ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr.

H U Raghavendra

BIODIVERSITY AND THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is the vast range of all the species of plants, animals, insects and the microorganisms
inhabiting the earth either in the aquatic or the terrestrial environments.

The variety and variability of organisms and ecosystems is referred to as biological diversity. The
term biodiversity is a short form of the term biological diversity. The term biodiversity was coined
by a biologist by name E. O. Wilson in 1985. He made this term very popular. Today, the term
biodiversity is used everyday by scientists, policy makers and others.

Importance of Biodiversity

 Biodiversity influences the water cycle and biogeochemical cycles in the ecosystem.
 Biodiversity is the biological wealth of a country or region.
 The human civilization depends directly or indirectly upon the biodiversity for their very
basic needs of survival–food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, timber, liquor, rubber, leather, medicines
and several raw materials.

Perhaps the greatest value of biodiversity is yet unknown. Scientists have discovered and named
only 1.75 million species. Much of the earth’s great biodiversity is rapidly disappearing, even before
we know what is missing. Biologists estimate that as many as 27,000 species are becoming extinct
each year.

Table: Approximate Numbers of Species which have been described and identified from all over
the World.
Group Number of species
Higher plants 2,70,000
Algae 40,000
Fungi 72,000
Bacteria 4,000
Viruses 1,550
Mammals 4,650
Birds 9,700
Reptiles 7,150
Fish 26,959
Amphibians 4,780
Insects 10,25,000
Crustaceans 43,000
Mollusks 70,000
Nematodes and worms 25,000
Protozoa 40,000
Others 1,10,000

Levels of Biodiversity

The different types of biodiversity are:

1. Genetic diversity: Genetic diversity refers to the variations in the number and types of genes
present within the same species. In short, it refers to the variations in genes within a species.
Genes are the basic source of biodiversity.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

For example, India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice, and 1,000 varieties of
mango.

2. Species Diversity: Species diversity refers to the variety of species inhabiting a region. In other
words, it means the variety of different types of living things on earth such as plants, bacteria,
fungi, insects, mammals, etc. within a region.

The number of species per unit is referred to as species richness. The species richness provides a
measure of how much biodiversity a region has. It is most convenient and useful measure of
biodiversity. For example, the Western Ghats have greater species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.

3. Ecological Diversity: Ecosystem diversity shows variations in ecological resources, trophic

structure, food webs, nutrient cycles, etc In other words, it refers to the differences in habitats
and biological communities.

For example: This includes the different types of forests, grass lands, wet lands, water bodies like
streams, lakes and oceans, coral reefs, rocky mountains etc.

Conservation of Biodiversity

Conservation of biodiversity involves protection, upliftment and scientific management of species

at its optimum level.

It may be noted that conservation involves the management of not only the biotic but also the
abiotic factors of the environment so as to maintain the life supporting system (air, water and soil)
of the life forms.

In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity

The goal of biodiversity conservation can be attained by two basic approaches viz “In-situ
conservation” and “Ex-situ conservation”.

In-situ conservation
The in-situ approach includes protection of a group of typical ecosystems through a network of
protected areas. In this approach large areas of the earth surface are kept reserve for wild life. It can
be defined as the conservation of plants and animals in their native ecosystem (natural habitats),
where they naturally occur.
This type of conservation is applicable to wild flora and fauna as conservation is achieved through
protection of populations in their natural ecosystems. The concept of protected areas falls under
this category e.g. National Parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere reserves etc.

Ex-situ conservation
In this approach, threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed
in special setting where they can be protected and given special care. Zoological parks, botanical
gardens and wildlife safari parks serve this purpose. There are many animals that have become
extinct in the wild but continue to be maintained in zoological parks.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Value of Biodiversity

All living organisms are an integral part of biodiversity, and provide invaluable services to mankind.
Since the dawn of human civilization, man has depended on the biodiversity around him. The
biodiversity is vital to human survival, as it provides food, medicines, materials for shelter, clothing,
tools etc. These facts signify that biodiversity has great value.

The values of the earth’s biological resources can broadly be classified into

Direct Values

Consumptive and productive uses.

Food Resources: Grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, condiments, tea-coffee, tobacco, liquor, oil from
plant resources; and meat, fish, egg, milk (and milk products), honey, etc. from animal resources.

Other Resources: Medicine, fuel, timber, household accessories, fodder, fiber, fertilizer, wool, leather,
paint, resin, wax, thatch. Ornamental plants, rubber, creams, silk, feathers, decorative items, etc.

Indirect Values

Non-consumptive uses and options for the future.

1. Carbon fixing through photosynthesis, which provides the support system for species.
2. Pollination, gene flow, etc.
3. Maintaining water cycles, recharging ground water, protecting watersheds.
4. Buffering from climatic extreme conditions such as flood and drought;
5. Soil production and protection from erosion;
6. Maintaining essential nutrient cycles, e.g. carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen and others.
7. Absorbing and decomposing pollutants, organic wastes, pesticides, air and water pollutants;
8. Regulating climate at both macro and micro levels;
9. Preserving recreational, aesthetic, socio-cultural, scientific, educational, ethical and historical
values of natural environments.

Some of the Biodiversity values or uses of biodiversity are

1. Consumptive use value

Consumptive use value is the direct use value. i.e it is used for direct human consumption. Such as
food, drugs, fuel, fiber, etc.

Food:
A large number of wild plants provided by biodiversity are consumed by human beings as food.
About 80,000 edible plant species have been reported from the wild forests. About 90% of present
day food crops have been domesticated from wild tropical plants.

