15 Biodiversity and Conservation

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By:-

DR. VIK RAM SINGH

TANUSHREE SINGH

YEAR OF PUBLICATION-2010

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SAVANT INSTITUTE

TM

CLASS XII

BIOLOGY



o ogy o vers y an onserva on

SAVANT EDUCATION GROUP E-17, East of Kailash, New Delhi – 110065. Ph.: +91-11-26224417 www.savantgroup.org

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

_____________________ Slide 1 ______________________

_____________________ Slide 2 ______________________

Biodiversity

§Heterogeneity exists at all levels of biological organizationranging from macromolecules within cells to biomes.

§ The term biodiversity was coined by the socio-biologist

Edward Wilson.

§ There are more than 20,000 species of ants, 3,00,000

species of beetles, 28,000 species of fishes and nearly

20,000 species of orchids.

_____________________ Slide 3 ______________________

Slide 4

Types of biodiversity

_____________________ Slide 5 _________________

Species diversity

§ The diversity at the species level.

§ For example, the Western Ghats have a greater amp

species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.



o vers y an onserva on o


Slide 6

Ecological diversity

§ At the ecosystem level, India, for instance, with its deserts,

rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries,

and alpine meadows has a greater ecosystem diversity than

a Scandinavian country like Norway.

_____________________ Slide 7 ______________________

Genetic diversity

§ A high degree of genetic variation shown by a single

species.

§ For example, the genetic variation shown by the medicinal

plant

§ Rauwolfia vomitoria in terms of the potency and

concentration of the reserpine that the plant produces.

§ India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of

rice, and 1,000 varieties of mango.

_____________________ Slide 8 ______________________

Estimates of species

§ A total of 1.5 million, plant and animal species as per IUCN,

2004.

§ Robert May - 7 million global species.

§ More than 70 per cent of all the species recorded are

animals, while plants are 22 per cent of the total.

§ Among animals, insects have maximum number of species.

And the class Insecta constitutes more than 70 per cent of

the total animal species.

§ The number of fungi species in the world is more than the

combined total of the species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles

and mammals.

Slide 9

Global biodiversity distribution

_____________________

Slide 10

________________

Indian biodiversity

§ India has 8.1 per cent of the global species diversity

world.

§ It is one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the wor

§ Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as m

animals are from India.

§ There are more than 1,00,000 plant species and mo

3,00, 000 animal species yet to be discovere

described.

_____________________ Slide 11 ________________

Biogeographical regions of India





Slide 12

Distribution

Latitudinal gradient

§ There is a latitudinal gradient in diversity. Species diversity

decreases as we move away from the equator towards the

poles. Latitudinal range of 23.5° N to 23.5° S harbour more

species than temperate or polar areas.

§For example, Colombia located near the equator has nearly1,400 species of birds while New York at 41° N has 105

species and Greenland at 71° N only 56 species.

§ In India, with much of its land area in the tropical latitudes

has more than 1,200 species of birds.

_____________________ Slide 13 _____________________

§ A forest in a tropical region like Equador has up to 10 times

as many species of vascular plants as a forest of equal area

in a temperate region like the Midwest of the USA.

§ South American Amazonian rain forest has more than

40,000 species of plants, 3,000 of fishes, 1,300 of birds, 427of mammals, 427 of amphibians, 378 of reptiles and of more

than 1,25,000 invertebrates. There are at least two million

undiscovered insect species.

_____________________ Slide 14 _____________________

Decrease in the number of ant species from equatortowards poles

_____________________ Slide 15 _____________________

Reasons

§ While the temperate regions were subjected to frequent

glaciations in the tropical latitudes have remained relatively

undisturbed for millions of years so there was a long time for

species diversification.

§ Tropical environments are less seasonal, relatively

constant and predictable. Such constant environ

promote niche specialisation and lead to a greater s

diversity.

_____________________ Slide 16 ________________

§ There is more solar energy available in the tropics,

contributes to higher productivity; this in turn

contribute indirectly to greater diversity.

Species-Area relationships

§ Alexander von Humboldt observed that within a

species richness increased with increasing explored

but only up to a limit.

