BIODIVERSITY

Sustainable Architecture

Biodiversity
A contraction of BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Biologic
al
BIOS =
Life

Diversity
Diversitas =
Variety

Biodiversity

WALTER G.ROSEN in 1985

Biological diversity or biodiversity is the term given to the

variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and between all
species

of

plants,

animals

and

micro-organisms

and

the

ecosystems within which they live and interact.

Biodiversity comprises all the millions of different species that live

on our planet, as well as the genetic differences within species. It
also refers to the multitude of different ecosystems in which
species form unique communities, interacting with one another

Biodiversity
"Biodiversity" is most commonly used to replace the more clearly
defined and long established terms, species diversity and species
richness.
Biologists most often define biodiversity as the "totality of genes,
species and ecosystems of a region".

Biodiversity
An advantage of this definition is that it seems to describe most
circumstances and presents a unified view of the traditional types
of biological variety previously identified:
Taxonomic diversity (usually measured at the species diversity
level)

Ecological diversity (often viewed from the perspective of

ecosystem diversity)

Morphological diversity (which stems from genetic diversity)

Functional diversity (which is a measure of the number of
functionally disparate species within a population)

Biodiversity
Ecological diversityrefers to
the diversity of a place at
the level ofecosystems.
The
term
differs
frombiodiversity,
which
refers to variation in species
rather than ecosystems.

Functional
diversityis
the effective number of
different species that
are represented in a
collection of individuals

Morphological diversity, the level ofbiodiversity refers to the total

number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Biodiversity
Hierarchy levels of Bio Diversity
GENETIC DIVERSITY- variation of genes
within species. It could be of alleles or
chromosomal structure.

SPECIES DIVERSITY- variety of species

within a region. i.e. species richness

COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITYdiversity at level of community and

ecosystem.

Biodiversity
Genetic diversity

Includes the differences in

DNA composition among
individuals within a given
species.

Adaptation
to
particular
environmental
conditions
may
weed
out
genetic
variants
that
are
not
successful.

But populations benefit from

some genetic diversity, so as
to
avoid
inbreeding
or
disease epidemics.

Biodiversity
Ecosystem diversity

Includes diversity above

the
species
level.
Biologists have viewed
diversity
above
the
species level in various
ways. Some alternative
ways to categorize it
include:
Community

Species diversity

Species = a particular type of

organism; a population or
group of populations whose
members
share
certain
characteristics
and
can
freely
breed
with
one
another and produce fertile
offspring
Species diversity refers to the
measure of diversity in an

NUMBER OF SPECIES DISCOVERED OR PREDICTED

NUMBER OF SPECIES DISCOVERED OR PREDICTED

According to Mora and colleagues, the total number of terrestrial
species is estimated to be around 8.7 million while the number of
oceanic species is much lower, estimated at 2.2 million.

Source: Mora C, Tittensor DP, Adl S, Simpson AGB, Worm B, 2011 How Many Species Are There on
Earth and in the Ocean? PLoS Biol 9(8): e1001127. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001127, via Life Lines

NUMBER OF SPECIES DISCOVERED OR PREDICTED

Other estimates include:
The number of microbial species is not reliably known, but the Global
Ocean Sampling Expedition dramatically increased the estimates of
genetic diversity by identifying an enormous number of new genes
from near-surface plankton samples at various marine locations,
initially over the 2004-2006 period. No of species
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5

Source:
http://www.plosbi
ology.org/article/i
nfo%3Adoi
%2F10.1371%2Fj

Lower Limit

Upper Limit

International Union for Conservation of Nature

classification

IUCN defines 4 classification for species under threat

Endangered species : on verge of extinction

Vulnerable species : not endangered but is facing a very high risk

of extinction in the future.

Rare species :These are species with small total population size in
the world ,their distribution are usually localized within restricted
area of world.

Threatened species: decline in number significantly in total

numbers and may be on verge of extinction in certain localities.

Threatened Species Analysis

Source: https://mdgsaustralia.wordpress.com/reduce-losses-in-biodiversity/

Biodiversity
India is known for its rich heritage of biodiversity.
India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world.
With only 2.4% of the worlds area, India accounts for 78% of the
worlds recorded plant and animal species.
Indias ten biogeographic zones possess an exemplary diversity of
ecological habitats like alpine forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal
and marine ecosystems, and desert ecosystems.
India has four out of thirty-four global biodiversity hotspots, which is
an indicator of high degree of endemism (of species) in India.
About 5,150 plant species and 1,837 animal species are endemic to
India.
Indias biodiversity includes wild relatives of agricultural crops and
domesticated animals.

Biodiversity India

Biodiversity India

Source: http://www.biodiversityofindia.org/index.php?

Biodiversity India
Fauna

Flora

Protista;
Vertebrates;
6% 3%

Microbes; 11%
Invertebrates; 14%

Anthropods; 78%
Protista

Invertebrates

Plants; 89%
Anthropods

Vertebrates

Plants

Microbes

Biodiversity India
India has 16 major types and 251 subtypes of forests.
Indigenous medicine systems utilize nearly 6,500 native plants for
both human and animal healthcare.
Indias diverse preponderance of native tribal and ethnic groups has
contributed significantly in the conservation and diversification of
biodiversity.
Its cultural and ethnic diversity includes over 550 tribal communities
of 227 ethnic groups spread over 5,000 forested villages. India
proudly upholds the tradition of nature conservation.
In 252 B.C., the Emperor Asoka established protected areas (PAs) for
mammals, birds, fish and forests through a proclamation.
Jim Corbett National Park covering an area of 325sqkm came into
being as the Indias first and worlds third National Park in 1936.

