Chapter 13: BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION
Biodiversity: refers to the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region.
Species area relationship:
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT observed within a region species richness increased with
increasing area but only up to a limit.
The relation between species richness and area turns out to be a rectangular hyperbola.
On a logarithmic scale the relationship is a straight line describe by the equation Log S = log C +Z
log A Where S= species richness, A = Area, Z = slope of the line (regression coefficient), C = Y
intercept. Regardless of the taxonomic group or region the slope of the regression line are
amazingly similar. However, for a very large area like the entire continent the slope of line is
steeper.
Since the origin and diversification of life on earth there were five episodes of mass extinction of
species. The sixth mass Extinctions in progress now. The Sixth Extinction is different from the
previous five extinctions because the current extinction rate is 100 to 1000 times faster due to this
one is anthropogenic influence
David Tillman’s long-term field experiment finds that:
1. Plots with more species showed less year to year variation in biomass
2. Increased diversity contributed to higher productivity.
The rivet popper hypothesis: In an airplane (ecosystem) all parts are joined together by
thousands of rivets (species). If every passenger starts popping a rivet (species extinct), it
may affect flight safety as more and more rivets are removed, the plane becomes dangerously
weak. The rivet is removed may also be critical. Loss of rivets on the wings (key species) is
a more serious threat to flight safety than loss of a few other rivets.
Loss of Biodiversity: The IUCN Red List (2004) documents the extinction of 784 species.
Recent extinction includes: Dodo (Mauritius), Quake (Africa), Thylacine (Australia), Stiller‟s
cow (Russia)
Effects of biodiversity loss:
Decline in plant production.
Lowered resistance to environmental perturbations such as drought.
Increased variability in certain ecosystem processes such as plant productivity, water use,
and pest and disease cycle.
Causes of biodiversity loss: The present loss is all due to human activity (anthropogenic)
There are four major causes known as “The Evil Quartet” are as follows:
● Habitat loss and fragmentation:
● Over-exploitation:
● Alien species invasion: Eg. i) Nile perch introduced into Lake Victoria in east Africa
led to extinction of 200 species of cichlid fish in the lake.
ii) Parthenium, (carrot grass), Lantana, and water hyacinth (Eichornia) posed a thread
to indigenous species.
iii)African cat fish Clarias gariepinus for aquaculture purposed is posing a threat
to indigenous catfishes in our rivers.
● Co-extinction:
When a species becomes extinct, the plant and animal
species associated
with it an obligatory way also become extinct. Extinction of Host species leads to
extinction of the parasite also. Co-evolved plant pollinator mutualism where extinction of
one invariably lead to the extinction of the other.
Conservation of Biodiversity:
Reason for conservation biodiversity is grouped intothree categories.
i) Narrowly utilitarian:
Human derive countless direct economic benefits from nature- Food (cereals, pulses,
fruits,firewood, fiber, construction material.
Industrial products (tannins, lubricants, dyes, resins, perfumes)
Products of medicinal importance.
Bioprospecting: exploring molecular genetic and species-level diversity for products
economic importance.
ii) Broadly Utilitarian :
Amazonian forest along produce 20% of oxygen during photosynthesis.
Pollinators without which seed cannot be produced by plants.
Aesthetic pleasure.
Two types of conservation of biodiversity: In situ and Ex situ conservation.
In situ conservation: ( On site)
When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all level is protected –
we save the entire forest to save the tiger.
Biodiversity hot spot: regions with very high levels of species richness and high degree of
endemism.(species confined to that region and not found anywhere else)
Hot spot in biodiversity is also regions of accelerated habitat loss.
Out of 34 hot spot in the world, three hot spot located in India: Western Ghats ,
Indo-Burma, Himalaya.
Other protected area under in situ conservations are: 14 biosphere reserve , 90 national park
,448 wild life sanctuary
Sacred groves: tract of forest were set aside, and all the trees and wildlife within were
venerated and given total protection.
Ex situ conservation: threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat
and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care.
Zoological Park.,Botanical garden,Wildlife safari.
Conservation of gamete by cryopreservation.
Genetic strains are preserved in seed bank.
Convention on Biodiversity:
“The earth Summit” held in Rio de Jeneiro in 1992 nations pledged to take appropriate
measures for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits.
“ World Summit on Sustainable development held in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa,190
countries pledged their commitment to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the current
rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and local level.
Ramsar sites- Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance
under the Ramsar Convention, also known as "The Convention on Wetlands", an international
environmental treaty signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices
of UNESCO. It came into force on 21 December 1975, when it was ratified by a sufficient
number of nations. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding
the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources. Ramsar identifies
wetlands of international importance, especially those providing waterfowl habitat.
1st Ramsar sites in India - Chilika Lake (Orissa) , Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).
Total number of Ramsar sites in India - 86
Five new Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) announced in January 2024.
Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary, Magadi Kere Conservation
Reserve (Karnataka) Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu).