§ In fact, the relation between species richness and are

wide variety of taxa turns out to be a rectangular hype

_____________________ Slide 17 ________________

§ On a logarithmic scale, the relationship is a straig

described by the equation log S = log C + Z log A

Where,

S = Species richnessA = Area

Z = Slope of the line (regression coefficient)

C = Y-intercept

_____________________ Slide 18 ________________

§ The value of Z lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.2, regard

the taxonomic group or the region

§ But, if you analyse the species -area relationships

very large areas like the entire continents, you will fi

the slope of the line to be much steeper (Z values

range of 0.6 to 1.2).

§For example, for frugivorous (fruit-eating) birdmammals in the tropical forests of different continen

slope is found to be 1.15. _____________________ Slide 19 ________________

Species area relationship





Slide 20

Loss of biodiversity

§ Human activities have led to biodiversity loss in the past.

§ For example, the colonization of tropical Pacific Islands by

humans led to the extinction of more than 2,000 species of

native birds.

§ The IUCN Red List (2004) documents the extinction of 784

species (including 338 vertebrates, 359 invertebrates and 87

plants) in the last 500 years.

_____________________ Slide 21 _____________________

§ Some extinct animals include the dodo (Mauritius), quagga

(Africa), thylacine (Australia), Steller’s Sea Cow (Russia)

and three subspecies (Bali, Javan, Caspian) of tiger.

§ There were five episodes of mass extinction of species in

Earth’s history.

§ The extinction rates are now estimated to be 100 to 1,000

times faster than the previous extinctions.

_____________________ Slide 22 _____________________

Status of some threatened groups

_____________________ Slide 23 _____________________

Effects of biodiversity loss

In general, loss of biodiversity in a region leads to the following:§ Decline in plant production

§ Lowered resistance to environmental perturbations such as

drought

§ Increased variability in certain productivity, resource usage

and pest and disease cycles.

Slide 24

Causes of biodiversity losses

There are four major causes - ‘ The Evil Quartet’. These

follows:

§ Habitat loss and fragmentation

§ Over-exploitation

§ Alien species invasions

§ Co-extinctions

_____________________ Slide 25 ________________

Habitat loss and fragmentation

§ For example, habitat loss in tropical rain forests – fro

to 6% of land surface.

§ Clearing of forests for soya bean cultivation or conver

grasslands for raising beef cattle.

§ Effects of pollution.

_____________________ Slide 26 ________________

Over-exploitation

§ Many species extinctions in the last 500 years (Stelle

cow, passenger pigeon) were do to overexploitathumans. marine fish populations endangering con

existence of some commercially important species.

_____________________ Slide 27 ________________

Alien species invasions

§ When alien species are introduced unintentiona

deliberately for whatever purpose, some of them

invasive, and cause decline or extinction of indig

species.

§ The Nile perch introduced into Lake Victoria in east

led eventually to the extinction of an ecologically uniq

_____________________ Slide 28

________________

Co-extinctions

§ When a species becomes extinct, the plant and

species associated with it in an obligatory way also b

extinct.

§ When a host fish species becomes extinct, its

assemblage of parasites also meets the same fate.

§ Another example is the case of a co-evolved plant-po

mutualism where extinction of one invariably leads

extinction of the other.





Slide 29

_____________________ Slide 30 _____________________

Stable community

§ A stable community does not show too much variation in

productivity from year to year. It resists disturbances and it

must also be resistant to invasions by alien species.

§ David Tilman’s long-term ecosystem experiments proved

that plots with more species showed less year-to-year

variation in total biomass and a greater diversity contributed

to higher productivity.

_____________________ Slide 31 _____________________

The rivet popper hypothesis

§ The ‘Rivet Popper Hypothesis’ used by Stanford ecologist

Paul Ehrlich.

§ In an airplane (ecosystem) all parts are joined together

using thousands of rivets (species).

§ If every passenger travelling in it starts popping a rivet to

take home (causing a species to become extinct), it may not

affect flight safety (proper functioning of the ecosystem)

initially. _____________________ Slide 32 _____________________

§ But as more and more rivets are removed, the plane

becomes dangerously weak over a period of time.