Drugs and Medicine:

Biodiversity provides plants for drugs and medicines. About 75% of the world’s population
depends upon plants and plant extracts for medicines. For instance, the wonder drug Penicillin,
used as anti biotic, is derived from a fungus called penicillium. Similarly, we get tetracycline from a
bark of cinchona tree. Digitalin, an effective cure for heart ailments, is obtained from foxglove.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Fuel:
Biodiversity provides fuel. Forests have been used since ages for fuel wood. The fossil fuels like
coal, petroleum and natural gas are also products of fossilized biodiversity.

2. Productive use value:

Productive use value is the commercially usable value, i.e., the product can be marketed and sold.
Animal products like tusks of elephants, musk from musk deer, silk from silkworms, wool from
sheep, fur from fur-bearing animals, etc. can be traded in the market many industries are
dependent upon the productive use value biodiversity, e.g. paper industry, plywood industry,
textile industry, leather industry, etc.

3. Social Value:
Social value is the value associated with the social life, customs, religion and psycho-spiritual
aspects of the people. Many of the plants are considered holy and sacred in our country, e.g., tulsi
(holy basil), peepal, neem, mango, lotus etc. The leaves, flowers and fruits of these plants are used
in worship, social life and customs. Many animals like cow, snake, bull, peacock, owl, etc. have
significance in our psycho-spiritual arena and thus hold special importance. Thus, biodiversity has
distinct social value, attached with different societies.

4. Ethical value:
Ethical value sometimes known as existence value involves ethical issues like "all life must be
preserved". It is based on the concept 'live and let live', If we want our human race to survive, then,
we must protect our biodiversity, because biodiversity is valuable to man. Man holds great
responsibility towards preserving and conserving other organisms.

5. Aesthetical Value:
The earth’s natural beauty has always inspired man from time immemorial. The diverse plant life
and its innumerable and diverse fauna bring the earth to life.
For instances, Nobody likes to visit vast stretches of barren lands with no signs of visible life. People
spend a lot of time and money to visit only places where they can enjoy the anesthetic value of
biodiversity.

6. Option Value:
Option values include the potentialities of biodiversity that are presently unknown, but that can be
explored.
For instance, there is a possibility that we may have some potential cure of AIDS or Cancer existing
within the depths of marine ecosystem or tropical rain forests. Thus, option value is the value of
knowing that there are biological resources existing in the biosphere that may one day prove to be
an effective option for something important in the future. Thus, the option value of biodiversity
suggests that any species may prove to be a useful species some day.

7. Legal Value:
The earth is not only the home of mankind, but is also the home of all other lives. So, all other
organisms also have a right to live. We have to guarantee to them the right to exist. So, there arises
the need for attaching legal value to biodiversity. Unless we attach legal value to biodiversity, it will
not be possible to check the rapid extinction of many valuable species.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Major Factors Responsible for Loss/Reduction in Biodiversity

• Overexploitation of natural resources and destruction of ecosystems for meeting the human
requirements of food, shelter and comfort.
• Environmental pollutants like pesticides, heavy metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, acid rain,
global warming etc.
• Natural causes like earthquakes, floods, droughts, forest fires.
• Hunting for pleasure and poaching for commercial purposes of certain animal species like
elephants, rhinos, whales, crocodile, snakes etc.

Important factors leading to extinction of species and consequent loss of biodiversity are: habitat
loss and fragmentation, introduction of non-native species, overexploitation, soil, water and
atmospheric pollution and intensive agriculture and forestry.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

The destruction of habitats is the primary reason for the loss of biodiversity. When people cut down
trees, plough a grassland or burn a forest, the natural habitat of a species is changed or destroyed.
These changes can kill or force out many plants, animals and microorganisms, as well as disrupt
complex interactions among the species.
Overexploitation of a particular species reduces the size of its population to an extent that it
becomes vulnerable to extinction.

Pollution
Chemical or thermal pollution is a threat to biodiversity. Species in habitats are increasingly being
harmed by industrial activities and pollution from excessive use of agro-chemicals such as DDT, oil
spills, acid precipitation etc.

Introduced species / biological invasions

This can be intentional or accidental. Species introduced in an ecosystem will cause changes in the
ecosystem. Introduced species are organisms arising in areas/ habitats in which they were
previously not native. Such introduced species are usually referred to as biological pollutants. Some
of the ecological impacts of the invasion include hybridization, out competition, disruption of
original ecosystem, plant pathogenic influences, disease transmission, disruption of foodwebs and
to some situations extinction. Species may be introduced intentionally for:
• Ornamental concerns;
• Agriculture;
• Hunting and spotting activities;
• Biotechnology for scientific research;
• Trade.

Extinction of Species
Extinction is a natural process. Species have disappeared and new ones have evolved to take their
place over the long geological history of the earth. It is useful to distinguish three types of extinction
processes.

Natural extinction: With the change in environmental conditions, some species disappear and
others, which are more adapted to changed conditions, take their place.
This loss of species which occurred in the geological past at a very slow rate is called natural or
background extinction.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Mass extinction: There have been several periods in the earth’s geological history when large
number of species became extinct because of catastrophes. Mass extinctions occurred in millions of
years.

Anthropogenic extinction: An increasing number of species is disappearing from the face of the
earth due to human activities. This man-made mass extinction represents a very severe depletion of
biodiversity, particularly because it is occurring within a short period of time.

The World Conservation Monitoring Centre has recorded that 533 animal (mostly vertebrates) and
384 plant species (mostly flowering plants) have become extinct since the year 1600. More species
have gone extinct from the islands than from the mainland or the oceans.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE