Biodiversity

http://www.globalissues.org/print/issue/169
The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as
biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the
enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such
as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.
Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize
this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form
recognized the importance that nature, and its biological diversity has had upon them and
the need to maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious
balance.
9 articles on “Biodiversity” and 2 related issues:
Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?
Last updated Wednesday, November 18, 2009.

Why is Biodiversity important? Does it really matter if

there aren’t so many species?
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all
have an important role to play.
For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater
species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems
can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.
And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.
Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions
Last updated Sunday, June 06, 2010.

It has long been feared that human activity is causing

massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at conservation, it has not been enough and
biodiversity losses continue. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing
ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help
avert ecological problems.
What is biodiversity?
Oh, the beauty of a forest! The pleasure of walking through it, enjoying the smells of
the flowers and the wild; watching the insects flitting about and listening to the birds
chirp - how we all love it and wish to return to it again and again. It is this biodiversity
that we have to protect and take care of in order to enjoy the joy of it all. But what is
biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety and differences among living organisms from all sources,
including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are a part. This includes genetic diversity within and
between species and of ecosystems. Thus, in essence, biodiversity represents all life.
India is one of the mega biodiversity centres in the world and has two of the world's
18 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ located in the Western Ghats and in the Eastern Himalayas
(Myers 1999). The forest cover in these areas is very dense and diverse and of pristine
beauty, and incredible biodiversity.
According to an MoEF Report (1996), the country is estimated to have over 45,000 plant
species and 81,000 animal species representing 7% of the world’s flora and 6.5% of its
fauna. The 1999 figures are 49,219 plant species representing 12.5% and 81,251 animal
species representing 6.6%.
The sacred groves of India are some of the areas in the country where
the richness of biodiversity has been well preserved. The Thar desert
and the Himalayas are two regions rich in biodiversity in India. There
are 89 national parks and 504 wildlife sanctuaries in the country, the
Chilika Lake being one of them. This lake is also an important wetland
area. Learn more through map on biodiversity in India.
Over the last century, a great deal of damage has been done to the
biodiversity existing on the earth. Increasing human population,
increasing consumption levels, and decreasing efficiency of use of our resources are
some of the causes that have led to overexploitation and manipulation of ecosystems.
Trade in wildlife, such as rhino horn, has led to the extinction of species. Consequences
of biodiversity loss can be great as any disturbance to one species gives rise to imbalance
in others. In this the exotic species have a role to play.
To prevent such loss, the Government of India is setting up biosphere reserves in
different parts of the country. These are multipurpose protected areas to preserve the
genetic diversity in different ecosystems. Till 1999, ten biosphere reserves had been set
up, namely Nilgiri, Nandadevi, Nakrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Manas,
Sunderbans, Similipal, and Dibru Saikhowa. A number of NGOs are being involved in
the programme to create awareness. But legal protection is provided only to national
parks and sanctuaries, which cover about 4.5% of India’s land area.