§ Furthermore, which rivet is removed may also be critical.

§ Loss of rivets on the wings (key species that drive major

ecosystem functions) is obviously a more serious threat to

flight safety than loss of a few rivets on the seats or windows

inside the plane.

_____________________ Slide 33 _____________________

Reasons for biodiversity conservation

§ They can be grouped into three categories:

ü Narrowly utilitarian

ü Broadly utilitarian

ü Ethical.

§ Narrowly utilitarian causes are driven by human

which include - food, firewood, fibre, construction m

industrial products and products of medicinal impo

Bioprospecting - exploring molecular, genetic and s

level diversity for products of economic importance.

_____________________ Slide 34 ________________

§ Broadly utilitarian causes are based on the major

ecosystem services such as Oxygen replenishment atmosphere, pollination through pollinators –

bumblebees, birds and bats, the aesthetic pleasu

nature.

_____________________ Slide 35 ________________

§ The ethical argument for conserving biodiversity rel

what we owe to millions of plant, animal and m

species with whom we share this planet. Philosophic

spiritually, we need to realize that every species h

intrinsic value, even if it may not be of current

economic value to us. We have a moral duty to care f

well-being and pass on our biological legacy in good

to future generations.

_____________________ Slide 36 ________________

Strategies for diversity conservation In situ conservati

§ When we conserve and protect the whole ecosyst

biodiversi ty at all levels is protected - we save the

forest to save the tiger.

§ It is expensive.

§ Invariably, the number of species waiting to be save

extinction far exceeds the conservation resources ava

_____________________ Slide 37 ________________

Examples of in situ conservation

§ India now has 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national par

448 wildlife sanctuaries.

§ Sacred grooves of India are found in Khasi and Jaint

in Meghalaya, Aravalli hills of Rajasthan, Western

regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra and the S

Chanda and Bastar areas of Madhya Prade

Meghalaya, the sacred groves are the last refuges

large number of rare and threatened plants.





Slide 38

The important biosphere reserves in India

_____________________ Slide 39 _____________________

Important national parks and sanctuaries

_____________________ Slide 40 _____________________

Biodiversity hotspots

§ There are 34 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ which are rich in species

diversity and are endemic to that area.

§ These hotspots are also regions of accelerated habitat loss.

§ Hotspots of Indian sub-continent include Western Ghats, Sri

Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya.

§ The strict protection of these hotspots could reduc

ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30 per cent.

_____________________ Slide 41 ________________

EExx ssiittuu ccoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn

§ In a situation where an animal or plant is endange

threatened they are taken out from their natural habi

placed in a special setting where they can be protect

given special care.§ Zoological parks, botanical gardens and wildlife safar

are examples of ex situ conservation.

§ Cryopreservation: The gametes and seeds of thre

species can be preserved at very low temperatures

banks have been set up for this purpose.

§ Plants can be propagated using tissue culture method

_____________________ Slide 42 ________________

The strategies of conservation

_____________________ Slide 43 ________________

Earth summit

§ A convention on Biological Diversity (‘The Earth Su

was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, for the conserva

biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits.

§ The World Summit on Sustainable Development was

2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. 190 countries p

their commitment to achieve a significant reduction

current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional an

levels by the year 2010.





CURRICULUM BASED WORKSHEET

Worksheet - I

1. What is IUCN Red List? Give any two uses of this list.

2. List any four factors which may lead to loss of

biodiversity.

3. Biodiversity decreases as one moves from equator

towards poles. Justify with a example.

4. What are exotic species? Explain with the help of twoexamples, how the exotic species disturb the native

species of an ecosystem.

5. Describe in detail the species area relationship of

biodiversity.

6. Define biodiversity?

7. Define ecological / ecosystem diversity. Represent

schematically. How it is related to genetic and species

diversity

8. Write an account on biodiversity in India.

Worksheet - II

1. Who proposed the Rivet – Popper hypothesis? Explain

the same.

