UNIT I - Environment and Biodiversity

Environment and Biodiversity

1.1 Introduction

❑ The word environment is derived from the French word

“Environ” meaning “Surroundings”.

❑ Each and everything around us is called as environment.

❑ Every organisms is surrounded by materials and forces

which constitute its environment, from which it must derive
its needs.

❑ Environment creates favourable conditions for the

existence and development of living organisms.
Example
Cow eats plants for its survival. The plant requires nourishment from
the soil. Nourishment is provided by nitrogenous mater excreted by
animal (or) by the dead bodies of other plants and animals.

❖ Thus for the survival of an animal (or) a plant, (or) a microbe, it

requires a supply of materials and removal of waste products from its
environment.

❖ The degradation of the environment has become a serious problem.

❖ The pollution of soil, water and air leads to loss of valuable natural
resources.
1.2 DEFINITIONS

1. Environment
❑ Environment is defined as, “the sum of total of all the living and
non - living things around us influencing one another.”

2. Environmental science
❑ Environmental science is the study of the environment, its biotic
(ie., biological) and abiotic (ie., non biological) components and their
interrelationship.

3.Environmental Engineering
❑ Environmental engineering is the application of engineering
principles to the protection and enhancement of the quality of the
environment and to the enhancement and protection of public health
and welfare.
4. Environmental Studies (or) Environmental Education

❑ Environmental studies are the process of educating the people for

preserving quality environment.

1.3 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT

Environment can be divided into two categories

✓ Natural environment
✓ Man - made environment
1. Natural environment
❖ Natural environment is characterized by natural components.
❖ All biotic (living) and abiotic components (non-living) are created
through a natural process.
❖ Creation of these biotic and abiotic components do not require any
human support.

Examples : Soil, water, air, trees, radiations, noise, etc.,

2.Man- made environment

❖ Man is the most powerful environmental agent.
❖ He modifies the environment using modern technologies,
according to his needs to a great extent.
❖ Thus the man-made environment is created by man.

Examples House, road, schools, railway lines, parks, etc.,

1.4 COMPONENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
❑ The environment consists of the following three important
components.

✓ Abiotic (or) Non-living components.

✓ Biotic (or) Living components.
✓ Energy components.

1.4.1 Abiotic (or) Non – Living Components (or) Physical

Components
❑ The non - living components of the environment are called
abiotic components.

Example Air, water, soil and minerals.

❖ These abiotic components enter the body of living organisms
directly (or) indirectly, take part in metabolic activities and then return
to the environment.

❖ Abiotic components are sub divided into three categories

✓ Atmosphere
✓ Lithosphere
✓ Hydrosphere

1. Atmosphere
❖ The cover of air, that envelopes the earth is known as the
atmosphere. The atmosphere extends upto 500 kms from the earth
surface.
❖ The atmosphere is essential for all living organisms.
❖ It comprises 78% of nitrogen, 21% of oxygen and 1% of other
gases.
Structure of atmosphere
❑ Atmosphere consists of following five concentric layers

(a)Troposphere (0 - 18 kms):
❖ It is the lower portion of the atmosphere and extends from 0 – 18
kms.
❖ It contains 75% of the atmospheric air mass.
❖ The temperature of troposphere changes from 15°C to 56°C and
the chemical constituents are O2 , CO 2 , N 2 and water (clouds).

(b) Stratosphere (18 - 50 kms):

❖ It lies above the troposphere and extends from 18 - 50 kms.
❖ The temperature of which changes from − 2°C to − 56°C and the
main chemical constituent is ozone.
(c) Mesosphere (50 - 85 kms):
❖ It lies above the stratosphere and extends from 50 - 85 kms.
❖ The temperature of which drops to about − 95°C.
+ +
❖ The main chemical constituents are N 2 , O2 , O 2 and NO .

(d) Thermosphere (or) Ionosphere (85 - 500 kms):

❖ It lies above the mesosphere and extends upto 500 kms above the
earth surface.
❖ The temperature of which raises upto 1200°C.
+ + +
❖ It contains the charged particles like O2 , O , NO etc.,

(e) Exosphere:
❖ It is the upper most layer of the atmosphere and extends upto
1600 km.
❖ The temperature of which is very high due to direct solar
radiation. The chemical constituents are only H 2 and He.
Table 1.1 Regions with temperature change and chemical species
of atmosphere
Region Altitude Temperature Chemical
in km change in °C species

1. Troposphere 0-18 15 to –56 N 2 ,H 2 O,

CO 2 , O2

2. Stratosphere 18-50 –56 to –2 Ozone

+ +
3. Mesosphere 50-85 –2 to –92 NO , O 2

+ + +
4. Thermosphere 85-500 –92 to 1200 NO ,O , O2
Fig. 1.1 Structure of atmosphere with temperature
Functions of atmosphere
➢ It maintains the heat balance on the earth by absorbing the IR
radiations.

➢ The gaseous constituents play an important role in sustaining

life on earth.

Gaseous Functions
Constituent

Oxygen supports life of living organisms.

Carbon-dioxide essential for photosynthetic activity of
plants.

Nitrogen essential nutrient for plant growth.

2. Lithosphere
❑ The soil and rock components of the earth is called lithosphere.

Functions of lithosphere
➢ It is a home for human beings and wildlife.
➢ It is a storehouse of minerals and organic matters.

3. Hydrosphere
❖ The aqueous envelope of the earth (ie., 75% of the earth
surface) is called hydrosphere.
❖ Oceans, lakes, streams, rivers and water vapour constitute
hydrosphere.
❖ About 97% of earth’s water is in oceans, which is too salty and
not fit for drinking.
❖ Only 3% is available as fresh water.
Functions of hydrosphere
➢ It is used for drinking purpose and also supports the aquatic life.
➢ It is also used for irrigation, power production, industries and
transport.

1.4.2 Biotic (or) Living Components

❑ The living components of the environment are called biotic
components.

Examples Animals, plants and micro organisms.

Biosphere:
❑ The biological environment, where the living organisms live and
interact with physical environment (soil, water and air) is called
biosphere.
Functions of biosphere:
❖ Plants through photosynthesis produce oxygen in the atmosphere.
❖ Animals inhale oxygen during respiration and give out
carbondioxide, which is again utilised by plants during photosynthesis.

1.4.3 Energy Components

❖ The components of energy flows across biotic and abiotic
components, which play an important role to maintain the life of living
organisms.

Examples

Solar energy, nuclear energy, geochemical energy, thermo electrical

energy.
1.5 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

❑ Environmental study is an important tool to educate the people for

preserving quality environment.

➢ The main scope of environmental studies include

✓ To get an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and

its related problems.
✓ To motivate the active participation in environmental protection
and improvement.
✓ To develop skills for identifying and solving environmental
problems.
✓ To know the necessity of conservation of natural resources.
✓ To evaluate environmental programmes interms of social,
economic, ecological, and aesthetic factors.
1.6 IMPORTANCE (or) SIGNIFICANCE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

❖ The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume and
the land we live on are all contaminated by the industrial activities.
❖ There is no zero pollution industry.
❖ Because of the lack of self discipline and not worrying about our
future generation, the valuable resources are polluted.
❖ To solve the above problems, the knowledge of environmental
studies is very important.

