Digital Assignment EVS

Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity and Conservation of Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity

Vinit Shahdeo 15BIT0335

What is

BIODIVERSITY….???

The term "biodiversity" is a combination of two

words, "biology" and "diversity”. This word

originates from the Greek word BIOS = LIFE and

Latin word DIVERSITAS = VARIETY or

DIFFERENCE. The whole word BIO DIVERSITY

generally therefore means: VARIETY OF LIFE.

Biodiversity or Biological Diversity a sum of all the

different species of animals, plants, fungi, and

microbial organisms living on Earth and the variety

of habitats in which they live. It is the totality of

genes, species and ecosystem.

Why is biodiversity important???

Everything that lives in an ecosystem is part of the web of life, including humans.

Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place on the earth and plays a

vital role in the circle of life. Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend

upon one another for what each offers, such as food, shelter, oxygen, and soil

enrichment.

Maintaining a wide diversity of species in each ecosystem is necessary to preserve

the web of life that sustains all living things. In his 1992 best-seller, "The Diversity

of Life," famed Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson -- known as the

"father of biodiversity," -- said, "It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be

diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity itself."

Levels of Biodiversity

Genetic Biodiversity

The first level of biodiversity, genetic diversity, is the level at which we can most

clearly observe the evolution of diversity. Genetic diversity includes the many

kinds of genes that are available for given members of a species, such as a family,

a population, or the entire species. This variety of genes allows the species to

have many kinds of heritable traits that allow it to survive through changing

environments.

For example, in a particularly cold winter, many individuals of a species may die

from lack of insulation, but if the population as a whole has genetic diversity for a

trait such as fat storage, then at least some members of the population will

survive and the species will not become extinct. The next year, more offspring will

have the valuable trait and the species will evolve to tolerate the cooler

environment.

Taxonomic Diversity

The next level of biodiversity, taxonomic diversity, refers to the variety of

individuals at a given hierarchical level in the scientific naming system. This could

be the number of different species, genera, families, or kingdoms. For example, a

cornfield may have hundreds of birds living in it, but they may represent only three

species that are all in one family, meaning that there is low taxonomic diversity. A

similar-sized area in a nearby forest may also have hundreds of birds living in it,

but these birds may be from twenty different species that belong to eight families

and three orders, representing a higher level of diversity. Around the world, crops

and livestock typically consist of only one species. These monocultures support a

low level of biodiversity.

Ecological Diversity

Ecological diversity is the variety of habitat types that are available in a given area.

These habitats can have different physical characteristics such as temperature and

soil type, as well as different organisms inhabiting them. When the habitat with all

its organisms and their complex interactions are considered together, it is termed

an ecosystem. Ecosystem diversity is typically the level that is discussed in relation

to biodiversity.

Five main threats to biodiversity are commonly recognized in the programs of

work of the Convention: invasive alien species, climate change, nutrient loading

and pollution, habitat change, and overexploitation. Unless we successfully

mitigate the impacts of these direct drivers of change on biodiversity, they will

contribute to the loss of biodiversity components, negatively affect ecosystem

integrity and hamper aspirations towards sustainable use.

In discussing threats to biodiversity it is important to keep in mind that, behind

these direct drivers of biodiversity loss, there are a number of indirect drivers that

interact in complex ways to cause human-induced changes in biodiversity. They

include demographic, economic, socio-political, cultural, religious, scientific and

technological factors, which influence human activities that directly impact on

biodiversity.

Indicators for trends in nutrient loading and invasive alien species have been

identified under the focal area addressed here, and are described below.

Information on habitat change is provided by the indicator trends in extent of

selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats. Overexploitation is discussed under the

focal area on sustainable use. While there is no single indicator of the impacts of

climate change on biodiversity, a number of indicators, including those on trends

in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats (particularly applied to coral

reefs, polar ice and glaciers, and certain types of forests and dry lands), abundance

and distribution of selected species, and incidence of human induced ecosystem

failure, can serve to derive trends where specific data are available. Because small,

fragmented ecosystems are more affected by changes in temperature and humidity

than large contiguous ecosystems with a more balanced micro-climate, trends in

connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems provide an indicator of the vulnerability

of ecosystems to climate change.

