What is Biodiversity
The term biodiversity was instituted as a constriction of natural diversity by E.O. Wilson in 1985. Biodiversity might be characterized as the assortment and inconstancy of living organisms and the ecological edifices wherein they exist. As it were, biodiversity is the event of various kinds of ecosystems, various species of organisms with the entire scope of their variations and genes adjusted to various atmospheres, situations alongside their interactions and procedures. Biodiversity incorporates the genetic fluctuation (for which various assortments of flavours have appeared over the span of evolution) and diversity of life structures, for example, plants, animal microbes, and so forth living in a wide scope of ecosystems. In this article, we will learn about the biodiversity flowchart, what is biodiversity, the different types of biodiversity and the importance of biodiversity.
Biodiversity Flowchart
Let us take a look at the biodiversity and the conservation flowchart.
(Image to be added soon)
Types of Biodiversity
There are three interrelated various levels of biodiversity to be specific, called the genetic diversity, species diversity and community or ecosystem diversity.
Genetic Diversity
It portrays the variation in the number and kinds of genes just as chromosomes present in various species. The magnitude of variation in genes of a species increments with increment in size and natural boundaries of the habitat.
The genetic variation emerges by quality and chromosome change in people and in explicitly repeating organisms and it is spread in the populace by recombination of genetic materials during cell division after sexual reproduction.
Genetic Diversity Has the Following Significance
It helps in speciation or evolution of new species;
It is helpful in adaptation to changes in ecological conditions;
It is significant for rural productivity and development.
2. Species Diversity
It portrays the assortment in the number and richness of the species within a locale. The species richness might be characterized as the number of species per unit area. The richness of a species tells about the degree of biodiversity of a site and gives a way to contrasting various locales.
The species richness relies to a great extent upon climatic conditions. The quantity of people of various species within an area speaks to species equality or species evenhandedness. The product species richness and species uniformity give species diversity of a district. At the point when a species is kept altogether to a particular area, it is named as endemic species.
3. Ecosystem Diversity
It depicts the gathering and Interaction of species living respectively and the physical condition of a given area. It relates assortments of habitats, biotic communities ecological procedures in the biosphere. It likewise tells about the diversity inside the ecosystem. It is alluded to as Land gets away from diversity since it incorporates the position and size of different ecosystems.
For instance, the scenes like prairies, deserts, mountains and so forth show ecosystem diversity. The ecosystem diversity is because of the diversity of specialities, trophic levels and ecological procedures like supplement cycling, food networks, vitality stream, the job of predominant species and different related biotic interactions. Such sort of diversity can create progressively productive and stable ecosystems or communities equipped for enduring different kinds of stresses for example dry spell, flood and so on.
Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity supports ecosystem productivity where every species, regardless of how little, all have a significant task to carry out.
For instance
A bigger number of plant species implies a more noteworthy kinds of harvests
More noteworthy species diversity guarantees normal manageability for all living things
Solid ecosystems can more readily withstand and recoup from a group of catastrophes
Thus, while we rule this planet, we despite everything need to save the diversity in untamed life.
A healthier biodiversity provides us with a large number of natural services for everyone. Let us look at each one of them in detail.
Ecosystem Services, For Example
Protection of the water resources
Soil formation and protection
Pollution breakdown and absorption
Contribution to the climate stability
Maintenance of the ecosystems
Nutrients storage and recycling
Recovery from the unpredictable events
Biological Resources, For Example
Food
Wood products
Medicinal resources and useful pharmaceutical drugs
Ornamental plants
Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
Diversity in the genes, species and the overall ecosystems
Future resources
Social Benefits, For Example
Research, education and monitoring
Cultural values
Recreation and tourism
That is quite a long list of the services that we get for free. The cost of replacing these even if it is possible would be extremely expensive. Therefore, it makes an economic and development sense to move in the way of sustainability.
FAQs on Biodiversity Flowchart
1. What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the vast variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses the diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity), and of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity). In simple terms, it's the sum of all different life forms, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and the ecological complexes in which they occur.
2. What are the three main levels of biodiversity as per the CBSE syllabus?
According to the NCERT/CBSE curriculum, biodiversity is studied at three interrelated levels:
- Genetic Diversity: This refers to the variation of genes within a single species. For example, the different varieties of rice or mangoes represent genetic diversity. This variation is crucial for a species to adapt to environmental changes.
- Species Diversity: This is the variety of different species within a specific region. It is measured by species richness (the number of species) and species evenness (the relative abundance of those species).
- Ecosystem Diversity: This refers to the variety of different ecosystems, such as deserts, rainforests, grasslands, and coral reefs, within a larger geographical area. Each ecosystem has a unique set of species and ecological processes.
3. What is the difference between species richness and species evenness?
Species richness and species evenness are two key components of species diversity. Species richness is simply the total number of different species in an area. Species evenness, on the other hand, measures how close in numbers the populations of each of those species are. An ecosystem with high evenness has a balanced population of its various species, making it more stable than an ecosystem dominated by just one or two species.
4. Why is a biodiversity flowchart a useful tool for learning?
A biodiversity flowchart is an excellent educational tool because it visually simplifies complex relationships. It helps students understand:
- Hierarchy: How genetic diversity builds up to species diversity, which in turn forms ecosystem diversity.
- Connections: The cause-and-effect links between threats (like pollution or habitat loss) and their impact on biodiversity levels.
- Structure: The different types and strategies of conservation, such as in-situ and ex-situ methods.
5. How does the loss of a single species affect an ecosystem's overall biodiversity?
The loss of even a single species can have a significant cascading effect on an entire ecosystem. This is because all species are interconnected through food webs and other ecological processes. For example, the extinction of a key pollinator could lead to the decline of multiple plant species that depend on it. Similarly, the removal of a predator can cause an overpopulation of its prey, leading to overgrazing and habitat degradation. This disruption reduces the ecosystem's stability, productivity, and resilience to future changes.
6. How are genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity interconnected?
The three levels of biodiversity are deeply interdependent and function as a whole. Genetic diversity provides the raw material for species to adapt and evolve; without it, species cannot survive environmental changes. A rich species diversity creates complex and stable ecosystems by fulfilling various ecological roles (like pollination, decomposition). In turn, a diverse range of ecosystems provides the necessary habitats and conditions for different species to thrive and maintain their genetic variability. The health of one level directly supports the health of the others.
7. What are the major services that healthy ecosystems provide to humans?
Healthy ecosystems, supported by rich biodiversity, provide numerous essential services, often called ecosystem services. These are crucial for human well-being and survival. Key services include:
- Provisioning Services: Supplying resources like food, fresh water, wood, and medicinal plants.
- Regulating Services: Maintaining climate stability, purifying air and water, controlling pollution, and preventing soil erosion.
- Supporting Services: Essential processes like nutrient cycling, soil formation, and photosynthesis.
- Cultural Services: Providing recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits, such as tourism and education.