Biodiversity India
India has currently 4.79% of total geographic area under an
elaborate network of PAs, which includes 99 National Parks, 513
wildlife sanctuaries, 43 conservation reserves, 4 community reserves
and 3 biodiversity
heritage
sites.
India has
a National Wildlife
Action Plan, which envisages
10%

of

the

geographical

area of the country under PA

coverage.

Source: www.earthtrends.wri.org/2002-03

Biodiversity India
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.

Chilika - This wetland area is protected

under the Ramsar convention.

Sunder bans - The largest mangrove

forest in India.

Western Ghats - One of the two

biodiversity hotspots in India.

Thar desert - The climate and vegetation

in this area is a contrast to the Himalayan
region.

Source: earthtrends.wri.org

Biome

1.Tropical rainforest
seasonal
rainforest
(deciduous
2.
A Tropical
grouping
of terrestrial
ecosystems
on a given continent that are
Semi deciduous)
similar
in vegetation
structure, physiognomy, features of the
3. Temperate
giant rainforest
4. Montane rainforest
environment
and characteristics of their animal communities.5. Temperate deciduous forest
Whittaker
6. Temperate evergreen forest
7. Subarctic forests (taiga)
8. Elfin woodland
9. Thorn forests and woodlands
10. Thorn scrub
11. Temperate woodland
12. Temperate shrub lands
13. Savanna
14. Temperate grassland
15. Alpine grasslands
16. Tundra
17. Tropical desert
18. Warm-temperate desert
19. Cool temperate desert scrub
20. Arctic-alpine desert

Biodiversity

Comparisons for the 14 Terrestrial Biomes of the World in

Terms of Species Richness and Endemic Species

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report, 2005

Comparisons for the 14 Terrestrial Biomes of the World in

Terms of Family Richness and Endemic Species

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report, 2005

Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems
promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with
its sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated
by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of
the states where they are located. -UNESCO
They are large protected area of usually more than 5000 sq.km.

Biosphere Reserves
A biosphere reserves has 3 parts- core, buffer and transition zone.
1-The core zone is innermost zone, this is undisturbed and legally
protected area.
2-Buffer zone lies b/w the core and transition zone. Some research
and
educational
3-Transition
zoneactivities
is the are permitted here.
outermost

part

biosphere

reserves.

Here

cropping,

forestry,
fishery

of

recreation,
and

other

activities are allowed.

Biosphere Reserves

Biodiversity Hotspots

British Biologist Norman Myers Coined this term 1988

Hotspots are the richest and most threatened reservoir of plant

and animal life of the earth.

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict

criteria:
Species Endemism: It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants
as endemics which is to say, it must have a high
percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet.
Degree of threat: It must have 30% or less of its original
natural vegetation. In other words, it must be threatened.

Around the world, 35 areas qualify as hotspots. They represent just

2.3% of Earths land surface, but they support more than half of
the worlds plant species as endemics i.e., species found no

Biodiversity Hotspots

Biodiversity Hotspots
1. The Tropical Andes
2. Mesoamerica
3. The Caribbean Islands
4. The Atlantic Forest
5. Tumbes-Choc-Magdalena
6. The Cerrado
7. Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests
8. The California Floristic Province
9. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
10. The Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
11. The Guinean Forests of West Africa
12. The Cape Floristic Region
13. The Succulent Karoo
14. The Mediterranean Basin
15. The Caucasus
16. Sundaland
17. Wallacea
18. The Philippines

Biodiversity Hotspots in India

India has 4 biodiversity hotspots
Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and that
falling in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar)

Source: http://bsienvis.nic.in/files/Biodiversity%20Hotspots%20in

Biodiversity Hotspots in India

Indo-Burma: Includes entire

Sundalands: Includes Nicobar

North-eastern

group of Islands (and

India,

except

Assam and Andaman group of

Indonesia, Malaysia,

Islands

Singapore, Brunei,

Thailand,
Cambodia

(and

Myanmar,

Vietnam,
and

Laos,

Philippines)

southern

China)

Source: http://bsienvis.nic.in/files/Biodiversity%20Hotspots%20in

Biodiversity Hotspots in India

Western Ghats and Sri Lanka:

Includes entire Western Ghats
(and Sri Lanka).

Known as Sahyadri mountains.

Floristic richness highest.

At least 325 globally

threatened species occur. eg.
purple frog, black leopard.

Source: http://bsienvis.nic.in/files/Biodiversity%20Hotspots%20in

Mega Diversity Countries

The megadiverse countries are a group of countries that harbour

the majority of Earth's species and high numbers of endemic
species.

Conservation International identified 17 megadiverse countries in

1998.Many of them are located in, or partially in, tropical or
subtropical regions.

Source: en:Image:Megadiverse Countries.PNG

Mega Diversity Countries

Source: en:Image:Megadiverse Countries.PNG

Loss of Biodiversity

Source: http://www.grida.no/graphic.aspx?

Reference

IUCN

https://mdgsaustralia.wordpress.com/reduce-losses-in-biodiversity/

Environ

http://www.eniscuola.net/en/argomento/biodiversity1/loss-ofbiodiversity/causes-of-the-loss-of-biodiversity/

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/l-3/1-definebiodiversity.htm

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/l-3/1-definebiodiversity.htm

Biodiversity and its conservation-Akhil Kollipara

THANKS