BIODIVERSITY - SPECIES, GENETICS &

ECOSYSTEM BIODIVERSITY [UPSC NOTES]

Biodiversity can be defined as a community of all the living organisms on the earth and the
diversity among them from all the ecosystems. Biodiversity is thus the variability between the
species, within the species, and between the ecosystem.
The term biodiversity was coined by Walter G. Rosen in the year 1986.
Biodiversity holds ecological and economic significance. It provides us with nourishment,
housing, fuel, clothing, and several other resources. It also extracts monetary benefits through
tourism. Therefore, it is very important to have a good knowledge of biodiversity for a
sustainable livelihood

Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity plays a major role in maintaining the ecological balance of the ecosystem. It
refers to the number of different species belonging to a particular region. In biodiversity, each
species has a major role to play in the ecosystem.
Ecological Role of Biodiversity
Apart from providing ecological balance to the environment, each species of biodiversity has
a major function to play in the ecosystem. They play a major role in the production and
decomposition of organic wastes, fixing atmospheric gases, and regulation of water and
nutrients throughout the ecosystem. The stability of the ecosystem increases with the
diversity of the species.
Economical Role of Biodiversity
Biodiversity acts as a source of energy and has a major role in providing raw materials for
industrial products such as oils, lubricants, perfumes, dyes, paper, waxes, rubber, etc.
The importance of plant species for various medicinal use has been known for ages.
According to reports, more than 70 % of the anti-cancer drugs are derived from plants in the
tropical rainforests.
Scientific Role of Biodiversity
Each species of the ecosystem contributes to providing enough evidence as to how life
evolved on this planet and the role of each species in maintaining the sustainability of the
ecosystem.

Types of Biodiversity
Biodiversity can be categorized into three main types:
1. Genetic Diversity (Diversity within species)
2. Species Diversity (Diversity between species)

3. Ecosystem Diversity (Diversity between 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
Species diversity can be defined as the variety of species within a particular region or habitat.
This type of diversity can be found in both the natural ecosystem and agricultural ecosystem.
There are more than 85,000 flowering plant species in tropical North and South America,
tropical and subtropical Asia has more than 50,000 flowering plants whereas, there are only
35,000 flowering plant species in tropical and subtropical Africa. But, Europe has around
11,300 vascular plants. Also, other areas, such as salt flats or a polluted stream, have fewer
species.
Ecosystem Diversity
There is a large diversity of different ecosystems that have distinctive species. This
ecosystem varies with each other as per their habitats and the difference in their species. This
ecosystem diversity can be found within a specific geographical region or a country or a state.
This type of diversity also includes forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains.

Loss of Biodiversity
Loss of biodiversity is the decrease in the number of a particular species in a certain habitat.
Loss of biodiversity also leads to the extinction of the plant and animal species and this loss
can be either reversible or permanent.
Human activities have been the major cause of the loss of biodiversity which has led to
sudden changes in climate causing a big threat to biodiversity. There has also been an
increased demand for natural resources along with the growing population leading to greater
waste generation.
Causes of Loss of Biodiversity
Some of the major causes that have resulted in the loss of biodiversity are mentioned below:
1. The natural habitat of the ecosystem plays a major role in maintaining the ecological
balance. Several trees are cut down every year for the construction of industries,
highways, settlement,s and so on to fulfill the human demands. As a result, the species
become the target of predation and eventually dies.
2. Hunting of the wild animals for commercialization of their products has been a major
reason for the loss of biodiversity. Since the year 2013, more than 90 rhinos were
killed by the poachers for their horns and as per the records of 2016, 9 Indian Rhinos
have been killed in Kaziranga National Park of Assam.

3. The exploitation of the medicinal plants for several laboratory purposes has resulted
in the extinction of these species. Also, several animals are sacrificed for various
research in science and medicine.
 4. Natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, forest fires also lead to the loss of
biodiversity.

5. Air pollution has a major role in the loss of biodiversity. Rapid cutting down of the
trees has resulted in the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leading to
climate change. As a result, there has been an increase in the land and ocean
temperature leaving an inimical impact on species.

Role of Biodiversity
The role that biodiversity plays cannot be understated. A slight change in its workings may
have both positive and negative impact (mostly negative) on the entire human race.
Importance of Biodiversity

 The concept of biodiversity is an integral part of many human cultures.

 Biodiversity plays the following roles:

 Ecological

 Economic

 Scientific

 It has contributed in several ways to the development of human culture and, in turn,
human communities.