➢ By environmental studies, people will understand the concept of

“need of development without destruction of environment”.
➢ Through environmental studies, people can gain the knowledge
of different types of environment and the effects of different
environmental hazards.
➢ Environmental studies inform the people about their effective
role in protecting the environment by demanding changes in laws
and enforcement systems.
➢ Environmental studies have a direct relation to the quality of life
we live.
➢ Environmental studies develop a concern and respect for the
environment.

1.7 NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARNESS

❖ Increasing population, urbanisation and poverty have generated
pressure on the natural resources and lead to a degradation of the
environment.
❖ To protect (or) prevent the environment from the pollution,
Supreme Court has ordered and initiated the environmental
awareness to the public through Government and Non - government
agencies to take part to protect our environment.
1.7.1 Importance of Public (or) Community participation
❖ Environmental pollution cannot be removed by the laws alone.
❖ The proper implementation and especially public participation are the
important aspects, which should be given importance and stress.
❖ The public participation is useful in law making process and
controlling the pollution activities.
❖ Thus the public participation plays a major role in the effective
environmental management.

1.7.2 Types of Public Participation

❑ Public participation in the decision making process can be at any
stage and of various forms.

1. Pressure Group:
❑ The public “Pressure group” may be formed to influence the
government on one hand and the industries on the other hand.
2. Watch dog:
❑ The public can act as “watch dog” to protect the interests of public
against environmental hazardous activities.

3. Advisory council:
❑ The public can also act as advisory council and agencies, which is
constituted to keep the environment suitable for living.

4. Enforcing the environmental laws:

❑ The services of public can be utilized to enforce the environmental
laws.
❑ If necessary the member of public should conduct public interest
litigations.
❑ Thus many countries have accepted the concept of public
participation in environmental management.
1.8 ECOLOGY
❖ All living organisms, whether plant (or) animal (or) human being is
surrounded by the environment, from which it derive its needs for its
survival.

❖ Each living component interacts with non-living components for

their basic requirements form different ecosystem.

Definition

Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms (or) group of

organisms with their environment. The environment consists of both
biotic
components (living organisms) and abiotic components (non-living
organisms).
(or)
Ecology is the study of ecosystems.
1.9 ECOSYSTEM
❖ Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology.

❖ The term ecosystem is coined from a Greek word meaning study

of home.

Definition
A group of organisms interacting among themselves and with
environment is known as ecosystem. Thus, an ecosystem is a
community of different species interacting with one another and
with their non-living environment exchanging energy and matter.

Examples
Animals cannot synthesis their food directly but depend on the plants
either directly (or) indirectly.
1.9.1 Biome (Small Ecosystem)

❑ The kind of organisms which can live in a particular ecosystem

depends on their physical and metabolic adoptions to the
environment of that place.

On earth there are many sets of ecosystems which are exposed to

same climatic conditions and having dominant species with similar
life cycle, climatic adoptions and physical structure.

This set of ecosystem is called a biome.

Thus the biome is a small ecosystem with in an ecosystem.

1.10.1 Natural ecosystem
❑ Natural ecosystems operate themselves under natural conditions.
Based on habitat types, it can be further classified into three types.

1. Terrestrial ecosystem
❖ This ecosystem is related to land and types of vegetation.

Examples
Grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem, desert ecosystem, etc.,

2.Aquatic ecosystem
❖ This ecosystem is related to water, it is further sub classified into
two types based on salt content.
(i) Fresh water ecosystem.

(a) Running water ecosystems.

Examples Rivers, streams.

(b) Standing water ecosystems.

Examples Pond, lake.

(ii) Marine ecosystem

Examples Seas and sea shores.

1.10.2 Man-made (or) Artificial ecosystems

❑ Artificial ecosystem is operated (or) maintained by man
himself.
Examples Croplands, gardens.
1.11 STRUCTURE (OR) COMPONENT OF AN ECOSYSTEM

❖ The term structure refers to the various components.

❖ So the structure of an ecosystem explains the relationship between
the abiotic (non-living) and the biotic (living) components.
❖ An ecosystem has two major components
✓ Abiotic (non-living) components.
✓ Biotic (living) components.

1.11.1 Abiotic (non-living) components

❑ The non-living components (physical and chemical) of an
ecosystem collectively form a community called abiotic components
(or) abiotic community.

Examples:
Climate, soil, water, air, energy, nutrients, etc.,
Fig. 1.2 Components of an ecosystems and their relationship
1. Physical components:
❑ They include the energy, climate, raw materials and living
space that the biological community needs.
❑ They are useful for the growth and maintenance of its member.

Examples: Air, water, soil, sunlight, etc.,

2. Chemical Components:
❑ They are the sources of essential nutrients.

Examples

(i) Organic substances: Protein, lipids, carbohydrates, etc.,

(ii) Inorganic substances: All micro (Al, Co, Zn, Cu) and macro
elements (C, H, O, P, N, P, K) and few other elements.
1.11.2 Biotic components
❖ The living organisms (or) living members in an ecosystem
collectively form its community called biotic components (or) biotic
community.
❖ The living components are made of many different species.
❖ These species are distinguished on the basis of their nutritional
(feeding) relationship.
❖ It includes
1. Autotrophic components:
❑ The members of autotrophic components are producers, which
are autotrops (self-nourishing organisms).
❑ They derive energy from sunlight and make organic compounds
from inorganic substances.

Examples Green plants, algae, bacteria, etc.,

2. Heterotrophic components:

❑ The members of heterotrophic components are consumers and

decomposers, which are heterotrophs (dependent on others for
food). They consume the autotrophs (producers).
❑ The heterotrophs are

(a) Macro consumers:

❑ They are herbivores, omnivores (or) carnivores.
(b) Saprotrophs (micro consumers):
❑ They are decomposers (bacteria, fungi, etc).

Member of biotic components of an ecosystem (or) Clasification

of biotic system
❖ The members of biotic components of an ecosystem are grouped
into three groups based on how do they get their food.
 ✓ Producers (Plants).
✓ Consumer (Animals).
✓ Decomposers (Micro-organisms).

1. Producers (Autotrophs):
❑ Producers synthesize their food themselves through
photosynthesis.

Examples All green plants, trees.

Photosynthesis
❑ The green pigments called chlorophyll, present in the leaves of
plants, converts CO2 and H 2 O in the presence of sunlight into
carbohydrates.
 hν
6 CO2 +12H 2 O −−−−−−−−− > C6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 + 6H O
2
Chlorophyll

❖ This process is called photosynthesis.

2. Consumers (heterotrophs):
❖ Consumers are organisms, which cannot prepare their own
food and depend directly (or) indirectly on the producers.
❖ They cannot make organic compounds, but can transform one
form of organic compounds into other form of organic compounds.
Examples
(i) Plant eating species
Insects, rabbit, goat, deer, cow, etc.,
(ii) Animals eating species
Fish, lions, tiger, etc.,
Types of consumers
❖ Consumers are of the following types.

(i) Primary consumers (Herbivores) (plant eaters)

❖ Primary consumers are also called herbivores, they directly depend
on the plants for their food.
❖So they are called plant eaters.

