Biodiversity

1. Biodiversity • A new multidisciplinary Science • Is the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complex in which they occur. • Divided into 3 levels 1) Genetic diversity 2) Species diversity 3) Ecosystem diversity

2. Genetic diversity genetic variation within species both among geographically separated populations and among individuals with in single population • Species diversity full range of species on earth from microbes, protists to plants, animals • Ecosystem diversity Wider scale, variations in the biological communities in which species live, ecosystem in which communities exist and the interactions among these levels

3. Distribution 1,413,000 sp identified Insects 751,000 ,Plants 248,000, animals 281,000, fungi 69,000, bacteria 4,800, virus 1000………. Keystone species some species are more important in determining the ability of large no. of other species to persist in the community

4. Types of biodiversity • Alpha (α) biodiversity • Beta( β) biodiversity • Gamma (γ) biodiversity

5. Alpha (α) • Species diversity within a community or habitat. • Two components species richness species evenness • Dominance of one vegetation stratum affect the α diversity of other strata. • 2.Beta( β) • Inter community diversity expressing the rate of species turn over per unit change in habitat.

6. 3.Gamma (γ) • Over all diversity at landscape level includes both α and β • γ = α +β +Q • where Q = Total no. of habitats or communities • α = Average value of α diversities • β = Average value of β diversities • Biodiversity is rich in tropics than temperate

7. More stable climate than temperate • Tropics older so greater degree of specialization and local adoption • Warm temp & high humidity favors many sp • Greater pressure from pests, parasites and disease – many sp coexist • Rates of out crossing high – high genetic variability • Receives more solar energy

8. Loss of biodiversity • Present day drastic changes in the environment and habitat due to population explosion and unmanaged developmental activities - species are not getting • Full liberty of time and space for their survival and adaptive radiation, therefore resulting in loss of biodiversity-a global crisis • Between 1600 and 1950 rate of extinction went upto one species every 10 years • Currently 1 species every year • Tropical forest shrinking at 0.8% each year • Between 1980-90 -> 154 mha of tropical forests equivalent to almost three times the size of France have been destroyed.

9. Major causes of biodiversity losses • Development pressure • Construction of forest based industries, Hydel projects, Mining ,Oil drilling, Pollution, Road and Transport • Enchroachment • Agriculture, fishery, Grazing, habitat depletion Monoculture forestry, New settlements, shifting cultivation, Siltation of river beds, Teak Rubber cultivation

10. Exploitation • Food gathering, Food hunting, Meat loving population, firewood, Exploitation by local authorities, Poaching, illegal hunting, smuggling of timber, Unregulated trade. • Human Induced disasters • Floods, major oil spills, Wild life degradation, Epidemic, forest fires, Intentional forest fires • Management of natural resources • Diseases, Genetic uniformity, Hybridization, Increased competition, Introduction of exotic species, lack of patronage of local species lack of pollination, low population, predation.

11. Management of human resources • Change in people’s lifestyle, increasing demands, dilution of traditional values. • Erosion, generation gap, human harassment, ignorance, inappropriate land use, tourism development • Political and policy issues • Change in use / tenure / legal status, civil unrest, Insurgency, lack of clear policy implementation, lack of intervention, Military activities

12. With a very narrow geographical range • With only one or a few populations • Popn size is small • Need a large home range • Large body size • Low rates of popn increase • Not effective dispersers • Migrate • Little genetic variability • Specialized niche requirement • Form aggregations • Haunted or harvested by people

13. Habitat destruction • Habitat fragmentation • Habitat degradation and pollution • Introduction of exotic species • Disease • Over exploitation • Shifting or Jhum cultivation

14. Conservation Insitu conservation Exsitu conservation • Organization involved MEF, S& T, CGIAR, IBPGR, NBPGR, ICRISAT,CITES, Protected areas Biodiversity loss last 200 years 100 sp mammals 160 birds

15. Strategies • 1.In situ strategy • Conservation work at original site of biodiversity. • Conservation of overall of genes, population, species, communities, Ecological processes comes under this. • 37,000 protected area in world (World conservation monitoring Centre) • In India-448 wild life sanctuaries 85 National parks 14 Biosphere Reserves Covering 4.2% of total geographic area

16. 2.Ex-situ strategy • Conservation done outside the natural habitat in the form of botanical and zoological gardens, conservation stand, seed and seedling banks. • In India conservation of genetic diversity is done by NBPGR (National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources )

17. Endemism • In India this is highly significant • Of the 4,900 species flowering plants 33% of flora sp. are • Endemic distributed over 141 genera belonging to 47 families. • Concentrated in areas of N.E. India, Western Ghats, N.W. Himalayas and Andaman & Nicobar islands • Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas -1600 and 3,500 endemic species of flowering plants.

