Environmental Science : Theory into Practice (II) In English Medium

Q 1. What is Biodiversity? Write there types and methods of measuring biodiversity.

Answer

Introduction

Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area-the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life.
Meaning of Biodiversity:
The word Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms (flora and fauna). Biodiversity or Biological diversity is defined as the variability among all living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are part.

E.O. Wilson in 1988 defined 'Biological diversity' or 'biodiversity' as that
part of nature that includes the differences in genes among the individuals of a species, Biodiversity describes the richness and variety of life on earth. It is the most complex and important feature of our planet. Without biodiversity, life would not sustain.

Click Here For Full Notes

Types Of Biodiversity

Biological diversity deals with the degree of nature's variety in the biosphere. This variety can be observed at three levels i.e., genetic, species, and ecosystem.

• Genetic diversity: Every individual of a particular species differs from each other in its genetic makeup. This genetic variability among the members of any plant or animal species is known as genetic diversity. When two individuals are closely related, they share more genetic information and hence, are more similar.

• Species diversity: is the diversity of different types of organisms in a given area. It can be measured by the number of species, the relative abundance of each species, or the richness and evenness of the species composition. Species diversity is influenced by factors such as habitat, climate, disturbance, and human activities.

• Ecosystem diversity: is the diversity of different types of ecosystems in a region. It can be measured by the number of ecosystems, the diversity of habitats, niches, and trophic levels, or the complexity and interconnectedness of the ecological processes. Ecosystem diversity is affected by factors such as climate, geology, topography, and human interventions.

Click Here For Full Notes

Methods of measuring biodiversity

There are three perspectives of measuring biodiversity at the level of community. These are: Alpha diversity, beta diversity, and gamma diversity.

1. Alpha diversity: Alpha diversity indicates diversity within the community. It refers to the diversity of organisms sharing the same community or habitat. A combination of species richness and equitability/evenness is used to represent diversity within a community or habitat.

2. Beta diversity: Beta diversity indicates diversity between communities. Species frequently change when habitat or community changes. There are differences in species composition of communities along with environmental gradients, e.g. altitudinal gradient, moisture gradient, etc. The higher heterogeneity in the habitats of a region or greater dissimilarity between communities exhibit higher beta diversity.

3. Gamma diversity: gamma diversity refers to the diversity of the habitats over the total land scope or geographical area. The sum of alpha and beta diversities of the ecosystems is an expression of the biodiversity of the landscape, which is considered as Gamma Diversity.

Conclusion
Biodiversity is a critical aspect of the Earth's ecosystems, encompassing the variety of life at various levels, from genes to species to ecosystems. It plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, providing ecosystem services, and contributing to the overall health and resilience of our planet. However, biodiversity is currently facing unprecedented threats due to human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of natural resources. Recognizing the importance of biodiversity is essential for the sustainable future of our planet, and concerted efforts are required to conserve and protect the rich tapestry of life on Earth.

Click Here For Full Notes