Unit-4-Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems.pptx

B. Tech. First Year Course
Course Title- Environmental Sciences
Course Code- CYFC0101
Scheme & Credit – L-3, T-0, P-0, C-3
-Dr. Sanjeeb Sutradhar
1

Distribution of Marks
2
Theory
Subject Code- CYFC 0101
Total Marks- 100
Attendance- <75.0% - can’t appear final exam (Will be detained)
Continuous Assessment – 20
Quiz-I: 5
Objective test-I : 5
Objective test-II : 5
Group Assignment: 5
Class Participation/Interaction: 5
Mid Semester Term: 30
End Semester Term: 50
75.1%-79.9% = 1
80.0%-84.9% = 2
85.0%-89.9% = 3
90.0%-94.9% = 4
95.0%-100.0% = 5

Grade Points Description of performance Recommended Cut off marks*
S 10 Outstanding 90-100
A 09 Excellent 80-89
B 08 Very Good 70-79
C 07 Good 60-69
D 06 Average 50-59
E* 05* Marginal 40-49
I - Incomplete -
U - Unsuccessful -
W - Withheld due to shortage of attendance or withdrawal -
NP - AuditPass -
NF - Audit Fail -
Grading Procedure

Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA)
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
𝑺𝑮𝑷𝑨 =
(𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 × 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕) (𝑫𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓)
𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒔 (𝑫𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓)
𝑪𝑮𝑷𝑨 =
(𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 × 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕) (𝑼𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓)
𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒔 (𝑼𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓)
SGPA and CGPA Calculations

Unit IV: Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems
• Biodiversity and its distribution: Biodiversity as a natural resource,
biodiversity in India and world, biodiversity hotspots.
• Major Ecosystem types in India and their basic characteristics: General and
brief introduction to different ecosystems (Forests, Wetlands, Grasslands,
Agriculture, Coastal and Marine).
• Major conservation policies: in-situ and ex-situ conservation approaches.
References
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Biodiversity and its distribution
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Introduction:
The term biodiversity was first coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1986.
The word Biodiversity originates from Greek word BIOS = life and Latin word
DIVERSITAS = variety. Therefore, the whole word means Variety of life.

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It is the variety and variability of life on Earth.
Biological diversity abbreviated as biodiversity is typically a measure of
various life forms such as unicellular fungi, bacteria and protozoa while multi
cellular organisms like plants, fish and mammals at various biological levels
including genus, habitat and ecosystem.
For any kind of plant or animal- each individual is not exactly the same as any
other, nor are species or ecosystem.

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Biodiversity is generally described at three levels: Genetic diversity, Species
diversity and Ecosystem diversity.
Genetic diversity, Species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

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Genetic diversity:
It is defined as genetic variability present within species. It is the product of
recombination of genetic material in the process of inheritance and changes
with time and space.
It is important for a healthy population by maintaining different varieties of
genes that might be resistant to pests, diseases or other conditions.

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New varieties of plants can be grown by cross-breeding different genetic
variants and produce plants with desirable traits like disease resistance,
increased tolerance to stress. This ensures that at least there are some survivors
of a species left.
For instance: Breeding of Dogs is selectively done in order to get the desired
traits.

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Species diversity:
It is defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem and
relative abundance of each of those species. There are two constituents of
species diversity-
Species richness: Number of different species present in an ecosystem. Tropical
areas have greater species richness as the environment is conducive for a large
number of species.
Species evenness: Relative abundance of individuals of each of those species. It
is possible in an ecosystem to have high species richness, but low species
evenness.

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e.g.
In a forest, there may have a large number of different species (high species
richness) but have only a few members of each species (low species evenness) or
there may be only a few plant species (low species richness) or may be a large
number of only some species (high species evenness).
The species diversity varies in different geographical location with tropics
having highest and declines as we move towards poles. The most species-rich
environments are tropical rainforests, coral reefs and ocean bottom zone.

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Ecosystem diversity:
It deals with the variations in ecosystems within a geographical location and its
overall impact on human existence and the environment. Ecosystem diversity
addresses the combined characteristics of biotic properties (biodiversity)
and abiotic properties (geodiversity).

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An example of ecological diversity on a global scale would be the variation in
ecosystems, such as deserts, forests, grasslands, wetlands and oceans.
Ecological diversity is the largest scale of biodiversity, and within each
ecosystem, there is a great deal of both species and genetic diversity.

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Biodiversity in India and world:
It is the division of India according to biogeographic characteristics i.e. study
of the distribution of species, organisms and ecosystems in a
geographical space and through geological time.
India has a rich heritage of Natural diversity. It ranks fourth in Asia and tenth
in the world amongst the top 17 mega-diverse countries in the world.
India harbors nearly 11% of the world’s floral diversity comprising over 17500
documented flowering plants, 6200 endemic species, 7500 medicinal plants and
246 globally threatened species in only 2.4% of world’s land area.
India is also home to ten biogeographical zones which are Himalayan, trans-
Himalayan, desserts, Deccan peninsula, Gangetic plain, North- East India,
Islands and the Western Ghats.