18. Endangered plant and animal species • 427 – endangered plant species (BSI) in Red Data Book • - Contributes to about 20% of India’s floristic wealth of higher plants • Red Data Book • Contains the list of endangered plants and animals • Endangered plants • Acerlaevigatum • Phoenix rupicola • Lactucacooperi • Carumvillosum • Amorphophaliusbulbifeer • Dioscorealaurifolia

19. Mammals • Andaman wild pig • Bison • Black back • Blue whale • Cheetah • Crabeatingmacaque • Fourhornedantelope • Giantsquirrels • Hyaena • Lion tailedMacaque • Muskdeer • Nilgiritahr • Sambar • Rhinoceros • Siberian White crane

20. Causes for extinction • Extinct in the wild • Globally extinct • Locally extinct • Ecological extinct

21. Threats to Biodiversity -Major cause for loss of biodiversity –depletion of vegetative cover to expand agriculture -Poaching and illegal trade of wildlife products Causal factors -Every species has its own right to live in its ecosystem -Over exploitation to meet demand of growing population result in threats. -some sp- already become extinct and many facing danger of extinction

22. IUCN 1988 -- 5 main • Extinct • Endangered • Vulnerable • Rare • Insufficiently known

23. Categories of threat • Recognized by ICUN • Endangered • Species in danger of extinction whose survival is unlikely Eg. Vanda cerulean, Cycas beddonii • Vulnerable • Taxa likely to move into endangered category in near future if casual factors continue operating due over exploitation, extensive destruction of habitats Eg.Dioscoria deltoidea

24. Rare • Taxa with small world population that are not at present endangered or vulnerable but are at risk. • -these are localized within restricted geographical areas. Eg.Rauwolfia serpentina • Threatened • Species that fall under any one of the above category

25. Few Endangered animals

26. Endangered Plants

29. BIOSPHERE RESERVES Aims at conserving biological diversity / genetic integrity of plants, animals and microorganisms What is Biosphere Reserve? An undisturbed natural area for scientific study as well as areas in which conditions of disturbance are under control to protect ecosystem.

30. BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN INDIA There are 14 Biosphere Reserves in India Biosphere reserve programme was launched by UNESCO in 1971 under MAB (Man and Biosphere Programme) Nilgris -TN,Karnataka,Kerala Namdapha -Arunachal Pradesh Nanda Devi -UP Uttarkhand -UP Andaman-Andaman & Nicobar Gulf of Mannar -TN Kaziranga- -Assam Sundarbans - W.Bengal Thar Desert -Rajasthan Mannas -Assam Kanha -MP Nohrek (Tura range) -Meghalaya

31. Important National parks and wild life sanctuaries in India AP – Pakhal, Povharam, Kawal, Kollaeru, Pelicanary wild life sanctuary Arunachal Pradesh – Namidapha Wild life sanctuaries Assam – Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wild life sanctuaries Bihar – Hazaribagh National park Gujarat – Gir NP Karnataka – Bandipur NP, Silent Valley NP Kerala – Periyar WS, Wyanad WS Orissa – Chilka Lake Bird sanctuary TN – Mudumalai WS, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary UP – Corbett NP WB – Jaldapara WS

32. IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Project Tiger Save declining population of tiger from extinction. Launched by Smt. Indira Gandhi Apr.1973. Initially nine tiger reserves created in nine different states of total area 13017sq.km with 268 tigers At present 23 TR in India–Corbett,Bandipur,Kalakkad,Rathambore,Periyar,Manas etc Recently the Ministry of Environment and Forests has formulated the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) for the conservation of Biodiversity.

34. Let’s make this a cleaner world to live in