Examples Insects, rat, goat, deer, cow, horse, etc.,

(ii) Secondary consumers (primary carnivores) (meat

eaters)
❖ Secondary consumers are primary carnivores, they feed on
primary consumers.
❖ They directly depend on the herbivores for their food.
Examples Frog, cat, snakes, foxes, etc..,
(iii) Tertiary consumers (Secondary carnivores) (Meat eaters)
❖ Tertiary consumers are secondary carnivores, they feed on
secondary consumers.
❖ They directly depend on the primary carnivores for their food.

Examples Tigers, lions, etc.,

3. Decomposers: Decomposers are those organisms
❖ which feed on dead organisms plants and animals and decompose
them into simpler compounds.
❖ During the decomposition inorganic nutrients are released.
❖ These inorganic nutrients together with other organic substances are
then utilized by the producers for the synthesis of their own food.

Examples Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi.

Meanings
(i) Herbivores: Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores.
(vegetarian)
(ii) Carnivores: Animals that eat other animals are called carnivores.
(non-vegetarian)
(iii) Omnivores: Animals that eat both animals and plants. (Vegetarian
and non-vegetarian)
1.12 FUNCTION OF AN ECOSYSTEM

❑ To understand clearly the nature of ecosystem, its functioning

should be thoroughly understood.
❑ The function of an ecosystem is to allow flow of energy and
cycling of nutrients.

1.12.1 Types of Functions

➢ Functions of an ecosystem are of three types.
1. Primary function (or) primary production
❖ The primary function of all ecosystems is manufacture of
starch (photosynthesis).
2. Secondary function (or) secondary production
❖ The secondary function of all ecosystem is distributing energy
in the form of food to all consumers (or) the energy stored by the
consumer.
3. Tertiary Function
❖ All living systems die at a particular stage.
❖ These dead systems are decomposed to initiate the third function of
ecosystems namely “cycling”.
❖ The functioning of an ecosystem may be understood by studying the
following terms.
✓ Energy and material flow.
✓ Food chains.
✓ Food webs.
✓ Food pyramids.

1.13 ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEMS

❑ Energy is the most essential requirement for all living organisms.
❑ Solar energy is the only source to our planet earth.
❑ Solar energy is transformed to chemical energy in photosynthesis by
the plants (called as primary producers).
❑ Though a lot of sunlight falls on the green plants, only 1% of it is
utilized for photosynthesis.

❑ This is the most essential step to provide energy for all other living
organisms in the ecosystem.

❑ Some amount of chemical energy is used by the plants for their

growth and the remaining is transferred to consumers by the process of
eating.

❑ Thus the energy enters the ecosystem through photosynthesis and

passes through the different tropic levels (feeding levels).
1.13.1 Energy flow through atmosphere to an ecosystem
❖ Sun is the ultimate source of energy, its radiations travel
through the space in the form of waves and reaches the earth’s
atmosphere.
❖ The atmosphere absorbs 50% of the radiations and allow the
remainings to reach the earth surface.
❖ Of the solar radiations, reached the earth’s surface, some of
which is absorbed by organisms (primary producers) to produce
organic matter through photosynthesis.

Photosynthetic equation

CO2 + 2H 2 O -------> CH2 O + O 2 + H 2 O

Carbon water sunlight carbo oxygen water
dioxide hydrate
❖ The plants (producers) are used by herbivores and herbivores are
used by carnivores as their food. In this way energy is transfered
from one organism to another and so on.
❖ The conversion of solar energy is governed by law of
thermodynamics.

1. Ist law of thermodynamics

It states that, “energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it
can be converted from one form to another.”

Illustration:
Energy for an ecosystem comes from the sun.
❑ It is absorbed by plants, wherein it is converted into stored
chemical energy.
i.e., Solar energy in converted into chemical energy.
Solar energy → Chemical energy (plants)
 2. Iind law of thermodynamics

It states that, “whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss of

energy through the release of heat.”

Illustration:
❑ This occurs when energy is transferred between tropic levels.
There will be a loss of energy (about 80-90%) in the form of heat as
it moves from one tropic level to another tropic level.
❑ The loss of energy takes place through respiration, running,
hunting etc.,

Respiration equation
CH 2 O + O2 −−−−−> CO 2 + H2O

Carbohydrate oxygen carbondioxide water

❑ The net production of biomass is only about 0.5% of the total
incident radiation (3000 k.cal/m2/day) and 1.0% of energy absorbed
and the remaining gets wasted.

1.13.2 Relationship between structure and function (flow model)

❑ From the above it is clear that, the biotic components and

abiotic components are linked together through energy flow and
nutrient cycling as shown in the following figure 1.2
Fig.1.3 Flow of energy and nutrient cycling from abiotic to biotic and vice
versa.
1.14 ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

❑ In an area one community may be replaced by another

community (or) by a series of communities. Thus the progressive
replacement of one community by another till the development of
stable community in a particular area is called ecological
succession.

1.14.1 Stages of ecological succession

1. Pioneer community:
❑ The first group of organism, which establish their community in
the area is called Pioneer’ community.
2. Seres (or) Seral stage:
❑The various developmental stages of a community is called
‘seres’.
Community
❑ It is the group of plants (or) animals living in an area.
1.14.2 Types of ecological succession
❑ Ecologists recognize two types of ecological succession, based on
the conditions present at the beginning of the process.

1. Primary succession: It involves the gradual establishment of

biotic communities on a lifeless ground.

(a) Hydrarch (or) Hydrosere: Establishment starts in a watery area

like pond and lake.

(b) Xerarch (or) Xerosere: Establishment starts in a dry area like,

desert and rock.

2. Secondary succession: It involves the establishment of biotic

communities in an area, where some type of biotic
community is already present.
1.14.3 Process of Ecological Succession
❑ The process of ecological succession can be explained in the
following steps.

1. Nudation
❖ It is the development of a bare area without any life form.

2. Invasion
❖ It is the establishment of one (or) more species on a bare area
through migration followed by establishment.

(a) Migration: Migration of seeds is brought about by wind, water

(or) birds.
(b) Establishment: The seeds then germinate and grow on the land
and establishes their pioneer communities.
3. Competition
❑ As the number of individual species grows, there is a competition
with the same species and between different species for space, water
and nutrients.

4. Reaction
❑ The living organisms, take water, nutrients and grow and modify the
environment is known as reaction.
❑ This modification becomes unsuitable for the existing species and
favour some new species, which replace the existing species.
❑ This leads to seral communities.

5. Stabilizations
❑ It leads to stable community, which is in equilibrium with the
environment.
1.15 BIODIVERSITY
❖ Bio means ‘life’ and diversity means ‘variety’, hence, biodiversity
refers wide variety of life on the earth.

❖ Our planet-earth (biosphere) contains more than 20 million species

of organisms.

❖ But, of which only 1.4 million species have been identified so far.

❖ These species differ widely from one another.

❖ This variation in living organisms is called biodiversity.

❖ Diversification in the species is influenced by various physical and

climatic factors, resulting in the production of new sub-species.

❖ The species which are unable to adjust with the new environment
gradually become extinct.
Definition
Biodiversity is defined as, “the variety an variability among all
groups of living organisms and the ecosystem in which they occur.”

