Biodiversity

‘Ex situ’ approach for conserving biodiversity:
- Ex situ conservation refers to the conservation of species outside their natural habitats. This method is used when in situ conservation is not possible. The main goal is to preserve species by maintaining them in controlled environments.
Examples:
1. Botanical gardens: These are places where plants are grown and conserved outside their natural habitat. They help protect endangered plant species and provide research opportunities.
2. Zoos and aquariums: These institutions house endangered animals in artificial environments and play a crucial role in breeding programs for species at risk of extinction.

Three major causes of biodiversity losses:
1. Habitat destruction: Destruction of natural habitats, like deforestation and urbanization, leads to the loss of biodiversity by reducing the area available for species to live and reproduce.
2. Pollution: Pollution of air, water, and soil adversely affects many species, disrupting ecosystems and causing species to either migrate or go extinct.
3. Climate change: Global warming alters habitats and climate patterns, forcing species to adapt, migrate, or face extinction due to unsuitable environmental conditions.

Species-Area Relationship

Mathematical Form:

Where:

• : Number of species
• : Area
• : Constant (depends on region & taxa)
• : Slope, typically 0.1–0.4

Graph:

Naturalist:

Alexander von Humboldt

Observations:

• Species richness increases with area.
• The increase follows a predictable logarithmic pattern.
• This pattern is particularly strong in tropical forests and island ecosystems.

Ecological Importance:

Understanding this relationship helps in habitat conservation and estimating biodiversity loss when habitats shrink.

Three reasons why tropics show greatest levels of species diversity:
1. Stable climate: The tropics have a warm, stable climate with little seasonal variation. This consistency allows for the evolution and survival of a wide range of species.
2. High primary productivity: The tropical regions, especially rainforests, have high primary productivity due to abundant sunlight, rainfall, and warm temperatures, supporting a wide range of organisms.
3. Ecological niches: The tropics have a diverse range of habitats, creating multiple ecological niches where different species can evolve and coexist.

(a) Identify 'X' and 'Y' in the given pie chart. - Based on the pie chart, we can identify 'X' and 'Y' as follows:
- 'X' represents Invertebrates.
- 'Y' represents Crustaceans.
(b) Which one of the two 'X' or 'Y' is the most species-rich taxonomic group and by what percentage?
- 'X' (Invertebrates) is the most species-rich taxonomic group.
- Invertebrates make up a significant percentage of global biodiversity, estimated at around of total species richness.
- Therefore, 'X' (Invertebrates) is the most species-rich taxonomic group with approximately of the species.
(c) Name the level of Biodiversity represented by the following:
(i) Estuaries and alpine meadows in India:
- The level of biodiversity represented by estuaries and alpine meadows is Ecosystem Diversity.
- These ecosystems are rich in diverse species, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, contributing to the diversity of the environment.
(ii) The medicinal plant
- The level of biodiversity represented by the medicinal plant is Species Diversity.
- represents a single species, contributing to the overall diversity of plant species.