 It has played a major role in shaping the diversity of nature at the genetic, species and
ecological levels.

Ecological Role of Biodiversity

 Each organism contributes something of use to other organisms besides extracting its
needs.
 The major functions done by species which are important for ecosystem function and
human survival are:

 Capture and store energy

 Produce and decompose organic materials

 Help to cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem

 Fix atmospheric gases and help to regulate the climate

 The more diverse an ecosystem, better are the chances for the species to survive
through adversities and attacks, and subsequently, is more productive.

 Hence, the loss of species would decline the ability of the system to maintain itself.

 The more the diversity of species in an ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is
likely to be.
Economic Role of Biodiversity

 Biodiversity is an important resource in their day-to-day life for all humans.

 It is comprehended as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the manufacture
of food, cosmetic products, and pharmaceuticals.

 Some of the significant economic commodities that man derives from biodiversity
are:

 Food crops

 Livestock

 Forests

 Fish

 Medicinal resources

 The vital part of biodiversity is ‘crop diversity’, which is also known as agro
biodiversity.

 This idea of biological resources is accountable for the deterioration of biodiversity.

Scientific Role of Biodiversity

 All species can contribute some evidence to show how life evolved and will continue
to evolve.
 Biodiversity helps in sensing how life functions and the role of each species in
sustaining ecosystems.

 The level of biodiversity is a good indicator of the state of the relationships of human
beings with other living species.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND ITS

IMPORTANCE?
Biodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe all the different species of plants, animals,
microorganisms and the ecosystem in which they live, interact and thrive. Biodiversity
conservation means protecting all the millions of different species that live on our planet and
protecting the multitude of different ecosystems that lets these organisms survive and evolve.
The Importance of Biodiversity conservation are listed below.
1. Preserving the health of water, soil and air.
2. Helps in agricultural activities

3. Helps in controlling climate change

4. Reduces pollution
 5. Increase tourism potential

6. Will be a source of timber, medicines and other valuable products for humans.

How can we Protect and Conserve Biodiversity?

There are various ways to protect and conserve biodiversity. Some of the methods are
mentioned below.
1. Legislations framed by the Governments.
2. Captive breeding and Seed banks

3. Reduce usage of fossil fuels by opting for alternative forms of fuel

4. Education – create more awareness among people on the importance of biodiversity.

5. Conduct more research to understand how the species interact with the ecosystem.

6. Restore the habitats

7. Captive breeding and seed banks

What are the Types of Biodiversity?

Biodiversity can be mainly divided into 3 types.
1. Genetic Diversity – It refers to the diversity within species.
2. Species Diversity – It refers to the diversity between species.

3. Ecosystem Diversity – It refers to the diversity within the ecosystem.

Which are the Biodiversity Hotspots in India?

There are 4 Biodiversity hotspots in India, which are listed below.
1. Himalayas – It includes the entire Himalayan region covering India, Nepal, Bhutan,
Tibet, Pakistan, Myanmar
2. The entire region of Western Ghats

3. Indo-Burma region – It covers the entire North East Region excluding Assam, it also
covers the region of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South of China.

4. Sundalands – It covers the Nicobar group of islands in India and also covers the other
Southeast Asian Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines.

There are 2 criteria for a region to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot.

1. Must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants that are found nowhere else on
earth. In other words, they are known as endemic species.
2. The region has lost at least 70% of its primary native vegetation.

CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSSES

The accelerated rates of species extinctions that the world is facing now are largely due to
human activities. There are four major causes
  Habitat loss and fragmentation
 Over-exploitation

 Alien species invasions

 Co-extinctions

Habitat loss and fragmentation

 Habitat loss and fragmentation is the most important cause of driving animals and
plants to extinction.
 The most intense examples of habitat loss come from tropical rainforests.

 The Amazon rain forests protecting probably millions of species are being cut and
cleared for agricultural purposes or for conversion to grasslands for raising beef cattle.

 In addition to the total loss, the degradation of several habitats by pollution also
threatens the existence of many species.

 When large habitats are broken up into small fragments due to anthropogenic
activities, mammals and birds necessitating large territories and certain animals with
migratory habits are severely affected, leading to population regressions.

Over-exploitation

 Humans have always depended on nature for food and shelter, etc.
 The population explosion is the major reason for the over-exploitation of available
resources.