Threats to

About Aquatic Biodiversity

Aquatic biodiversity can be defined as the variety of life and the ecosystems that

make up the freshwater, tidal, and marine regions of the world and their

interactions. Aquatic biodiversity encompasses freshwater ecosystems, including

lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, streams, groundwater, and wetlands. It also consists

of marine ecosystems, including oceans, estuaries, salt marshes, sea grass beds,

coral reefs, kelp beds, and mangrove forests. Aquatic biodiversity includes all

unique species, their habitats and interaction between them. It consists of

phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals, and

others.

Importance of Aquatic Biodiversity

Aquatic biodiversity has enormous economic and aesthetic value and is largely

responsible for maintaining and supporting overall environmental health. Humans

have long depended on aquatic resources for food, medicines, and materials as well

as for recreational and commercial purposes such as fishing and tourism. Aquatic

organisms also rely upon the great diversity of aquatic habitats and resources for

food, materials, and breeding grounds.

Threats to Aquatic Biodiversity

Factors including overexploitation of species, the introduction of exotic species,

pollution from urban, industrial, and agricultural areas, as well as habitat loss and

alteration through damming and water diversion all contribute to the declining

levels of aquatic biodiversity in both freshwater and marine environments. As a

result, valuable aquatic resources are becoming increasingly susceptible to both

natural and artificial environmental changes. Thus, conservation strategies to

protect and conserve aquatic life are necessary to maintain the balance of nature

and support the availability of resources for future generations.

Human activities are causing species to disappear at an

alarming rate. Aquatic species are at a higher risk of extinction than mammals and

birds. Losses of this magnitude impact the entire ecosystem, depriving valuable

resources used to provide food, medicines, and industrial materials to human

beings. Runoff from agricultural and urban areas, the invasion of exotic species,

and the creation of dams and water diversion have been identified as the greatest

challenges to freshwater environments (Allan and Flecker 1993; Scientific

American 1997). Overexploitation of aquatic organisms for various purposes is the

greatest threat to marine environments, thus the need for sustainable exploitation

has been identified by the Environmental Defense Fund as the key priority in

preserving marine biodiversity. Other threats to aquatic biodiversity include urban

development and resource-based industries, such as mining and forestry that

destroy or reduce natural habitats. In addition, air and water pollution,

sedimentation and erosion, and climate change also pose threats to aquatic

biodiversity.

Factors affecting the Aquatic Biodiversity

Overexploitation of species — Overexploitation of species affects the loss of

genetic diversity and the loss in the relative species abundance of both individual

and /or groups of interacting species. The population size gets reduced because of

disturbances in age structure and sex composition. Efficient gears remove quick

growing larger individuals. Consequently, the proportion of slow growing ones

increases and the average size of individuals in a population decreases. Over-

fishing causes change in the genetic structure of fish populations due to loss of

some alleles. Thus, genetic diversity gets reduced.

Habitat modification — Physical modification of habitat may lead to species

extinction. This is mainly caused due to damming, deforestation, diversion of

water for irrigation and conversion of marshy land and small water bodies for other

purposes. Construction of dams on river impedes upstream migration of fishes and

displaces populations from their normal spawning grounds and separate the

population in two smaller groups. Deforestation leads to catchment area

degradation due to soil erosion which results into sedimentation and siltation. This

not only affect the breeding ground of aquatic organisms but cause gill clogging of

small fishes also.

Pollution load — four forms of pollutants can be distinguished-

Poisonous pollutants — Agrochemicals, metals, acids and phenol cause mortality,

if present in a high concentration and affect the reproductive functionality of fish

(Kime, 1995).

Suspended solids — it affects the respiratory processes and secretion of protective

mucus making the fish susceptible to infection of various pathogens.

Sewage and organic pollutants — they cause deoxygenation due to

eutrophication causing mortality in fishes.

Thermal pollution — it cause increase in ambient temperature and reduce

dissolved oxygen concentration leading to death of some sensitive species.

Conservation Approaches

Aquatic conservation strategies support sustainable development by protecting

biological resources in ways that will preserve habitats and ecosystems. In order

for biodiversity conservation to be effective, management measures must be broad

based.

Aquatic areas that have been damaged or suffered habitat loss or degradation can

be restored. Even species populations that have suffered a decline can be targeted

for restoration (e.g., Pacific Northwest salmon populations).

An aquatic bio- reserve is a defined space within a water body in which fishing is

banned or other restrictions are placed in an effort to protect plants, animals, and

habitats, ultimately conserving biodiversity. These bio-reserves can also be used

for educational purposes, recreation, and tourism as well as potentially increasing

fisheries yields by enhancing the declining fish populations. These bio-reserves are

also very similar to marine protected areas, fishery reserves, sanctuaries, and parks.

Bioregional management is a total ecosystem strategy, which regulates factors

affecting aquatic biodiversity by balancing conservation, economic, and social

needs within an area. This consists of both small-scale biosphere reserves and

larger reserves.

Watershed management is an important approach towards aquatic diversity

conservation. Rivers and streams, regardless of their condition, often go

unprotected since they often pass through more than one political jurisdiction,

making it difficult to enforce conservation and management of resources.

However, in recent years, the protection of lakes and small portions of watersheds

organized by local watershed groups has helped this situation.

Plantation of trees in the catchment area of water body prevent soil erosion and

subsequently reduce the problem of siltation in water body resulting in better

survival of aquatic organisms.

Avoid the establishment of industries, chemical plants and thermal power plants

near the water resources as their discharge affect the ecology of water body

resulted in loss of biodiversity.

The World Resources Institute documents that the designation of a particular

species as threatened or endangered has historically been the primary method of

protecting the biodiversity.

Many specialized programs should be instituted to protect biodiversity. For

example, the USDA Forest Service started a cooperative state-federal program

with a goal to restore the health of riverine systems and associated species.

Regulatory measures must be taken on wastewater discharge in the water body to

conserve biological diversity.

Increasing public awareness is one of the most important ways to conserve aquatic

biodiversity. This can be accomplished through educational programs, incentive

programs, and volunteer monitoring programs.

Various organizations and conferences that research biodiversity and associated

conservation strategies help to identify areas of future research, analyze current

trends in aquatic biodiversity.

Terrestrial Biodiversity

Terrestrial refers to things having to do with the land. Biodiversity is the variation

of life forms within a given ecosystem or biome. Combine the two, and there you

go!

Terrestrial Biodiversity: the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem or

biome that refers to species that inhabit the land.

Some Facts to Explore

• India is known for its rich heritage of biodiversity.

• India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world.

• With only 2.4 % of the world’s area, India accounts for 7–8 % of the

world’s recorded plant and animal species.

• India’s ten biogeographic zones possess an exemplary diversity of

ecological habitats like alpine forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal and

marine ecosystems, and desert ecosystems.

• Amongst the existing biota, 91,307 species of animals of which 2,557

Protista, 12,470 general invertebrates, 69,903 arthropods, 4,994 vertebrates,

and 45,500 species of plants as well as 5,650 microbial species have been

documented in its 10 bio-geographic regions.

• India has four out of thirty-four global biodiversity hotspots, which is an

indicator of high degree of endemism (of species) in India.

• About 5,150 plant species and 1,837 animal species are endemic to India.

• India’s biodiversity includes wild relatives of agricultural crops and

domesticated animals.

• India has 16 major types and 251 subtypes of forests.

• Indigenous medicine systems utilize nearly 6,500 native plants for both

human and animal healthcare.

• India’s diverse preponderance of native tribal and ethnic groups has

contributed significantly in the conservation and diversification of

biodiversity. Its cultural and ethnic diversity includes over 550 tribal

communities of 227 ethnic groups spread over 5,000 forested villages. India

proudly upholds the tradition of nature conservation.

