Understanding Biodiversity: Importance, Levels, and Conservation Methods

1. Biodiversity Today most of us live in a socially and technologically evolved society where our exploitive potential and knowledge of nature has increased academically. Biodiversity is the vast array of all the species of plants, animals, insects and the microorganisms inhabiting the earth either in the aquatic or the terrestrial habitats. The human civilization depends directly or indirectly upon this biodiversity for their very basic needs of survival–food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, timber, liquor, rubber, leather, medicines and several raw materials.

2. Levels of Biodiversity Genetic diversity :It includes the genetic variations within species, both among geographically separated populations and among individuals within single population Species diversity: It includes full range of species from micro organisms to different varieties of plants and animals, e.g. single celled viruses and bacteria etc. and multi-cellular plants, animals Ecosystems diversity : It studies variation in the biological communities in which species live, exist and interact

3. Measure of Biodiversity Alpha Diversity: It indicates the number of species in a single community. The index can be used to compare the number of species in different ecosystem Beta Diversity:It indicates the degree to which species composition changes along an environmental gradient Gamma Diversity: It indicates the rate at which additional species are encountered as geographical replacements within a habitat type in different localities.

4. Value of Biodiversity Direct Values Food Resources: Grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, condiments , tea-coffee, tobacco, liquor, oil from plant resources; and meat, fish, egg, milk (and milk products), honey, etc. from animal resources. Other Resources: Medicine, fuel, timber, household accessories, fodder, fiber, fertilizer, wool, leather, paint, resin, wax, thatch. Ornamental plants, rubber, creams, silk, feathers, decorative items, etc.

5. Value of Biodiversity Consumptive use: Man is mostly dependent on plant and animal resources for his dietary requirements Productive use: Trade and commerce industry is very largely dependent on forests. Besides, timber, firewood, paper pulp, and other wood products, we get many valuable commercial products from forests Medicine: Drugs , antibiotic, ayurveda Aesthetic Use Option Values

6. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY The biggest reason for the current increase in extinctions is habitat loss By destroying habitat, we eliminate not only prominent species but also many obscure ones of which we may not even be aware. Over harvesting of food species is probably the most obvious way in which humans directly destroy biological resources Habitat Destruction Hunting and Poaching Pollution Man and Wildlife Conflict

7. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY Conservation is the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and natural resources such as forests and water. There are two types of conservation methods namely in-situ and ex-situ conservations The conservation of species in their natural habitat or natural ecosystem is known as in situ conservation The conservation of selected plants and animals in se­lected areas outside their natural habitat is known as ex-situ con­servation.

8. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

9. National Park: These are the small reserves meant for the protection of wild life and their natural habitats. These are maintained by government. The area of national parks ranges between 0.04 to 3162 km. The boundaries are well demarcated and circumscribed. The activities like grazing, cultivation and habitat manipulation are not permitted in these areas.  Sanctuaries: These are the areas where only wild animals are present. The activities like harvesting of timbers, collection of forest products, cultivation of lands etc. are permitted as long as these do not interfere with the project. That is, controlled biotic interference is permitted in sanctuaries, which allows visiting of tourists for recreation. The area under a sanctuary remains in between 0.61 to 7818 km.

10. National Parks in India •  Biological Park, Nandankanan, Orissa, • Corbett national Park Nainital, U.P. (First national Park) • Koziranga national Park, Jorhat, Assam • Tudula national Park, Maharashtra • Hazaribagh national Park, Hazaribagh, Bihar • Band havgarh national park, M.P. • Bandipur national park, Karnataka. • Kanha National Park, M.P. • Reibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur • Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra

11. Biosphere reserves: Biosphere reserves or natural reserves are multipurpose protected areas with boundaries circumscribed by legislation. The main aim of biosphere reserve is to preserve genetic diversity in representative ecosystems by protecting wild animals, traditional life style of inhabitant and domesticated plant/ animal genetic resources. These are scientifically managed allowing only the tourists to visit.

12. Seed gene bank: These are cold storages where seeds are kept under controlled temperature and humidity for storage and this is easiest way to store the germ plasma of plants at low temperature. Seeds preserved under controlled conditions (minus temperature) remain viable for long durations of time. Gene bank: Genetic variability also is preserved by gene bank under normal growing conditions. These are cold storages where germ plam are kept under controlled temperature and humidity for storage; this is an important way of preserving the genetic resources. Cryopreservation: This is the newest application of technology for preservation of biotic parts. This type of conservation is done at very low temperature in liquid nitrogen. The metabolic activities of the organisms are suspended under low temperature, which are later used for research purposes.