BIODIVERSITY :VALUES AND

THREATS






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.
To date, biologists have identified and named
more than 1.8 million species, and they
estimate that at least 30 million more are yet
be discovered.

Biodiversity is the totality of




Genetic diversity

Species diversity

Ecosystem diversity

There are 3 components of
biodiversity
1. Genetic diversity - Diversity of genes within a
species
Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogsbut
they're not the same because their genes are different.

Species diversity- Diversity among species in
an ecosystem. Biodiversity hotspots are
excellent examples of species diversity.
There are 3 components of
biodiversity
Ecosystem diversity- Diversity at a higher level of
organization, the ecosystem. To do with the variety of
ecosystems on Earth.
There are 3 components of
biodiversity
7
Tropical Forest, Deciduous Forest, Coniferous Forest ,Tundra ,Polar ice
Latitude
Altitude
Mountain
Ice and
snow
Altitude
Tundra
Coniferous
Forest
Tropical
Forest
Latitude and Altitude can have similar effects on
communities
BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA
Thar desert - The climate and vegetation
in this area
is a contrast to the Himalayan region.
Western Ghats - One of the two
biodiversity hotspots in India.
Sunder bans - The largest mangrove
forest in India.
Chilika - This wetland area is protected
under the Ramsar convention.
Himalayas - This majestic range of
mountains is the home of a diverse range
of flora and fauna. Eastern Himalayas is
one of the two biodiversity hotspots in
India.
Source: earthtrends.wri.org
Comparative statement of recorded number of animal species in
India and the World
Taxa

Species

World

Percentage of India to
the world

Protista

2577

31259

8.24

Mollusca

5070

66535

7.62

Arthropoda

68389

987949

6.9

Other
Invertebrates

8329

87121

9.56

Protochordata

119

2106

5.65

Pisces

2546

21723

11.72

Amphibia

209

5150

4.06

Reptilia

456

5817

7.84

Aves

1232

9026

13.66

Mamalia

390

4629

8.42

Source: MoEF 2002.
IS THE BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA UNDER
THREAT?
10% of Indias plant species are under threat.

More than 150 medicinal plants have
disappeared in recent decades.

About 10% of flowering plants,20% of
mammals and 5% of the birds are threatened.
What do we get from biodiversity?
Oxygen, Food ,Clean Water, Medicine
Aesthetics ,Ideas
Trees make oxygen for us to breath
Plants need insects for pollination.
Animals and birds need to eat plants.
Some animals need to eat the animals that eat
the plants!
But most importantly everything we use comes
from nature!










Direct Use
Value(Goods
)
Indirect Use
Value
(Services)
Non-Use Values
Food,
medicine,
building
material, fiber,
fuel

Atmospheric
and climate
regulation,
pollination,
nutrient
recycling
Potential (or
Option) Value

Future value
either as a good
or service
Cultural,
Spiritual and
Aesthetic
Existence
Value
Value of
knowing
something
exists
Bequest Value

Value of
knowing that
something will
be there for
future
generations
Direct Use Value: Goods
Food

Building Materials

Fuel

Paper Products

Fiber (clothing,
textiles)

Industrial products
(waxes, rubber, oils)

Medicine
Medicine
About 80% of the people in
developing countries use plants
as a primary source of
medicine.

57% of the 150 most-prescribed
drugs have their origins in
biodiversity
Benefits of Biodiversity
Medicines
Plants
Jellyfish & sea
anemones
Nudibranchs
Marine slugs


Food
Today, most people rely on ~20
types of plants, and only 3 to 4
are staple crops.

Diversity is critical for
developing new
strains and breeds, i.e. that suit
a particular environment or are
resistant to pests or disease
and as a source of new crops
Regulating global processes,
such as atmosphere and
climate
Soil and water conservation
Nutrient cycling
Pollination and seed dispersal
Control of agricultural pests
Genetic library
Inspiration and information
Scientific and educational
Tourism and recreation
Cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic
Indirect Use Values: Services
Aesthetic Value
Should we be concerned about
biodiversity?
What we know:
The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate

Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per
hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each
year.
when species of plants and animals go extinct, many
other species are affected.

Threats to biodiversity
Habitat destruction
Pollution
Species Introductions
Global Climate Change
Exploitation

Habitat and Degradation
Destruction of biodiversity rich areas like
tropical forests.
Destruction of coral reefs and Wetlands.
Ploughing of grasslands.
Aquatic ecosystem is threatened.
Pollution of freshwater streams, lakes, and
marine habitats.
Threatened Tropical Forests

A world imperiled- forces behind the
forest losses

Habitat fragmentation
Emergence
of discontinuities in
organisms preferred
environment.

Fragmentation and
destruction of
Great Ape habitat
in Central Africa.
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 24
As the human population grows, the demand for Earths
resources increases.

Fossil fuel emissions affect the biosphere

The greenhouse effect slows the release of energy from Earths
atmosphere.

a. sunlight penetrates Earths atmosphere
b. energy is absorbed and reradiated as heat
c. greenhouse gases absorb longer wavelengths
d. Greenhouse gas molecules rerelease infrared radiation
Biodiversity.ppt


Acid rain is caused by fossil fuel emissions.

a. produced when pollutants in the water cycle
cause rain pH to drop
b. can lower the pH of a lake or stream
c. can harm trees

The levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide rise and
fall over time.



16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 27
Rising tides
CapeHatterasin North Carolina

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 28
More pests
White Spruce trees in Alaska

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 29
No snow
Mount Hood in Oregon

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 30
THE CHANGING ARCTIC

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 31

DESERTIFICATION

Pollutants accumulate in the air.

Pollution is any undesirable factor
added to the air, water, or soil.

Smog is one type of air
pollution.

a. sunlight interacts with
pollutants in the air
b. pollutants produced by fossil
fuel emissions
c. made of particulates and
ground-level ozone


Biomagnification causes
accumulation of toxins in the food
chain.

Pollutants can move up the food
chain.a. predators eat
contaminated prey

b. pollution accumulates at each
stage of the food chain


Top consumers, including humans,
are most affected

Introduced species can disrupt stable
relationships in an ecosystem.

An introduced species is one that is
brought to an ecosystem by humans.
a. accidental
b. purposeful

Invasive species can have an
environmental and economic impact.


Modern Extinctions
[the Sixth Extinction]

Anthropogenic Causes
Habitat destruction
Habitat degradation
Habitat fragmentation
Exotic species introductions
Overexploitation
Climate change

Increased vulnerability of species extinction

Ecological imbalance

Reduced sources of food, structural materials,
medicinal and genetic resources

Cost increase to the society


Impact of loss of Biodiversity

Meeting the increasing demand for biological resources
caused by population growth and increased consumption.
Increasing our capacity to document and understand
biodiversity, its value, and threats to it.
Building adequate expertise and experience in
biodiversity planning.
Improving policies, legislation, guidelines, and fiscal
measures for regulating the use of biodiversity.
Adopting incentives to promote more sustainable forms
of biodiversity use.


Action for Biodiversity Sustenance
Promoting trade rules and practices

Strengthening coordination within governments,
and between governments and stakeholders.

Securing adequate financial resources

Making better use of technology.

Building political support Improving education and
public awareness
Unless we take action now,
children born today will live in an
impoverished world.......
THANK YOU
All these creatures need
their homes protected