1.16 CLASSIFICATION (OR) LEVEL (OR) TYPES OF

BIODIVERSITY

❑ Biodiversity is generally classified into three types

✓ Genetic diversity.
✓ Species diversity.
✓ Community (or) Ecosystem diversity.

1.16.1. Genetic diversity

Genera: A species with different genetic characteristics is known as
sub-species (or) “genera”.
Genetic diversity is the diversity within species ie., variation of
genes within the species
❖ Within individual species, there are number of varieties, which are
slightly different from one another.
❖ These differences are due to differences in the combination of genes.
❖ Genes are the basic units of hereditary information transmitted from
one generation to other.

Examples
1. Rice varieties:
❖ All rice varieties belong to the species “oryzasativa”.
❖ But there are thousands of rice varieties,
❖ which show variation at the genetic level differ in their size, shape,
colour and nutrient content.

2. Teak wood varieties:

❑ There are number of teak wood varieties found available.
Examples Indian teak, burma teak, malasian teak etc.
1.16.2 Species diversity
Species: A discrete group of organisms of the same kind is known as
species.
Species diversity is the diversity between different species. The sum
of varieties of all the living organisms at the species level is known
as species diversity.
❑ The biotic component is composed of a large number of species
of plants, animals and micro organisms, which interact with each
other and with the abiotic component of the environment.

Example
1. Total number of living species in the earth are about
➢ more than 20 million. But, of which only about 1.5 million living
organisms are found and given scientific names.
2. Plant species: Apple, mango, grapes, wheat, rice, etc.,
3. Animal species: Lion, tiger, elephant, deer, etc.,
1.16.3 Community (or) Ecosystem diversity Community
❑ It is a set of biotic components (plants, animals and micro
organisms) interacting with one another and with abiotic components
(soil, air, water, etc).

The diversity at the ecological (or) habitat level is known as

ecosystem diversity. A large region with different ecosystems can be
considered as ecosystem diversity.

Example River ecosystem.

❖ The river which include the fish, aquatic insects, mussels and
variety of plants that have adapted.
❖ Thus, the ecosystem diversity is the aggregate of different
environmental types in a region.
❖ It explains the interaction between living organisms and physical
environment in an ecosystem .
1.17 VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY

❖ Biosphere is a life supporting system to the human beings.

❖ It is the combination of different organisms.
❖ Each organisms in the biosphere has its own significance.
❖ Biodiversity is vital for healthy biosphere.
❖ Biodiversity is must for the stability and proper functioning of the
biosphere.
❖We get benefits from other organisms in number of ways.
❖ Sometimes we realize the real value of the organism only after it is
lost in this earth.

CLASSIFICATION AND IMPORTANCE OF VALUES OF

BIODIVERSITY
❑ Various uses of biodiversity are classified as follows
1.17.1 Consumptive use value
❑ These are direct use values, where the biodiversity products are
harvested and consumed directly.

Examples Food, drug, fuel, etc.,

1. Food

❖ A large number of wild plants are consumed by human beings as

food.
❖ Nearly 80 - 90% of our food crops have been domesticated only
from the tropical wild plants.
❖ A large number of wild animals are also consumed as food.
Examples
(a) Ceropegia bulbosa: in central India and Western Ghats.
(b) Codonopisis: in Himalayan region.
(c) Cicer microphyllum: in Kashmir
(d) Insects: molluscs, spiders, and wild herbivores are
consumed by many tribal and non-tribal communities in India.

2. Drugs
❑ Around 70% of modern medicines are derived from plant and plant
extracts. 20,000 plant species are believed to be used medicinally,
particularly in the traditional system of Unani, Ayurveda and Sidha.

Examples
➢ Germany alone uses more than 2,500 Species of plants for
medicinal purposes in Homeopathy and other systems of medicines.
➢ India uses 3000 Species of plants in Ayurveda, Homeopathy and
Unani system of medicines.
➢ According to research about 85% of global community use plants
for primary health care.
➢ According to latest medical scienes, bee-sting venom is used for
treating arthritis.
➢ Life saving drugs like quinine (Malaria), reserpine (hypertension),
pencillin (antibiotic) and morphine (pain kill) are all of plant origin.
➢ The peepal tree leaves, trunk and roots are used as effective
medicines for curing disease like fever, cough, stomach and skin
diseases.
➢ About 30 medicines have been prepared from neem tree which
have been proved to be very effective for stomach oilments, eye
irritations, skin eruptions and diabetics.
➢ Maxican yarn has been proved as a versatile boon to produce birth
control in human beings.
Table 1.2: Medicinal products from Natural Resources

Product Source Use

Penicillin Fungus Antibiotic

Streptomycin Actinimycete Antibiotic

Tetracycline Bacterium Antibiotic

Digitalis Foxglove Heart stimulant

Quinine Cinchona Bark Malaria treatment

Product Source Use
Diosgenin Mexican your Birth control drug
Cytarabuine Sponge Leukemia cure
Reserpine Rauwolfa Hypertension drug
Bee venom Bee Arthritis relief
Morphine Poppy Analgesic

3. Fuel
❖ Firewoods are directly consumed by villagers, tribals.

❖The fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas are also the
products of fossilized biodiversity.
 1.17.2 Productive use values
❖ Biodiversity products have obtained a commercial value.
❖ These products are marketed and sold.
❖ These products may be derived from the animals and plants.

Table 1.3: Animal products

Animal product Animal

Silk Silk - worm.
Wool Sheep.
Musk Musk deer.
Tusk Elephants.
Leather All animals.
Food Fish and animals.

❑ Many industries are dependent upon the productive use values of

biodiversity.
Table 1.4: Plant and animal products for various industries

Plant product Industry

Wood Paper and pulp industry, plywood
industry railway sleeper industry.
Cotton Textile industry.
Fruits, vegetables Food industry.
Leather Leather industry.
Ivory Ivory - works.
Pearl Pearls industry.
❖ Rice accounts for 22% of the cropped area and Cereals accounts
for 39% of the cropped area.
❖Oil seed production also helped in saving large amount of foreign
exchange spent on importing edible oils.

1.17.3 Social Values

❖ Social value of the biodiversity refers to the manner in which the
bio-resources are used to the society.
❖ These values are associated with the social life, religion and
spiritual aspects of the people.
Examples
1. Holy plants: Many plants are considered as the holy plants in our
country.
Examples: Tulsi, peepal, lotus, bael, etc.,
The leaves, fruits of these plants are used in worship.
2. Holy animals: Many animals are also considered as holy animals
in our country.

Examples: Cow, snake, bull, peacock, rat, etc.,

1.17.4 Ethical values (or) Existence value

❖ It involves ethical issues like “all life must be preserved.”

❖ In India and in other countries biodiversity is considered to have

great value on religious and cultural basis.

❖ Our rich heritage teaches us to worship plants, animals, rivers

and mountains.

❖The ethical value means that a species may (or) may not be used,
but its existence in nature gives us pleasure.
Examples
➢ The river Ganga is considered as holy river.
➢ Vembu, Tulsi, Vengai are same of the trees, worshipped by the
Tamilians.
➢ We are not deriving anything directly from Kangaroo, Zebra (or)
Giraffe, but we feel that these should exist in nature.
➢ Thus, there is an ethical value (or) existence value attached to
each species.