2. What is meant by term ‘Hot Spot’ in biodiversity? List

two criteria used for determining a ‘Hot Spot’ Name two

hot spots of India.

3. Why should we conserve the biodiversity explain the

reasons.

4. What is meant by endemism?

5. What are alien species?

6. What is cryopreservation? Give its one application.

7. What were Tilman’s observation?

8. What is meant by fragmentation of habitat? How does it

affect species diversity?

CURRICULAM ASED CHAPTER ASSIGNMENT

1 Mark Questions

1. Name any two threatened animals species of India

2. Who coined the term biodiversity?

3. What is genetic diversity?

4. Write the scientific name of the plant that yields

reserpine.

5. Which region in India has the maximum number of

amphibian species?

6. Which of the two, India or Scandinavia has more

ecosystem diversity?

7. What is the global species diversity according to Robertmay?

8. Name the Indian hot spots that extend into other

countries.

9. Why is it said that ecosystems with diversity can

withstand environmental changes better the others?

10. What are the reasons for biodiversity conservatio

11. What is ex situ conservation?

12. Name any two conventional methods of e

conservation.

13. What are seed banks?

14. What is species diversity? Explain.

15. Definition speciation?

16. Why do we need Biosphere Reserves?

2 Marks Questions

17. What does the term genetic diversity refer to? W

the significance of large genetic diversity in popu

18. Which type of conservation measures, in situ or

will help the larger number of species to su

Explain.

19. Sometimes introduction of an exotic species u

native species of the ecosystem. Substantia

statement with two examples from India.

20. Mention the characteristics of a stable community

21. Name any four recent extinctions of animals.

22. Which region / biome in the world is considered

‘lungs of the planet’? Give two reasons

degradation.

23. What is co – extinction? Explain.

24. What are hot spots? How many hot spots are ide

in the world?

25. What is mass extinction? Give example, how

species of the Red list face extinction?

3 Marks Questions

26. Describe with example the latitudinal gradie

biodiversity.

27. Explain the three hierarchical levels of biodi

giving their characteristics.

28. What do you mean by Species-Area relationsh

diversity?

29. What is the significance of Species diversity

ecosystem?

30. What is the importance of biodiversity in ecosyste

31. How many terrestrial hot spots in all are presen

world? Describe briefly the hot spots of India.

32. Write a brief note on the Earth Summit held in 1

Rio de Janeiro.

33. Write a note on the biodiversity Conservation in I

34. Write a note on the magnitude of biodiversity.

5 Marks Questions

35. Describe in detail the causes of biodiversity loss.

36. What are sacred groves? Where are sacred g

found in India? Name any four. What is

characteristic feature?

37. Write critical notes on ex situ conservat

biodiversity.





QUESTION BANK FOR COMPETITIONS

1. Genetic variation between distinct populations of same

species is known as :

(a) Genetic diversity (b) Species diversity

(c) Ecosystem diversity (d) Biodiversity

2. Spot the site, which is not a biodiversity hot spot?

(a) Central Chile (b) Pakistan

(c) California Floristic Province

(d) Brazil’s Cerrado3. Dodo became extinct due to :