• In 252 B.C., the Emperor Asoka established protected areas (PAs) for

mammals, birds, fish and forests through a proclamation. Jim Corbett

National Park covering an area of 325 sq km came into being as the India’s

first and world’s third National Park in 1936.

• India has currently 4.79 % of total geographic area under an elaborate

network of PAs, which includes 99 National Parks, 513 wildlife sanctuaries,

43 conservation reserves, 4 community reserves and 3 biodiversity heritage

sites.

• India has a National Wildlife Action Plan, which envisages 10 % of the

geographical area of the country under PA coverage.

Threatened Indian Species

Conservation Approaches

International treaties:-

• Various treaties have helped conserve biota.

• A major one is CITES, the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, prepared in 1973.

• It bans international trade and transport of body parts of endangered

organisms.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), from the Rio Conference

in 1992, aims to:

1. Conserve biodiversity

2. Use it sustainably

3. Ensure fair distribution of its benefits

The CBD has been signed by 188 nations, but not by the United States.

BIODIVERSITY CONVENSIONS

The first convention on biodiversity organized at Rio De Janerio, capital of

Brazil from June 5 to 16, 1992 named as United Nation Conference On

Environment and Development

(UNCED), better known as Rio Summit to maintain ecological balance

and enrich biodiversity. The agreement on biodiversity signed by 150

countries including three programmes-

To ensure conservation of biodiversity

Sustainable use of biodiversity

Rational and equitable share of profit to accrue from use of genetic

resources.

The second convention organized at Johannesburg in 2002 called World

Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) where the Biodiversity and

Sustainable Ecosystem Management was the issue.

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY: INSITU

AND EX-SITU

In-situ conservation: Conservation of a species is best done by protecting its

habitat along with all the other species that live in it in nature.

Ex-situ conservation: However, there are situations in which an endangered

species is so close to extinction that unless alternate methods are instituted, the

species may be rapidly driven to extinction.

• In situ

• Sacred groves and lakes

• Biosphere Reserves

• Terrestrial

• Marine

• National parks, wildlife sanctuaries

• Ex situ

• Sacred plant home garden

• Seed Bank, Gene bank, Cryopreservation

• Botanical garden, Zoological garden, Aquaria

Captive breeding

Many endangered species are being bred in zoos, to boost populations and

reintroduce them into the wild. But this is worthless if there is not adequate

habitat left in the wild.

Umbrella species

When habitat is preserved to meet the needs of an “umbrella species,” it

helps preserve habitat for many other species. (Thus, primary species serve

as an “umbrella” for others.)

• Large species with large home ranges (like tigers and other top

predators) are good umbrella species.

• So are flagship species, or charismatic species that win public

affection, like the panda.

Biodiversity hotspots

Biodiversity hotspot = an area that supports an especially high number of

species endemic to the area, found nowhere else in the world.

Community-based conservation

• Many environmentalists from developed nations who want to establish

reserves in developing nations have been viewed with resentment by local

people.

• But today many efforts work with local communities to get them invested in

the conservation of their own natural resources.

• This community-based conservation makes efforts more complex, but will

probably be more successful in the long run.

Economic incentives

Debt-for-nature swaps = a non-governmental organization (NGO) raises

money and offers to pay off debt for a developing country, in exchange for

parks, reserves, habitat protection

Conservation concession = an NGO offers money to a developing nation’s

government for a concession to some of its land—for conservation, rather

than for resource extraction

Biodiversity is our life. If the Biodiversity got lost at this rate then in near

future, the survival of human being will be threatened. So, it is our moral

duty to conserve Biodiversity as well our Environment. Long-term

maintenance of species and their management requires co-operative efforts

across entire landscapes. Biodiversity should be dealt with at scale of

habitats or ecosystems rather than at species level.

Presented By:-

Vinit Shahdeo

15BIT0335