loss
• Poaching

27. Steppe Eagle-
Aquila nipalensis
• A regular winter visitor to
the Indian subcontinent,
has been uplisted from
Least Concerned to
Endangered.

28. • Justification: rapid population declines within
its European range. The majority of its range
lies outside Europe where it may be exposed
to greater threats than was previously thought
and has also undergone very rapid recent
declines across much of the range.

29. Previously Published Red List Assessments
2013 – Endangered
2012 – Least Concern (LC)
2011 – Least Concern (LC)
2009 – Least Concern (LC)
2008 – Least Concern (LC)
2004 – Least Concern (LC)
2000 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)
1994 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)
1988 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)

30. • Threats
 Habitat loss
 Use of veterinary drug diclofenac causes
renal failure in these birds
 High-voltage lines.

31. How to address the threats of
biodiversity….???
• There should be sustainable utilisation of
resources.
• International trade in wild life should be highly
regulated.
• The poaching and hunting of wildlife should
be prevented as far as practicable.
• Efforts should be made to reduce the level of
pollutants in the environment.

32. • Public awareness should be created regarding
biodiversity and its importance for the living
organisms.
• The habitats of migratory birds should be
protected by bilateral and multilateral
agreement.
• The over exploitation of useful products of
wild life should be prevented.
• Environmental laws should be strictly
followed.

33. Its Now or ‘NEVER’