(a) Global environmental changes

(b) Over exploitation of resources

(c) Invasion of non-native species

(d) Pollution

4. Which of the following is not a world heritage site?

(a) Habitat degradation and loss

(b) Invasion of non-native species

(c) Pollution (d) All of these

5. Which of the following is an endemic species of India?

(a) Periyar National Park

(b) Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

(c) Nanda Devi National Park(d) Kaziranga National Park

6. Which of the following is biodiversity hot spot in India?

(a) Whales (b) Lion tailed macaque

(c) Asian elephant (d) Panda

7. Which of the following is biodiversity hot spot?

(a) Panchmarhi (b) Sunderbans

(c) Western Ghats (d) Gulf of Mannar

8. Who introduced the concept of biodiversity hot spot?

(a) WWF

(b) Christopher Columbus

(c) Charles Darwin

(d) Norman Myers

9. Lion tailed macaque is found in :

(a) Western Ghats (b) Caucasus

(c) Eastern Ghats (d) Western Himalaya

10. Nandan kanan zoo is known for the :

(a) Nilgiri Tahr (b) Hippopotamus

(c) White tiger (d) Whale

11. Animals and plants are best protected in :

(a) Zoos (b) Botanical gardens

(c) Sanctuaries (d) National parks

12. The Ranthambore National Park is located in :

(a) Rajasthan (b) Gujarat

(c) U.P. (d) Maharashtra

13. Lions in India are now found in :(a) Jim Corbett N.P.

(b) Forests of Madhya Pradesh

(c) Forests of Western Ghats

(d) Girforests

14. The national bird of India is :

(a) Horn bill (b) Black swan

(c) House sparrow (d) Peacock

15. ‘Project tiger’ in India was started in the year :

(a) 1973 (b) 1981

(c) 1985 (d) 1986

16. Which one of the following is First National Park in Ind

(a) Kanha NP (b) Periyar NP

(b) Corbett NP (d) Bandipur NP

17. Kanha National Park is famous for :(a) Birds (b) Rhinoceros

(b) Tigers (d) Crocodiles

18. The breeding place of Flamingo (Hansawar) in India

likely :

(a) Sambhar lake (b) Chilka lake

(c) Rann of Kachchh (d) Ghana vihar

19. Which one of the following fish is introduced in In

foreigners ?

(a) Labeo rohita (b) Pomphret

(c) Mystus singhala (d) Clarius betrachus

20. Bandipur in Karnataka is the site of Project :

(a) Elephant (b) Hangul

(c) Tiger (d) Peacock21. Red Data Book deals with :

(a) Endemic plant (b) Plants that are ex

(c) Animals on verge of extinction

(d) Plants showing photoperiodism

22. The species becomes extinct most easily by :

(a) Urbanisation (b) Heavy rains

(c) Deforestation (d) Sliding of hills

23. Androgenic haploids are used for :

(a) Raising stock for micropropagation

(b) Induction of mutations

(c) Knowing effect of all genes

(d) Preparation of homozygous diploids24. MAB stands for :

(a) Man and Biology programme

(b) Mammals and Biology programme

(c) Mammals and Biosphere

(d) Man and Biosphere programme

25. Which animal is the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund

(a) Tiger (b) Red Panda

(c) Horn bill (d) White bear

26. Red Data books are produced by :

(a) IUCN (b) WWF

(c) IBWL (d) None of these

27. Commercial latex is obtained from :(a) Euphorbiaceae (b) Acacia arabica

(c) Tectona grandis (d) Manihot esculenta

28. Dudhwa National Park is located in :

(a) Himachal Pradesh (b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Arunachal Prade





29. The species of animals protected in Kaziranga sancturary is:

(a) Macaca mullata (b) Panthera tigris

(c) P. leo (d) Rhinoceros unicornis

30. What is keystone species?

(a) A species which makes up only a small proportion of

the total biomass of a community, yet has a huge

impact on the community organization and survival.

(b) A common species that has plenty of biomass yet has

fairly low impact on the community’s organization.

(c) A rare species that has minimal impact on the biomassand on other species in community.

(d) A dominant species that constitutes a large proportion

of the biomass and which affects many other species.

31. Identify the correct matched pair :

(a) Montreal protocol – Global warming

(b) Kyoto protocol – Climate change

(c) Ramesar convention – Ground water pollution

(d) Basal convention – Biodiversity conservation

32. Biodiversity Act of India was passed by the parliament in the

year :

(a) 1996 (b) 1992

(c) 2002 (d) 2000

33. Hot spots of biodiversity are area :(a) Where maximum number of fauna are found

(b) Where maximum number of flora are found

(c) Where maximum diversity is found

(d) Where maximum natural resources are found

34. In India, we find mangoes with different flavours, colours,

fibre content, sugar content and even shelf life. The large

variation is on account of :

(a) Species diversity (b) Induced mutations

(c) Genetic diversity (d) Hybridization

35. Sardar Sarover Dum is built on the river :

(a) Jhelum (b) Narmada

(c) Tapti (d) Vyas

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15 Biodiversity and Conservation