1. BIODIVERSITY
Source: orgs.unca.edu/tulula/images/biodiversity.jpg

2. What is BIODIVERSITY ?
Refers to the numbers, variety and variability of living organisms and ecosystem.
Includes all terrestrial, marine and other aquatic organisms.
Covers diversity within species, between species as well as variations among ecosystems.

3. Factors determining Degree of Diversity
Habitat stress
Geographical isolation
Dominance by one species
Availability of ecological niches
Edge effect
Geological history

4. Types of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity - Diversity of genes within a species. i.e. genetic variability among the populations and the individuals of the same species.
Species diversity- Diversity among species in an ecosystem. “Biodiversity hotspots” are excellent examples of species diversity.
Ecosystem diversity- Diversity at a higher level of organization, the ecosystem. To do with the variety of ecosystems on Earth.

5. Importance of Biodiversity.
Biodiversity has contributed in many ways to the development of human culture, and, in turn, human communities have played a major role in shaping the diversity of nature at the genetic, species, and ecological levels.

6. Important Role of Biodiversity
Ecological Role…..
Economic Role…..
Scientific Role…..

7. Ecological Role of Biodiversity
All species provide at least one function in an ecosystem. Each function is an integral part of regulating the species balance, species diversity and species health: all aspects which are intrinsic for the ecosystem as a whole to survive and prosper

8. Economic Role of Biodiversity .
Food: Crop Biodiversity or agrobiodiversity.
Goods: Various things like timber,paper,medicines.
Recreation: Wildlife tourism, trekking nature photography,birdwatching.

9. Scientific Role of Biodiversity
Genetic resources:Biotechnology and genetic enginnering use the genes of organisms to make new crops and medicines.
Each species can give scientist some clue as to how life evolved and will continue to evolve.

10. Causes of Biodiversity losses
At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per
cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological
resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the
greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic
development, and adaptive responses to such new
challenges as climate change.
— The Convention about Life on Earth, Convention on biodiversity website.
Habitat loss and degradation.
Habitat fragmentation.

11. Global Biodiversity 20 million species (1.5 million known)
0.5% loss per year- deforestation
Terrestial Biodiversity or Biomass
Tropical rain Forest:
millions of species plants, insects, birds, amphibians and mammals
50-75% of Global Biodiversity
3000 plants- utilized for cancer treatments & AIDS virus
1,30,000 flowering plants

12. Temperate Forests Marine Diversity 1,70,000 Flowering plants
30,000 vertebrates
Marine Diversity
Estuaries, coastal waters and oceans- low diversity
Sea- large…..of 34(35) phyla of multicellular animas

13. Measurement of Biodiversity
Point richness
No. of species known at single point
Alpha richness or diversity
No. of species found in Small (homogenous) area
Beta richness or diversity
Rate of change in species composition across haitats( increases heterogenous area)
Gama richness
Rate of change across large landscape

14. Biodiversity in Tamil Nadu
Salem district( dense forest)
Western Ghats (1500 plants, 50 mammals, 90 reptiles)
Vedanthangal – Birds Sanctuary
Anaimalai
Mundanthurai-tiger Sanctuary

15. Mega Diversity 170 countries 12 countries- 70% biodiverity
Australia, brazil, China, colombia, Ecuador, US, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, peru and Democra tic republic of congo.

16. 12th Mega-diversity nation
Animal species
Plant- 47,000 species
Sum of 10.8% of world floral species
Loss of endemic-33%`

17. Endemim or endemic species
Plant diversity
flowering-5000 varieties
crop- 166 varieties
Marine Diversity
coral- 340 species
mangrove plants and sea grasses
Agro-Diversity
crop & wild – 167 species
Animal biodiversity
75,000 animal

18. Red Data book (or) Red list
Catalogue of taxa facing risk of extinction
Awareness on degree of threats to biodiversity
Global index -decline of Biodiversity
Identification species at high risk
Conservation awareness
Information on internal agreements
Endangered -44 plant species
Vulnerable- 143
2nd rank interms of threatened species