Biodiversity : Introduction

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY ?

The word BIODIVERSITY is used to express the Biological Diversity . Diversity means Variety. In brief, The meaning of  Diversity is the Variety of Biological Species.



WIDER EXPLANATION

BIODIVERSITY REFERS TO THE STUDIES OF ALL FORMS OF LIFE THAT INCLUDE UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS SUCH AS: FUNGI,BACTERIA,PROTOZOA, etc. AND
MULTICELLULAR  ORGANISMS SUCH AS FISHES,BIRDS,MAMMALS & PLANTS 

DEFINITION OF BIODIVERSITY

BIODIVERSITY REFERS TO THE VARIETY AND VARIABILITY AMONG ALL GROUPS OF LIVING  ORGANISMS & THE ECOSYSTEM COMPLEXES IN WHICH THEY OCCUR”.

CLASSIFICATION UNDER BIODIVERSITY

WHAT IS GENETIC DIVERSITY?

IT IS ASSESSED AT THE LEVEL OF SPECIES.IT IS DEFINED AS “THE GENETIC VARIATION EXISTING WITHIN A SPECIES”.

EXAMPLE FOR GENETIC DIVERSITY

ALL RICE VARIETIES BELONG TO THE SPECIES ORYZA SATIVA, BUT THERE ARE THOUSAND OF WILD & CULTIVATED VARIETIES OF RICE WHICH SHOW VARIATION AT THE GENETIC LEVEL & DIFFER IN THEIR COLOR,SIZE,SHAPE,NUTRIENT CONTENT OF THE GRAIN.HENCE, THIS IS THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF GRAIN.

WHAT IS SPECIES DIVERSITY?

IT IS ASSESSED AT THE LEVEL OF ECOSYSTEM.IT REFERS TO “THE VARIETY OF SPECIES WITHIN A REGION”.

MORE ABOUT SPECIES DIVERSITY

THE DIVERSITY INCLUDES THE FULL RANGE OF SPECIES IN THE REGION, FROM MICRO-ORGANISMS TO MULTICELLULAR PLANTS AND ANIMALS.IN OTHER WORDS, THE SPECIES DIVERSITY IS THE VARIABILITY FOUND WITHIN THE POPULATION OF A SPECIES OR BETWEEN DIFFERENT SPECIES OF A COMMUNITY

WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY? 

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY REFERS TO THE VARIATION IN THE STRUCTURE & FUNCTIONS OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

IT DESCRIBES THE NUMBER OF TROPHIC LEVEL,VARIOUS ECOLOGICAL PROCESS THAT SUSTAIN ENERGY FLOW,FOOD WEB & THE RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS.IN THIS WAY WE CAN SAY THAT THE DEPENDIND UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF ABIOTIC RESOURCES,AN ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPS ITS OWN COMMUNITY OF LIVING ORGANISM THAT IS WHY THEY EXISTS VIVID VARIETIES OF ECOSYSTEM & THEY DIFFER WIDELY FROM EACH OTHER

 EXAMPLE FOR ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

A LAKE ECOSYSTEM IS DIFFERENT FROM AN OCEAN ECOSYSTEM & A FOREST ECOSYSTEM IS DIFFERENT FROM AN URBAN AREA ECOSYSTEM.

SIMILARLY, THERE ARE SO MANY ECOSYSTEM WHICH DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER IN TERM OF THEIR FLORA AND FAUNA.HENCE, THEY ARE REFFERED TO AS ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

Learning Activity:

Q1. Geographical scales for measuring biodiversity is the:
a) Beta diversity
b) Alpha Diversity
c) Gamma Diversity
d) All the above

Q2. The main level of biodiversity is the 
a) Genetic Diversity
b) Species Diversity
c) Community Diversity
d) All the above

Q3. Need for integration of diversity with:
a) Science
b) Technology
c) Both the above
d) None of these

Q4. Cause of threats to biodiversity is the
a) Diseases
b) Habitat Loss
c) Degradation/pollution
d) All the above

Q5. Nature of Indian Soil is the
a) Red Soil
b) Black Soil
c) Alluvial Soil
d) All the above

Q6. Measures  for conservation  of biodiversity is the
a) National Parks
b) Sanctuaries
c) Zoological Garden
d) All the above

Key:  1. d 2. d 3. c 4. d 5. d 6. d