1.17.5 Aesthetic value

❖ The beautiful nature of plants and animals insist us to protect the
biodiversity.
❖ The most important aesthetic value of biodiversity is eco-
tourism.
Examples
1. Eco - tourism:
❖ People from far place spend a lot of time and money to visit the
beautiful areas, where they can enjoy the aesthetic value of
biodiversity.
❖ This type of tourism is known as eco - tourism.
❖ The pleasant music of wild birds, colour of butterfly, colour of
flowers, colour of peacocks are very important for their aesthetic
value.

1.17.6 Option values

❖ The option values are the potentials of biodiversity that are
presently unknown and need to be known.
❖ The optional values of biodiversity suggests that any species may
be proved to be a valuable species after someday.
Examples
➢ The growing biotechnology field is searching a species for
causing the diseases of cancer and AIDS.
➢ Medicinal plants and herbs play a very important role in our
indian economic growth.

1.18 INDIA AS A MEGA – DIVERSITY NATION

❖ India is one among the 12 mega-diversity countries in the

world.
❖ It has 89,450 animal species accounting for 7.31% of the global
faunal species and 47,000 plant species which accounts for 10.8%
of the world floral species.
❖ The loss of biodiversity (or) endemim is about 33%.
Table 1.5. Distribution of species in some groups of flora and
fauna in India

Plants Number Animals Number

Fungi 23,000 Mollusca 5042
Bacteria 850 Lower groups 9979
Algae 25000 Arthropoda 57525
Bryophytes 2564 Amphibia 2546
Gymnosperms 64 Birds 1228
Pteridophytes 1022 Reptiles 428
Angiosperms 15000 Mammals 372
1.18.1 Endemism (or) Endemic species
❖ The species which are confined to a particular area are called
endemic species.

❖ Our country has a rich endemic flora and fauna.

❖ About 33% of the flowring plants, 53%of fresh water fishes,

60% amphibians, 36% reptiles and 10% mammalian are endemic
species.
1. Plant diversity
❑ Nearly 5000 flowering plants and 166 crop plant species have
their origin in India.
2. Marine diversity
❑ More than 340 coral species of the world are found here.
❑ Several species of mangrove plants and seagrasses are also
found in our country.
 3. Agro- biodiversity
❖ There are 167 crop species and wild relatives. India is
considered to be the centre of origin of 30,000 to 50,000 varieties
of rice, mango, turmeric, ginger, sugarcane, etc.
4. Animal biodiversity
❖ There are 75,000 animal species including 5,000 insects.
❖ India is a home to about nearly 2,00,000 living organisms.

1.18.2 ‘RED’ Data book (or) Red list

❑ Red book is a catalogue of taxa facing risk of extinction.
❑The purpose of preparation of red list is to
✓ provide awareness to the degree of threat to
biodiversity.
✓ provide global index on already decline of biodiversity.
✓ identification of species at high risk of extinction.
 ✓ help in conservation action.
✓ information about international agreements.

❑ India’s biodiversity is threatened due to habitat destruction,

degradation, fragmentation and over exploitation of resources.

❑ According to ‘RED’ Data book 44 plant species are critically

endangered, 54 endangered and 143 are vulnerable (exposed to
damage).

❑ India ranks 2nd interms of the number of threatened mammals and

6th among the countries with the most threatened birds.

Examples
1. Pitcher plant has become endemic in Eastern Himalayas.
2. Taxus wallichina has come under red dad category due to its over
exploitation.
1.19 HOT SPOTS OF BIODIVERSITY

❑ The most remarkable and threatened areas, many of them have

been reduced to less than 10% of their original vegetation.
❑ These areas are called hotspots of biodiversity.

The hot spots are the geographic areas which possess high endemic
species.

❑ At the global level, these are the areas of high conservation

priority, if these species lost, they can never be replaced (or)
regenerated.
1.19.1 Criteria for recognising hot spots
❖ The richness of the endemic species is the primary criterion for
recognising hot spots.
❖ The hot spots should have a significant percentage of specialised
species.
❖ The site is under threat.
❖ It should contain important gene pools of plants of potentially
useful plants.

1.19.2 Reason for rich biodiversity in the tropics

❑ The followings are the reasons for the rich biodiversity in the
tropics.
➢ The tropics have a more stable climate.
➢ Warm temperatures and high humidity in the tropical areas
provide favorable conditions.
 ➢ No single species can dominate and thus there is an
opportunity for many species to coexist.
➢ Among plants, rate of out-crossing appear to be higher in
tropics.

1.19.3 Area of hot spot

❖ These hot spots covering less than 2% of the world’s land are
found to contain 50,000 endemic species.

❖ According to myersetal (2000), an area is designated as a hot

spot when it contains atleast 0.5% of the endemic plant species.

❖ About 40% of terrestial plants and 25% of vertebrate species are

endemic and are found in these hot spots.

❖ These are the areas of high diversity, endemism and are also
threatened by many human activities.
 Table 1.6. Global hotspots of biodiversity

% Verte Endem % of
Hotspots Plant Ende of Gl - ic Global
species mic Pl obal brat Verteb Verteb
ants Plant e Spe rates ra
s cies tes
1. Tropical Andes 45000 20000 6.7 3389 1567 5.7
2. Mesoamerican 24000 5000 1.7 2859 1159 4.2
forests
3. Caribbean 12000 7000 2.3 1518 779 2.9
4. Brazil’s Atlantic 20000 8000 2.7 1361 567 2.1
Forest
5. Panama Western 9000 2250 0.8 1625 418 1.5
Ecuador
6. Brazil’s Cerrado 10000 4400 1.5 1268 117 0.4
7. Central Chile 3429 1605 0.5 335 61 0.2
8. California Floristic 4426 2125 0.7 584 71 0.3
9. Madagascar 12000 9704 3.2 987 771 2.8
10. Eastern Arc and 4000 1500 0.5 1019 121 0.4
Coastal Forest of Kenya
11. Western African 9000 2250 0.8 1320 270 1.0
Forests
12. Cape Floristic 8200 5682 1.9 562 53 0.2
Province
13. Succulent Karoo 4849 1940 0.6 472 45 0.2
14. Mediterranean Basin 25000 13000 4.3 770 235 0.9
15. Caucasus 6300 1600 0.5 632 59 0.2
16. Sundaland 25000 15000 5.0 1800 701 2.6
17. Wallacea 10000 1500 0.5 1142 529 1.9
18. Philippines 7620 5832 1.9 1093 518 1.9
19. Indo-Burma 13500 7000 2.3 2185 528 1.9
Eastern Himalayas

20. South-Central China 12000 3500 1.2 1141 178 0.7

21. Western- 4780 2180 0.7 1073 355 1.3
Ghats Sri Lanka
22. South- 5469 4331 1.4 456 100 0.4
western Australia
23. New Caledonia 3332 2551 0.9 190 84 0.3
24. New Zealand 2300 1865 0.6 217 136 0.5
25. Polynesia/ 6557 3334 1.1 342 223 0.8
Micronesia
Total – 133,149 44.4 – 9645 35.3
1.20 HOT SPOTS OF BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA

Fig 1.4 Hot Spots of Biodiversity in India

 Table 1.7 Biodiversity hot spots in India

1. Eastern Himalayas Indo - Burma

region.
2. Western Ghats SriLanka region.

