I Flashcards
Types of biodiversity
1)Genetic diversity
Within species (intraspecific) diversity; usually measured in terms of genetic
differences between individuals or populations.
2)Species diversity
(interspecific) diversity, measured as a combination of number and evenness of
abundance of species.
- Community and ecosystem diversity
Community or ecosystem diversity, measured as the number of different species
assemblages.
Significance of Biodiversity
Productive Value
2. Consumption Value
3. Indirect Value
* Regulating services
* Supporting services
* Cultural services
Productive value:
The resources comes through market or trading. (food value, commercial value, and
medicinal value)
■ Biodiversity provides us many products, such as fuel, timber, fish, fodder, skin, fruits,
cereals and medicines.
Genetic diversity
refers to any variation in the nucleotides, genes, chromosomes, or whole
genomes of organisms.
■ The magnitude of variation in genes of a species increases with increase in size
and environmental parameters of the habitat.
■ The genetic variation arises by gene and chromosome mutation in individuals and
in sexually reproducing organisms.
Species diversity
The richness of a species tells about the extent of biodiversity of a site and provides a
means for comparing different sites.
■ The number of individuals of different species with in a region represents species
evenness or species equitability.
species is confined entirely to a particular area, it is termed as endemic
species (Polar bear, kangaroos, etc.).
Ecosystem diversity
assemblage and interaction of species living together and the physical
environment in a given area.
■ It relates varieties of habitats, biotic communities ecological processes.
The ecosystem diversity is due to diversity of niches, trophic levels and ecological processes
like nutrient cycling, food webs, energy flow, role of dominant species and various related
biotic interactions.
■ Such type of diversity can generate more productive and stable ecosystems or communities
capable of tolerating various types of stresses e.g. drought, flood etc.
xerocoles (xerophilic animals)
Animals that are “true desert dwellers”
Community diversities
According to Whittaker (1965),
α (Alpha) Diversity: This refers to the diversity of species in a particular community,
area, or ecosystem and is measured by counting the number of taxa (eg. Families, genera,
species).
(ii) (Beta) Diversity: is the species diversity between ecosystems; this involves comparing
the number of taxa that are unique to each of the ecosystems. It gives quantitative measure
of diversities of communities that experience environmental change.
(iii) γ (Gamma) Diversity: This refers to the overall diversity and is applied to larger areas
in which both alpha beta diversity are measured.
Consumption value
Consumption value is related to natural products that are consumed directly,
i.e., the goods which do not come under normal circulation of trade.
■ Hunting, direct-consumption (e.g. collection of berries, mushrooms, herbs,
plants)
Indirect value
Maintenance of ecological balance, conservation of natural resources and
prevention of soil erosion may be considered as the examples of indirect use of
biodiversity.
Three indirect values:
- Regulating services
- Supporting services
- Cultural services
Regulating services
Climate regulations, carbon sequestration, flood control, pollination of crops, water
storage, natural purification of water and air, waste decomposition and detoxification,
pest and disease control.
Ecosystem service IN CLEANING freshwater
MUSSELS
Supporting services
Cultural services
Amenity value-recreation
(hiking, bird watching, photography)
■ Spiritual or religious values
■ Education
■ Art
Other aspects of Biodiversity
influencing ecosystem functions (energy flow and biogeochemical cycle). This be easily
understood by observing detrimental effects of global warming and acid rain which cause an
unfavorable alteration in logical processes.
refreshing fragrance of the flowers, taste of berries,
melodious songs of birds, etc. compel the human beings to preserve them. The earth’s natural
beauty with its colour and hues, thick forest, ocean, rivers, etc. has inspired the human beings
to take necessary steps for its maintenance.
of all living organisms, all have equal right to coexist on
the surface of earth with all benefits. Unless some legal value is attached to biodiversity, it will
not be possible to protect the rapid extinction of species.
Biodiversity must be seen in the light of holding ethical value. Since human is the most intelligent
amongst the living organisms, it should be prime responsibility and moral obligation to preserve
and conserve other organisms
Any disturbance in the delicately fabricated ecological balance maintained by different
organisms, will lead to severe problems, which may threaten the survival of human beings.
economic development depends upon efficient and
economic management of biotic resources.