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Biodiversity value: The multiple uses of Biodiversity has been classified by
McNeely et al. in 1990 as follows-

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Direct values:
Consumptive use value: These are direct use values where biodiversity product
can be harvested and consumed directly e.g. fuel, food, drugs, fiber etc. The
wonder drug Penicillin used as antibiotics is derived from a fungus called
Penicillium. The fossil fuel coal, petroleum and natural gas are also products
of fossilized biodiversity.
Drugs and medicines:
About 75% of the world’s population depends upon plants or plant extracts for
medicines.

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Drug Source
Penicillin Fungus (Penicillium)
Tetracyclin Streptomyces (Bacteria)
Quinine Cinchona tree
Digitalin Digitalis (foxglove)

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Food:
A large number of wild plants and animals are
consumed by human beings as food.
About 80,000 edible plant species have been reported
from wild.
About 90% of present day food crops have been
domesticated from wild tropical plants.
Our agricultural scientists make use of the existing
wild species of plants that are closely related to our
crop plants for developing new hardy strains.

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Productive use values: These are commercially usable values where the product
is marketed and sold. These may include animal products like tusks of
elephants, musk from musk deer etc. Despite of ban on trade in products from
endangered species, smuggling of fur, horns, tusks etc. worth millions of dollars
is being done every year.
Indirect values:
Social value: These values are associated with social life, customs, religion and
psycho- spiritual aspects of the people. Plants like Tulsi, Peepal, Mango and
Lotus are considered sacred and are used in worships. Many animals like cow,
bull, peacock, owl etc. also have significant importance in our psycho- spiritual
arena.

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Ethical value: It is sometimes also known as existence value. Based on the
concept of “ live and let live” i.e., if we want our human race to survive , then
we must protect all biodiversity, because biodiversity is valuable.
Aesthetic value: “Willingness to pay” concept on Eco-tourism gives monetary
estimate for aesthetic value of biodiversity.
Optional value: These values include the potentials of biodiversity that are
presently unknown and need to be explored. For example we may have some
potential cure for AIDS or cancer existing within depths of marine ecosystem or
tropical rainforest.

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Ecosystem service: It is sometimes also known as existence value. Based on the
concept of “ live and let live” i.e., if we want our human race to survive , then
we must protect all biodiversity, because biodiversity is valuable.
Global biodiversity:
It is the measure of biodiversity on planet Earth and is defined as the total
variability of life forms.
Roughly 1.5 million species are known till date which is perhaps 15% of the
actual number.
First 1992”Earth Summit” at Rio de Janeiro, was convened to address urgent
problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development.

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Mapping of biodiversity has therefore been rightly recognized as an emergency
task in order to plan its conservation and practical utilization in a judicious
manner.
Terrestrial biodiversity is best described as biomes and are largest ecological
units present in different geographic areas. They are named after dominant
vegetation e.g. tropical rainforests, tall grass prairies, savannas, desert, tundra
etc. The tropical rainforests are inhabited by teeming millions of species of
plants, birds, amphibians, insects as well, as mammals.
The silent valley in Kerala is the only place where tropical rainforest occur.

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Biodiversity hotspot:
Areas which exhibit richness as well as high species endemism are termed as
hot spots of biodiversity.
There are 25 such hot spots of biodiversity on a global level out of which two
are present in India, namely the Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats. A
According to Myers et al. (2000) an area is designated as a hotspot when it
contains 0.5% of plant species as endemics (native to).
Eastern Himalayas: They display an ultra- varied topography that fosters
species diversity and endemism. In an area of 7298 km2 about 4250 plant
species are found of which 60% are endemic.

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Western Ghats:
It extends along 17,000 km2 strip of forests in
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and
Kerala and has 40% of the total endemic
plant species. 62% amphibians and 50%
lizards are endemic to Western Ghats.
The major centres of diversity are Agastya
Alai Hills and Silent Valley- the New
Amambalam reserve basin.

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Threats to biodiversity:
The core threat to biodiversity on the planet, and therefore a threat to human
welfare, is the combination of human population growth and resource
exploitation.
The human population requires resources to survive and grow, and those
resources are being removed unsustainably from the environment.
Some of the major causes and issues related to threats to biodiversity are-
Loss of Habitat: Loss of natural habitat is the single largest cause of biodiversity
loss. Conversion of forests into agricultural lands or development projects is
reason behind it.

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Poaching: Illegal trade of wildlife products by killing endangered animals is
defined as poaching. Despite ban in trade, furs, horns and tusks are smuggled
every year. Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc. are major importers of wildlife
products.
Man-wildlife conflicts: Conflicting situation arises when wildlife start causing
damage and danger to man. For instance: in Sambalpur, Orrisa 195 humans were
killed in last 5 years by elephants. In retaliation villagers killed 98 of them.
Cause for man- animal conflicts: Root cause of these conflicts are: Dwindling
habitats of tigers, elephants, rhinos etc.; usually ill, weak and injured animals
attack man; electric wiring around crop fields get elephants injured and turn
them violent.

