BIODIVERSITY
❖ The term Biodiversity was first coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1986.
❖ Biodiversity is the abbreviated word for biological diversity (Greek word BIOS:
Life; Latin word DIVERSITAS: Variety or difference). Thus, biodiversity refers
to the variety of life in different ecosystems on our planet, encompassing the
total number of races, varieties, and species. The sum of the total of various
types of microbes, plants, and animals (producers, consumers, and
decomposers) in an ecosystem.
❖ Biomes can be considered life zones, environments with similar climatic,
topographic, and soil conditions and roughly comparable biological
communities (e.g., Grassland, forest). The biomes shelter an astounding variety
of living organisms, ranging from the driest desert to the lush rainforest, from
the highest mountain peaks to the deepest ocean trenches. Life occurs in a
marvelous spectrum of sizes, shapes, colors, and interrelationships. The
variety of living organisms, the biodiversity, makes the world beautiful.
❖ There are 1.4 million species known presently. But based on discoveries by
research expeditions, mainly in the tropics, taxonomists estimate there are
between 3 and 50 million different species alive today. Insects make up more
than one-half of all known species and may comprise more than 90% of all
species on earth.
,LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
The concept of biodiversity may be
analyzed at 3 different levels. They are:
1. Ecosystem diversity
2. Species diversity
3. Genetic diversity
1. Community or Ecosystem
diversity:
❖ A set of biotic components (plants,
animals, and microorganisms) and
abiotic components (soil, air, water,
etc.) interacting with each other is
known as an ecosystem.
❖ Ecosystem or ecological diversity means the richness and complexity of a
biological community, including trophic levels, ecological processes (which
capture energy), food webs, and material recycling.
❖ The diversity at an ecological level or habitat level is known as ecosystem
diversity. Ex: River ecosystem- Rivers include fish, aquatic insects, mussels, and a
variety of plants that have adapted.
❖ It explains the interaction between living organisms and the physical
environment in an ecosystem.
, 2. Species diversity:
❖ A discrete group of organisms of the same kind
is known as a species.
❖ Species diversity is the diversity between
different species.
❖ The sum of the varieties of all living organisms
at the species level is known as species
diversity.
❖ Species diversity describes the number of kinds
of organisms within individual communities or
ecosystems.
Examples of plant diversity
❖ The biotic component is composed of a
large number of species of plants, animals,
and microorganisms that interact with
each other and with the abiotic component
of the environment.
❖ Ex: The total number of species living on
earth is >2 million. However, only around
1.5 million are found and assigned
scientific names.
Examples of animal diversity
❖ The term Biodiversity was first coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1986.
❖ Biodiversity is the abbreviated word for biological diversity (Greek word BIOS:
Life; Latin word DIVERSITAS: Variety or difference). Thus, biodiversity refers
to the variety of life in different ecosystems on our planet, encompassing the
total number of races, varieties, and species. The sum of the total of various
types of microbes, plants, and animals (producers, consumers, and
decomposers) in an ecosystem.
❖ Biomes can be considered life zones, environments with similar climatic,
topographic, and soil conditions and roughly comparable biological
communities (e.g., Grassland, forest). The biomes shelter an astounding variety
of living organisms, ranging from the driest desert to the lush rainforest, from
the highest mountain peaks to the deepest ocean trenches. Life occurs in a
marvelous spectrum of sizes, shapes, colors, and interrelationships. The
variety of living organisms, the biodiversity, makes the world beautiful.
❖ There are 1.4 million species known presently. But based on discoveries by
research expeditions, mainly in the tropics, taxonomists estimate there are
between 3 and 50 million different species alive today. Insects make up more
than one-half of all known species and may comprise more than 90% of all
species on earth.
,LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
The concept of biodiversity may be
analyzed at 3 different levels. They are:
1. Ecosystem diversity
2. Species diversity
3. Genetic diversity
1. Community or Ecosystem
diversity:
❖ A set of biotic components (plants,
animals, and microorganisms) and
abiotic components (soil, air, water,
etc.) interacting with each other is
known as an ecosystem.
❖ Ecosystem or ecological diversity means the richness and complexity of a
biological community, including trophic levels, ecological processes (which
capture energy), food webs, and material recycling.
❖ The diversity at an ecological level or habitat level is known as ecosystem
diversity. Ex: River ecosystem- Rivers include fish, aquatic insects, mussels, and a
variety of plants that have adapted.
❖ It explains the interaction between living organisms and the physical
environment in an ecosystem.
, 2. Species diversity:
❖ A discrete group of organisms of the same kind
is known as a species.
❖ Species diversity is the diversity between
different species.
❖ The sum of the varieties of all living organisms
at the species level is known as species
diversity.
❖ Species diversity describes the number of kinds
of organisms within individual communities or
ecosystems.
Examples of plant diversity
❖ The biotic component is composed of a
large number of species of plants, animals,
and microorganisms that interact with
each other and with the abiotic component
of the environment.
❖ Ex: The total number of species living on
earth is >2 million. However, only around
1.5 million are found and assigned
scientific names.
Examples of animal diversity