1.20.1 Eastern Himalayas

❖ Geographically these area comprises Nepal, Bhutan and
neighboring states of Northern India.

❖ There are 35,000 plant species found in the Himalayas, of which

30% are endemic.

❖ The Eastern Himalayas are also rich in wild plants of economic

value.
Examples: Rice, banana, citrus, ginger, chilli, jute and
sugarcane.
❑ The taxol yielding plant is also sparsely distributed in the region.
✓ 63% mammals are from Eastern Himalayas, and
✓ 60% of the Indian Birds are from North East.
✓ Huge wealth of fungi, insects, mammals, birds have been found in
this region.
1.20.2 Western ghats
❖ The area comprises Maharastra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerela.
Nearly 1500 endemic, dicotyledone plant species are found from Western
ghats.
❖ 62% amphibians and 50% lizards are endemic in western Ghats.
❖ It is reported that only 6.8% of the original forests are existing today
while the rest has been deforested (or) degraded.
Some common plants: Ternstroemia Japonica, Rhododendron and
Hypericum.
Some common animals: Blue bird, lizard, hawk.
1.21 THREATS OF BIODIVERSITY
❖ Any disturbance in an natural ecosystem tend to reduce its
biodiversity.
❖ The waste generated due to increase in human population and
industrialisation, spoils the environment and leads to more diversity in
biological species.
❖ Any change in the system leads to a major imbalance and threatens
the normal ecological cycle.
❖
CAUSES FOR LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY (OR) VARIOUS
THEATS TO INDIAN BIODIVERSITY
1.21.1 Habitat loss
❑ The loss of populations of interbreeding organisms is caused by
habitat loss.
❑ Habitat loss threatened a wide range of animals and plants.
Factors influencing Habitat loss
1. Deforestation:
❖ The loss of habitat is mainly caused by deforestation activities.
Forests and grasslands have been leared for conversion into
agricultural lands, (or) settlement areas (or) developmental project.
❖ The forest and grasslands are the natural homes of thousands of
species,
❖ which disintegrate due to loss of their natural habitat.

2. Destruction of wetlands:
❖ The wetlands, estuaries andmangroves are destroyed due to draining,
filling and pollution, which causes huge biodiversity loss.

3. Habitat fragmentation:
❖ Sometimes the habitat is divided into small and scattered patches.
❖ This phenomenon is known as habitat fragmentation.
❖ Due to this many wild animals and songbirds are vanishing.
4. Raw material:
❖ For the production of hybrid seeds, the wild plants are used as
raw materials.
❖ As a result, many plant species become extinct.
5. Production of drugs:
❖ Many pharmaceutical companies collect wild plant for the
production of drugs.
❖ Therefore several medicinal plant species are on the verge of
extinction.
6. Illegal trade:
❑ Illegal trade on wild life also reduces the bio-diversity and leads
to habitat loss.
7. Developmental activities:
❑ Construction of massive dams in the forest areas, discharge
industrial effluents which kill the birds and other aquatic organisms.
1.21.2 Poaching (over harvesting) of wildlife
❖ Poaching means killing of animals (or) commercial hunting.
❖ It leads to loss of animal biodiversity.
1. Subsistence poaching:
❑ Killing animals to provide enough food for their survival is called
subsistence poaching.
2. Commercial poaching:
❑ Hunting and killing animals to sell their products is called
commercial poaching.

Factor Influencing poaching

1. Human population:
❑ Increased human population in our country has led to pressure on
forest resources, which ultimately causes degradation of wildlife
habitats.
2. Commercial activities:
❖ Though international ban on trading the products of endangered
species, smuggling of wildlife products continues.
❖ Since the trading of such wildlife products is highly profit,
poaching makes the poachers to just hunt these prohibital wildlife
and smuggle it to other countries.

Wild life products: Furs, horns, tasks, live specimens,

herbal products.

Wealth of wildlife: The developing nations in Asia, Latin

America and Africa have richest source of biodiversity.

Importers of wild life: The rich countries in Europe and

North America, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong are the major
importer of wildlife products (or) wildlife itself.
Examples
1. Male gorilla: In Rwanda and Zaire, it is hunted for its body
parts, head and hands.

2. Blue morpho butterfly: In Brazil, it is poached for making

attractive trays and other objects.

3. Snowy large egret: In U.S, it is poached for its white

plumes, so as to keep it in ladies hats.

4. Blubber: It is used to prepare lamp oils and lubricating oils.

5. Baleen: It is used to prepare combs and other similar

articles.

6. Elephant feet: It is used to make Ash trays.

7. Elephant: It is killed for ivory.

8. Bengal tigers: Its fur sell is more than $1,00,000 in the foreign
market.

9. Bush meat: It is an important source of protein for many local

people in west and central Africa.

10. Dynamite fishing: It is “high - tech fishing”, which have

exhausted the ocean marine life.

11. Seahorses, Star turtles: These valuable species arealso illegally

sold into the foreign market for want of money.
Remedy Measures
❖ Illegal hunting and trade of animals and animal products should
be stopped immediately.

❖ We should not purchase furcoat, purse (or) bag (or) items made
of crocodile skin (or) python skin.

❖ Bio-diversity laws should be strengthened.

1.21.3 Man - wildlife conflicts

❖ Man - wildlife conflicts arise, when wildlife starts causing
immense damage and danger to the man.

❖ Under such condition it is very difficult for the forest department

to compromise the affected villagers and to gain the villagers
support for wildlife conservation.
Examples for man - wildlife conflicts

❑ In Sambalpur, Orissa, 195 humans were killed in the last 5 years by

elephants. In retaliation, the villagers have killed 98 elephants and
badly injured 30 elephants.

❑ In the border of Kote - Chamarajanagar, Mysore, several elephants

was killed because of the massive damage done by the elephants to the
farmer’s cotton and sugarcane crops.

❑ The agonized villagers sometimes hide explosives in the sugarcane

fields, which explode when the elephants enter into their fields.
❑ It has been reported that a man - eating tiger killed 16
Nepalese people and one 4 - years old child inside the Royal
Chitwan National Park, Kathmandu. Now the park has became a
zone of terror for the locals.

❑ Very recently, two men were killed by leopards in Powai,

Mumbai.

❑ A total of 14 persons were killed during 19 attacks by the

leopards in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.

Factors influencing (or causes) man - animal conflicts

❖ Shrinking of forest cover compels wildlife to move outside
the forest and attack the fields and humans.
❖ Human encroachment into the forest area induces a conflict
between man and the wildlife.
❖ Injured animals have a tendency to attack man. Usually the
female wildlife attacks the human if she feels that her newborn
cubs are in danger.
❖ Earlier, forest departments used to cultivate sugarcane paddy,
coconut trees, in the sanctuaries. When the favourite food of
elephants (i.e., bamboo leaves) were not available, they feed them
to the elephants. But, now due to lack of such practices the wild
animals move out of the forest for searching food.
❖ Often the villagers put electric wiring around their crop fields.
The elephants get injured, suffer in pain and start violence.
❖ The cash compensation paid by the government for the damage
caused by the wild animals, is not enough.
❖ Therefore the agonized farmers gets revengeful and kill the wild
animals.
Examples A farmer, in Mysore, gets a compensation of Rs.400/-
per quintal, but the market price is Rs.2400/- per quintal.
❖ Garbage near human settlements (or) food crops near forest
areas attracts wild animals.