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Chemicals in environment: The discharge of toxic synthetic chemicals and heavy
metals into the environment has a huge impact on species abundance and can lead
to extinctions. e.g. nitrogen and phosphorous are important nutrients for plant
growth, but when they concentrate in water systems after being applied as
agricultural fertilizers, they can cause “dead zones” that are uninhabitable for
fish and other wildlife. Also, carbon dioxide is a “natural” component of the
atmosphere but is considered a pollutant when emitted by human industrial
activities.
POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutant) are easily incorporated into organisms like
bacteria, phytoplankton, and other invertebrates at the bottom of marine food
chains. As those organisms are eaten by fish, and fish are eaten by marine
mammals, the POPs move up the food chain.

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Endangered species in India:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and natural
resources(IUCN) publishes the Red Data Book which includes list of endangered
species of plants and animals.
Few endangered reptiles, birds, mammals, plant are as follows:
Reptiles: Gharial, tortoise, python.
Birds: Great Indian Bustard, Peacock, Great Indian Hornbill.
Carnivorous mammals: Indian wolf, red panda, sloth bear, Indian lion, desert cat.
Plants: Large number of species of Orchids, rhodendrons, sandal wood tree.

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Extinct: A species is said to be extinct if not seen in the wild for 50 years at a
stretch. e.g. Dodo, passenger pigeon
Endangered: A species is said to be endangered if its number has been reduced to
a critical level and if such species are not protected or conserved, they may
extinct. e.g. cheetah, spotted owl.
Vulnerable: A species is said to be vulnerable if its population is facing continuous
decline due to over exploitation or habitat destruction. e.g. Common leopard.

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Endemic species of India: Endemic Species are the species of those plants
and animals which are found in just one particular region and nowhere else in the
world.
India having two Biodiversity hotspots possesses large number of endemic species.
Out of 47,000 plants, 7000 are endemic. 62% flora, is restricted mainly to
Himalayas, Khasi Hills and Western Ghats.
Total of 81,000 species of animals is endemic.
Western Ghats are rich in amphibians (frogs, toads) and reptiles (lizards).

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Endemic species of India: Endemic Species are the species of those plants
and animals which are found in just one particular region and nowhere else in the
world.
India having two Biodiversity hotspots possesses large number of endemic species.
Out of 47,000 plants, 7000 are endemic. 62% flora, is restricted mainly to
Himalayas, Khasi Hills and Western Ghats.
Total of 81,000 species of animals is endemic.
Western Ghats are rich in amphibians (frogs, toads) and reptiles (lizards).

Major Ecosystem types in India and Their basic Characteristics
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General and brief introduction to different ecosystems (Forests, Wetlands,
Grasslands, Agriculture, Coastal and Marine): Abc

Major Conservation Policies
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Biodiversity conservation:
Due to their genetic, commercial, medical, ecological and optional importance,
emphasizes need to conserve biodiversity.
There are two approaches to conserve biodiversity:
In-situ conservation (within habitat): This is achieved by protection of wild flora
and fauna in nature itself. e.g. biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries
reserve forests etc.
Ex-situ (outside habitat): This is done by establishment of gene banks, seed
banks, zoo, botanical gardens, culture collections etc.

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In-situ conservation (within habitat)
Biosphere reserves: They conserve some representative ecosystems for long term
in situ conservation. In India we have, Nanda Devi (U.P), Nokrek (Meghalaya),
Manas(Assam), Sundarbans (West Bengal) etc.
National Parks: It is area dedicated for the conservation of wildlife along with its
environment. e.g. Kaziranga (Assam), Gir National Park (Gujrat), Periyar
(Kerala) etc.
Wildlife sanctuaries: These are protected areas where killing, shooting or
capturing of wildlife is prohibited except under the control of highest authority.
e.g. Ghana Bird Sanctuary (Rajasthan), Sultanpur Bird sanctuary (Harayana),
Mudamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) etc.

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Ex-situ conservation (outside habitat)
This type of conservation is mainly done for conservation of crop varieties, wild
relatives of crops and all the variability of crop species for future crop
improvement. In India, we have following seed bank facilities:
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR): Located in New Delhi,
here agricultural, horticultural crops and their wild relatives are preserved by
cryo-preservation of seeds, pollen etc. by using liquid nitrogen at a temperature
as low as -1960C.

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National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR): Located at
Karnal, Haryana it protects the semen of domesticated bovine animals.
National Facility for Plant Tissue Culture Repository (NFPTCR): This
has been created for the development of a facility of conservation of
varieties of crop plants/trees by tissue culture. This facility has been
created within the NBPGR.

Unit-4-Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems.pptx

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