What is biodiversity?
Oh, the beauty of a forest! The pleasure of walking through it, enjoying the smells of the
flowers and the wild; watching the insects flitting about and listening to the birds chirp -
how we all love it and wish to return to it again and again. It is this biodiversity that we
have to protect and take care of in order to enjoy the joy of it all. But what is
biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety and differences among living organisms from all sources,
including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes
of which they are a part. This includes genetic diversity within and between species and
of ecosystems. Thus, in essence, biodiversity represents all life. India is one of the mega
biodiversity centres in the world and has two of the world's 18 ‘biodiversity hotspots’
located in the Western Ghats and in the Eastern Himalayas (Myers 1999). The forest
cover in these areas is very dense and diverse and of pristine beauty, and incredible
biodiversity.
According to an MoEF Report (1996), the country is estimated to have over 45,000 plant
species and 81,000 animal species representing 7% of the world’s flora and 6.5% of its
fauna. The 1999 figures are 49,219 plant species representing 12.5% and 81,251 animal
species representing 6.6%.
The sacred groves of India are some of the areas in the country where the richness of
biodiversity has been well preserved. The Thar desert and the Himalayas are two regions
rich in biodiversity in India. There are 89 national parks and 504 wildlife sanctuaries in
the country, the Chilika Lake being one of them. This lake is also an important wetland
area. Learn more through map on biodiversity in India.
Over the last century, a great deal of damage has been done to the biodiversity existing
on the earth. Increasing human population, increasing consumption levels, and decreasing
efficiency of use of our resources are some of the causes that have led to overexploitation
and manipulation of ecosystems. Trade in wildlife, such as rhino horn, has led to the
extinction of species. Consequences of biodiversity loss can be great as any disturbance
to one species gives rise to imbalance in others. In this the exotic species have a role to
play.
To prevent such loss, the Government of India is setting up biosphere reserves in
different parts of the country. These are multipurpose protected areas to preserve the
genetic diversity in different ecosystems. Till 1999, ten biosphere reserves had been set
up, namely Nilgiri, Nandadevi, Nakrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Manas,
Sunderbans, Similipal, and Dibru Saikhowa. A number of NGOs are being involved in
the programme to create awareness. But legal protection is provided only to national
parks and sanctuaries, which cover about 4.5% of India’s land area.
Definitions
The most straightforward definition is "variation of life at all levels of biological
organization".[3] A second definition holds that biodiversity is a measure of the relative
diversity among organisms present in different ecosystems. "Diversity" in this definition
includes diversity within a species and among species, and comparative diversity among
ecosystems.
A third definition that is often used by ecologists is the "totality of genes, species, and
ecosystems of a region". An advantage of this definition is that it seems to describe most
circumstances and present a unified view of the traditional three levels at which
biodiversity has been identified:
•
GENETIC DIVERSITY
• Genetic diversity is a level of biodiversity that refers to the total number of genetic
characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic
variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary.
The academic field of population genetics includes several hypotheses regarding genetic
diversity. The neutral theory of evolution proposes that diversity is the result of the
accumulation of neutral substitutions. Diversifying selection is the hypothesis that two
subpopulations of a species live in different environments that select for different alleles
at a particular locus. This may occur, for instance, if a species has a large range relative to
the mobility of individuals within it. Frequency-dependent selection is the hypothesis that
as alleles become more common, they become less fit. This is often invoked in host-
pathogen interactions, where a high frequency of a defensive allele among the host means
that it is more likely that a pathogen will spread if it is able to overcome that allele.
Importance Of Genetic Diversity
There are many different ways to measure genetic diversity. The modern causes for the
loss of animal genetic diversity have also been studied and identified. A September 14,
2007 study conducted by the National Science Foundation found that genetic diversity
and biodiversity are dependent upon each other -- that diversity within a species is
necessary to maintain diversity among species, and vice versa. According to the lead
researcher in the study, Dr. Richard Lankauof, "If any one type is removed from the
system, the cycle can break down, and the community becomes dominated by a single
species."
Survival and Adaptation
Genetic diversity plays a huge role in the survival and adaptability of a species. When a
species’ environment changes, slight gene variations are necessary for it to adapt and
survive. A species that has a large degree of genetic diversity among its individuals will
have more variations from which to choose the most fitting allele. Species that have very
little genetic variation are at a great risk. With very little gene variation within the
species, healthy reproduction becomes increasingly difficult, and offspring often deal
with similar problems to those of inbreeding.
Agricultural Relevance
When humans initially started farming, they used selective breeding to pass on desirable
traits of the crops while omitting the undesirable ones. Selective breeding leads to
monocultures: entire farms of nearly genetically identical plants. Little to no genetic
diversity makes crops extremely susceptible to widespread disease. Bacteria morph and
change constantly. When a disease causing bacteria changes to attack a specific genetic
variation, it can easily wipe out vast quantities of the species. If the genetic variation that
the bacterium is best at attacking happens to be that which humans have selectively bred
to use for harvest, the entire crop will be wiped out. A very similar occurrence is the
cause of the infamous Potato Famine in Ireland. Since new potato plants do not come as a
result of reproduction but rather from pieces of the parent plant, no genetic diversity is
developed, and the entire crop is essentially a clone of one potato, it is especially
susceptible to an epidemic. In the 1840s, much of Ireland’s population depended on
potatoes for food. They planted namely the “lumper” variety of potato, which was
susceptible to a rot-causing mold called Phytophthora infestans. This mold destroyed the
vast majority of the potato crop, and left thousands of people to starve to death.
In biology, aspecies is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic
rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and
producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise
or differing measures are often used, such as based on similarity of DNA or morphology.
Presence of specific locally adapted traits may further subdivide species into subspecies.
The commonly used names for plant and animal taxa sometimes correspond to species:
for example, "lion," "walrus," and "Camphor tree" – each refers to a species. In other
cases common names do not: for example, "deer" refers to a family of 34 species,
including Eld's Deer, Red Deer and Elk (Wapiti). The last two species were once
considered a single species, illustrating how species boundaries may change with
increased scientific knowledge.
Each species is placed within a single genus. This is a hypothesis that the species is more
closely related to other species within its genus than to species of other genera. All
species are given a binomial name consisting of the generic name and specific name (or
specific epithet). For example, Pinus palustris (commonly known as the Longleaf Pine).
The taxonomic ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and
species.
A usable definition of the word "species" and reliable methods of identifying particular
species are essential for stating and testing biological theories and for measuring
biodiversity. Traditionally, multiple examples of a proposed species must be studied for
unifying characters before it can be regarded as a species. Extinct species known only
from fossils are generally difficult to give precise taxonomic rankings to.
Binomial convention for naming species
In scientific classification, a species is assigned a two-part name, treated as Latin,
although roots from any language can be used as well as names of locales or individuals.
The genus is listed first (with its leading letter capitalized), followed by a second term:
for example, gray wolves belong to the species Canis lupus, coyotes to Canis latrans,
golden jackals to Canis aureus, etc., and all of those belong to the genusCanis (which also
contains many other species). The name of the species is the whole binomial, not just the
second term (which may be called specific name for animals).
The binomial naming convention that is used, later formalized in the biological codes of
nomenclature, was first used by Leonhart Fuchs and introduced as the standard by
Carolus Linnaeus in his 1758 classical work Systema Naturae 10th edition. As a result, it
is sometimes called the "binomial nomenclature." At that time, the chief biological theory
was that species represented independent acts of creation by God and were therefore
considered objectively real and immutable.
Abbreviation
Books and articles sometimes intentionally do not identify species fully and use the
abbreviation "sp." in the singular or "spp." in the plural in place of the specific epithet:
for example,Cani ssp. This commonly occurs in the following types of situation