Remedial Measures (or) Conservation of biodiversity

❖ Adequate crop and cattle compensation schemes must be
started.
❖ Solar powered fencing must be provided along with electric
current proof trenches to prevent the animals from entering into the
fields.
❖ Cropping pattern should be changed near the forest borders.
❖ Adequate food, and water should be made available for the wild
animals within forest zones.
❖ The development and constructional work in and around forest
region must be stopped.
1.22 ENDAGERED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES OF INDIA

❑ According to International Union of Conservation of Nature and

Natural Resources (IUCN) the species are classified into various
types.

1. Extinct species: A species is said to be extinct, when

it is no longer found in the world.

2. Endangered species: A species is said to be endangered, when its

number has been reduced to a critical level. Unless it is protected
and conserved, it is in immediate danger of extinction.
3. Vulnerable species:
❖ A species is said to be vulnerable when its population is facing
continuous decline due to habitat destruction (or) over exploitation.

❖ Such a species is still abundant.

4. Rare species:
❖ A species is said to be rare, when it is localized within restricted
area (or) they are thinly scattered over a more extensive area.

❖ Such species are not endangered (or) vulnerable.

1.22.1 Endangered Species of India

A species is said to be endangered, when its number has been

reduced to a critical level. Unless it is protected and conserved, it
is in immediate danger of extinction.

❖In India 450 plant species have been identified as endangered

species.

❖ About 100 mammals and 150 birds are estimated to be

endangered species.

❖ But India’s biodiversity is threatened due to habitat destruction,

degradation and over exploitation of resources.
Table 1.8. Number of threatened species of India.

Group of Number of
Threatened species Threatened species
Plants 250
Birds 70
Mammals 86
Reptiles 25
Amphibians 3
Fishes 3
Molluscs 2
Insects 50
Important endangered Species
❑ A few species of endangered reptiles, mammals, birds and plants are
given below.
 Fig. 1.5 Some endangered species

1. Reptiles Tortoise, green sea turtle,

gharial, python.
2. Birds Peacock, siberian white crane,
pelican, Indian bustard.
3. Mammals Indian wolf, red fox, sloth bear,
tiger,Indian lion, golden cat, desert
cat.
4. Primates Hoolock gibbon, lion-tailed
macaque, capped monkey, golden
monkey.
5. Plants A large number of medicinal plants
(like rauvol fia serpentina), sandal
wood tree (like santalum, cycas
bed donei).
RED - data book:
❖ RED - data book contains the list of endangered species of
plants and animals.
❖ The RED – data gives the warning signal for those species which
are endangered and if not protected they become extinct in near
future.

Factor Affecting Endangered Species

1. Pollution:
❖ Humans dispose their waste products on nature.
❖ So, the land, river, and air get polluted severely.
❖These pollutants enter our environment and travel through the
food chain and accumulate in the tissues of the living things, finally
it leads to death.
2. Over - exploitation:
❑ Over - exploitation of the natural resources and poaching of wild
animals also leads to extinct of wild animals.
3. Climate change:
❖ Climate change is brought about by the accumulation of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
❖ Climate change threatens organisms and ecosystems, which
cannot accommodate the change of environmental conditions.

Remedial Measures
❖ International treaties on Endangered Species (ITES) Several
international treaties and conventions help to protect endangered wild
species.
❖ One of the most reaching treaty is, “Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species 1975 ” (CITES).
❖ This treaty is now signed by 160 countries.

➢ This treaty lists some 900 species that cannot be commercially

traded as live specimens (or) wildlife products, because they are in
danger of extinction.
➢ The treaty also restricts international trade of 2900 other species,
because they are endangered.

Draw backs of this treaty

❖ The bad news of this treaty is that the effect of this treaty is limited
because enforcement is difficult and convicted violators often pay
only small fines.
❖ Also, member countries can exempt themselves from protecting
any listed species.

1.22.2 Endemic Species

The species, which are found only in a particular region are known
as endemic species. In India of 47,000 species 7000 plants are
endemic.
❖ Nearly 62% of our endemic species are found available in
Himalayas and Western Ghats.
1. Fauna
❑ Animals present in a particular region (or) period.

Examples for endemic fauna species

➢ Sapria himalayana, Ovaria lurida, Nepenthes khasiana,
Pedicularis Parroter, etc.,

➢ Out of 81,000 species of animals in our country a large number is

endemic.

➢ The Western Ghats are particularly rich in (a) amphibians (frogs,

toads, etc.,) and (b) reptiles (lizards, crocodiles, etc.,).

➢ About 62% amphibians and 50% lizards are endemic to Western

Ghats.
2.Flora
❑ Plants present in a particular region (or) period.

❑ It also refers to friendly bacteria which helps to protect the human

body against invasion by pathogens.

Examples for endemic flora species

Monitor lizards (varanus), reticulated python, Indian salamander

and viviparous toad (Nectophhryne).

Endemic species in India

❑ The following species are considered as endemic in India.
 Table 1.9 Endemic Species of Plants

Group No. of Species

Pteridophyta 200
Angiosperms 4950
Table 1.10 Endemic Species of Animals
Group No. of Species
Land 878
Freshwater 89
Insecta 16214
Amphibia 110
Reptilia 214
Aves 69
Nannakua 38
Factors affecting endemic species
❑ There are number of factors, which affect amphibians (frogs) at
various points in their life cycle.

✓ Habitat loss and fragmentation, because of the draining and

filling of inland wetlands.
✓ Pollution also play an important role.

Examples
➢ Frog eggs, tadpoles and adults are very sensitive to many pollutants
especially pesticides.
➢ Overhunting of frog legs in Asia and France.
➢ Populations of same can also be reduced by introduction of non-
active predators and competitors (like fish) and disease producing
organism.
1.23 CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

❑ Biodiversity is one of the important tool for sustainable

development.

❑ The enormous value of biodiversity due to their commercial,

medical, genetic, aesthetic and ecological importance emphasizes
the need to conserve biodiversity.

Conservation

Conservation is defined as, the management of biosphere so that it

will yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generation
while maintaining its potential to meet the needs of future
generation.
1.23.1 Factors affecting biodiversity

❑ Biodiversity is generally disturbed by human activities such as

construction of dams in forest areas, release of industrial wastes,
using pesticides and insecticides in the crop fields, urbanisation,
etc..

❑ Poaching of wild animals, over exploitation of natural resources,

degradation of habitats, affect biodiversity.

❑ The marine ecosystems are also disturbed due to oil spills and
discharge of effluents.

❑ The climatic factors like global warming, ozone depletion, acid

rain also affect the biodiversity.
1.23.2 Advantages (or) need of biodiversity conservation
❑ It provides immediate benefits to the society such as recreation and
tourism.

❑ Drugs, herbs, food and other important raw materials can be

derived from plants and animals.

❑ It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals.

❑ Ensures the sustainable utilization life supporting systems on earth.

❑ It leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity and life

supporting systems.

❑ Since the biodiversity loss results in ecological and environmental

deterioration, it is essential to conserve the biodiversity.
1.24 TYPES (OR) STRATEGY OF BIODIVERSITY
CONSEVATION

❑ There are two types of biodiersity conservation.

✓ In-situ conservation (within habitat)
✓ Ex-situ conservation (outside habitat)

1.24.1 In - situ conservation

In - situ conservation involves protection of fauna and flora within its

natural habitat, where the species normally occurs is called in - situ
conservation.

❑ The natural habitats (or) ecosystems maintained under in-situ

conservation are called “protected areas”.
Important In-situ conservation

❑ Biosphere reserves, National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, Gene

sanctuary etc.,

Method of In- situ conservation

❖Around 4% of the total geographical area of the country is used for

in-situ conservation.

❖The following methods are presently used for in-situ conservation.

❖ It is the best method for the long term protection of biodiversity.

In-Situ conservation Numbers available

Biosphere reserves 7

National parks 80

Wild - life sanctuaries 420

Botanical gardens 120

1. Biosphere Reserves
❖ Biosphere reserves cover large area, more than 5000 sq. km.
❖ It is used to protect species for long time.

Name of Biosphere State

Nanda Devi U.P
Nokrek Meghalaya
Manas Assam
Sunderbans West Bengal
Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu
Nilgiri Karnataka, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu
Great Nicobars and Orissa
Similipal
Role of biosphere reserves

➢ It gives long - term survival of evolving ecosystem.

➢ It protects endangered species.
➢ It protects maximum number of species and communities.
➢ It serves as site of recreation and tourism.
➢ It is also useful for educational and research purposes.
➢ It remains and functions as an open system and changes in
land use are not allowed.

Restriction:
❑ No tourism and explosive activities are permitted in the
biosphere reserves.
2. National park
❖ A national park is an area dedicated for the conservation of wildlife
along with its environment.
❖ It is usually a small reserves covering an area of about 100 to 500
sq. kms.
❖ Within the biosphere reserves, one (or) more national parks are also
exists.

Name of State Important Wildlife

National Park
Kaziranga Assam One horned Rhino
Gir National Park Gujarat Indian Lion
Bandipur Karnataka Elephant
Dachigam J&K Hangul
Name of State Important Wildlife
National Park

Corbett U.P Tiger

Kanha M.P Tiger

Periyar Kerala Tiger, Elephant

Dudwa U.P Tiger

Sariska Rajasthan Tiger

Ranthambore Rajasthan Tiger

Role of a national park
❑ It is used for enjoyment through tourism, without affecting the
environment.
❑ It is used to protect, propagate and develop the wildlife.

Restrictions
❑ Grazing of domestic animals inside the national park is
prohibited.
❑ All private rights and forestry activities are prohibited within a
national park.

3. Wildlife Sanctuaries
❑ A wildlife sanctuary is an area, which is reserved for the
conservation of animals only.
❑ At present, there are 492 wildlife sanctuaries in our country.
Table 1.13. Some Important Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Name of State Major Wild Life

Sanctuary
Hazaribagh Bihar Tiger, Leopard
Sanctuary
Ghana Bird Rajasthan 300 species of
Sanctuary Birds

Sultanpur Bird Haryana Migratory birds

Sanctuary

Abohar Wildlife Punjab Black buck

Sanctuary
Name of Sanctuary State Major Wild Life
Nal Sarovar Bird Gujarat Water birds
Sanctuary
Mudumalai Wildlife Tamil Nadu Tiger, Elephant,
Sanctuary Leopar
Vedanthangal Bird Tamil Nadu Water birds
Sanctuary
Wild Ass Sanctuary Gujarat Wild ass, Wolf,
Chinkara
Jaldapara Wildlife W.Bengal Rhinoceros,
Sanctuary Elephant,
Tiger
Role of wildlife Sanctuaries
❖ It protects animals only.
❖ It allows the operations such as harvesting of timber,
collection of forest products, private ownership rights and forestry
operations provided it does not affect the animals adversely.
Restrictions
❑ Killing, hunting, shooting, (or) capturing of wildlife is
prohibited except under the control of higher authority.
4. Gene Sanctuary
❑ A gene sanctuary is an area, where the plants are conserved.

Examples
❑ In Northern India, two gene sanctuary are found available.
✓ One gene sanctuary for citrus (Lemon family), and
✓ One gene sanctuary for pitcher plant (an insect eating
plant).
5. Other projects for conservation of animals
For the protection and conservation of certain animals, some
special projects are framed in our country.
Examples Project Tiger; Gir Lion project; Crocodile
Breeding project; Project Elephant, etc.,
Advantages (or) merits of In- situ consevation
➢ It is very cheap and convenient method.
➢ The species gets adjusted to the natural disasters like drought,
floods, forest fires.
Disadvantages (or) Limitation of In – situ conservation
➢ A large surface area of the earth is required to preserve the
biodiversity.
➢ Maintenance of the habitats is not proper, due to shortage of
staff and pollution.
1.24.2 Ex-situ conservation

Ex-situ conservation involves protection of fauna and flora

outside the natural habitats.

❑ This type of conservation is mainly done for conservation of

crop varieties and the wild relatives of crops.

Role of Ex-situ conservation

➢ It involves maintenance and breeding of endangered plant and

animal species under controlled conditions.
➢ It identifies those species which are at more risk of extinction.
➢ It prefers the species, which are more important to man in
near future among the endangered species.
Important Ex-situ conservation
❑ Botanical gardens, seed banks, microbial culture collections,
tissue and cell cultures, museums, zoological gardens.

Methods of EX- situ conservation

❑ The following important gene bank (or) Seed bank facilities are
used in Ex-situ conservation.

(i) Nationl Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)

❑ It is located in New Delhi.
❑ It uses cryo preservation techniques to preserve agricultural
and horticultural crops.
Cryo preservation technique:
❑ It involves the preservation of seeds, pollen of some important
agricultural and horticultural crops by using liquid nitrogen at a
temperature as low as - 196°C.
❑ Varieties of rice, pearl millet, Brassica, turnip, radish, tomato,
onion, carrot, chilli, tobacco, etc., have been preserved successfully
in liquid nitrogen for several years.

(ii) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR)

❖ It is located at Karnal, Haryana.
❖ It preserves the semen of domesticated bovine animals.
(iii) National Facility for Plant Tissue Culture Repository
(NFPTCR)
❑ It develops the facility for conservation of varieties of crop plants
(or) trees by tissue culture.
❑ This facility has been created within the NBPGR.
 Advantages (or) merits of Ex-situ conservation
❖ Survival of endangered species is increasing due to special care and
attention.
❖ In captive breeding, animals are assured food, water, shelter and also
security and hence longer life span.
❖ It is carried out in cases of endangered species, which do not have
any chances of survival, in the world.

Disadvantages (or) Limitations of Ex-situ conservation

❖ It is expensive method.
❖ The freedom of wildlife is lost.
❖ The animals cannot survive in natural environment.
❖ It can be adopted only for few selected species.