A very similar occurrence is the cause of the infamous Potato Famine in Ireland. Since
new potato plants do not come as a result of reproduction but rather from pieces of the
parent plant, no genetic diversity is developed, and the entire crop is essentially a clone of
one potato, it is especially susceptible to an epidemic. In the 1840s, much of Ireland’s
population depended on potatoes for food. They planted namely the “lumper” variety of
potato, which was susceptible to a rot-causing mold called Phytophthora infestans. This
mold destroyed the vast majority of the potato crop, and left thousands of people to starve
to death.
In biology, aspecies is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic
rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and
producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise
or differing measures are often used, such as based on similarity of DNA or morphology.
Presence of specific locally adapted traits may further subdivide species into subspecies.
SPECIES DIVERSITY
•
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
The 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro defined "biodiversity" as "the
variability among living organisms from all sources, including, 'inter alia', terrestrial,
marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are
part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems".
Importance PDF | Print | Email
of
Biodiversity
Biodiversity brings enormous benefits to mankind from direct harvesting of plants and
animals for food, medicine, fuel, construction materials, and other uses to aesthetic,
cultural, recreational and research values.

Benefits to ecosystems include climate and water regulation; the creation and protection
of soils, helping to reduce floods and soil erosion, shoreline protection, and providing
natural controls of agricultural pests, all of which promote creative evolution.

Within the ASEAN region alone, these services are estimated to be worth over 200 billion
US dollars annually. This amount can save 56 million victims of tuberculosis over a ten-
year period; and can feed 862 million people annually for six years.

The natural world is not the just the collection of magnificent and wonderful species. The
people of ASEAN also depend upon the vast biodiversity around them to supply their
daily needs. Millions of people depend on sustainably harvested fish, timber and fruits for
nutrition and their livelihoods. It is estimated that 80 percent of the income of the rural
poor is derived from the local biodiversity.

Wood remains the most common fuel throughout the region. In fact, much of the leap and
development of the countries of ASEAN during the period of 1970 to 1990 is founded on
the sale of commercial timber.

Evidence of man’s dependence is everywhere. Not only do most of ASEAN’s original

cultures embrace the concept of maintaining a healthy balance with nature, but the
biodiversity of the region also forms an integral part of this living cultures.

Understanding biodiversity
ASEAN’s rich biodiversity
Threats to ASEAN’s biodiversity
ASEAN Actions to Save Biodiversity
Vientiane Action Programme
Convention on Biological Diversity
2010 Targets
RAMSAR
CITES
DEFINITION
•
Biodiversityor biological diversityis
the variation of taxonomiclife forms
within a givenecosystem,biom e or for
the entireEarth.
•
Biodiversity refers to variety and
variability among all groups of living
organisms and the ecosystem
complexes in which they occur.
In the convention of Biological Diversity
(1992) Biodiversity has been defined
as the variability among living organisms
from all sources including inter alia,
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are a part.
Biodiversity is often a measure of the
health of biological systems to indicate
the degree to which the aggregate of
historical species are viable versus
extinct.
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity ranges from the genetic level with in a species to the biota in a specific
region and may extend up to the great diversity found in different biomes.
•Genetic Diversity - diversity of genes within a
species. There is a genetic variability among the
populations and the individuals of the same species.
•Species Diversity - diversity among species in an
ecosystem. “Biodiversity hotspots" are excellent
examples of species diversity.
•Ecosystem Diversity - diversity at a higher level of
organization, the ecosystem
GENETIC DIVERSITY
Basic sources of Biodiversity
Genes are basic units of
hereditary information
transmitted from one generation
to other
When genes within the same
species show different
versions due to new
combinations, it is called
“Genetic Variability
SPECIES DIVERSITY
•
Variability found within the
population of a species or
between different species of
a community.
Represents broadly the
species richness and their
abundance in a community.

Indices
of
measuring
species diversity
Shannon - Wiener Index - it takes into
account the number of species and the
evenness of the species. The index is increased
either by having more unique species, or by
having a greater species evenness.
•
Simpson Index - It takes into account the
number of species present, as well as the
relative abundance of each species. The
Simpson index represents the probability
that two randomly selected individuals in
the habitat belong to the same species.
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
Ecological complexity showing
variations in ecological niches, trophic
structure, food-webs, nutrient cycling etc.
•
Variations exist with respect to physical parameters like moisture, temperature, altitude,
precipitation etc.