 Many species extinctions in the last 500 years such as Steller’s sea cow, passenger
pigeon were due to overexploitation by humans.

 Currently, several marine fish populations around the world are over-harvested,
threatening the sustained existence of certain commercially important species.

Alien species invasions

 When alien species are introduced by chance or deliberately, some of them turn
aggressive and cause the extinction of local species.
 The Nile perch introduced into Lake Victoria in East Africa led ultimately to the
extinction of a naturally unique group of more than 200 species of cichlid fish in the
lake.

 The illegal introduction of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus for aquaculture
purposes is posing a danger to the local catfishes.

Co-extinctions

 When a species becomes extinct, the flora and fauna related to it in an essential way
also become extinct.
  When a host fish species becomes extinct, its unique assemblage of parasites also
meets the same destiny.

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
 About three-fourth of the human population resides in the Tropical regions which
occupy only about one-fourth of the total area of the world.
 The tropical rain forests contain 50 percent of the species on the earth.

 The excessive population is one of the causes that have lead to biodiversity loss that
has resulted in the rampant exploitation of resources and deforestation.

 The destruction of the Tropical regions has resulted in the loss of natural habitats
which is catastrophic for the whole biosphere.

 Natural calamities like forest fires, droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
etc. cause damage to both flora and fauna of the earth.

 Pesticides and other pollutants like toxic heavy metals and hydrocarbons destroy the
feeble and sensitive species.

 Loss of biodiversity in an area may cause

 Decline in plant production

 Lowered resistance to environmental perturbations

 Increased variability in definite ecosystem developments such as water use,

plant productivity, and disease cycles and pests.

IUCN
 The IUCN issues data about endangered species universally as the Red List of
threatened species.
 IUCN has a membership  of over 16000 scientists and 1000 full-time staff in more
than 50 countries in a voluntary basis.

 It is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.

 IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations and plays a role in
the implementation of several international conventions on nature conservation and
biodiversity.

 The organization has categorized the threatened species of plants and animals into
three categories for the purpose of their conservation.

 Endangered Species

 Vulnerable Species

 Rare Species
Endangered Species

 It comprises those species which are in danger of extinction.

Vulnerable Species

 This comprises the species which are probable to be in danger of extinction in near
the future if the factors threatening to their extinction continue.
 Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction of the species home.
Vulnerable habitat or species are monitored and can become increasingly threatened.

 Survival of these species is not guaranteed as their population has decreased greatly.

Rare Species

 The population of these species is very small in the world and they are restricted to
limited areas or thinly scattered over a wider area.
 Rarity rests on a specific species being represented by a small number of organisms
worldwide, usually fewer than 10,000.

 A species may be endangered or vulnerable, but not considered rare if it has a large,
dispersed population.

 A species may be endangered or vulnerable, but not considered rare if it has a large,
dispersed population.

Questions related to Loss of biodiversity

What are the 5 major causes of biodiversity loss?

 Climate change. Changes in climate throughout our planet’s history have, of course,
altered life on Earth in the long run.
 Deforestation and habitat loss.

 Overexploitation

 Invasive species

 Pollution.

What are the consequences of loss of biodiversity?

The loss of biodiversity will adversely impact the health of the human race . It will increases
the number of disease carrying animals in local populations. Research has shown that the
species best adapted to survive critically fragmented habitats are also the most prolific
carriers of pathogens.
How can we solve the loss of biodiversity?
1. Government restrictions and policies.
2. Education.
 3. Protection of species.

4. Protection of habitats.

5. Stop deforestation.

6. Prevent overhunting and overfishing.

7. Prevent species invasion.

8. Stop pollution.

How is human population growth affecting biodiversity?

Humans affect biodiversity by their population numbers, use of land, and their lifestyles,
causing damage to habitats for species. The rapid consumption of Earth’s resources is
outpacing its demand at a fast rate. As a result, to meet this demands, infrastructure is being
built at the expense of the local ecology leading to disastrous consequences in the process.

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN INDIA - HIMALAYAS, INDO-

BURMA, WESTERN GHATS & SUNDALAND
Biodiversity is referred to as the variation of plant and animal species in a particular habitat.
Species evenness and species richness form the major components of biodiversity.
India is known for its rich biodiversity and has 23.39% of the geographical area covered by
forests and trees.
Coined by Norman Myers, the term “Biodiversity hotspots” can be defined as the regions
which are known for their high species richness and endemism.
Biodiversity hotspots in India are an important topic for the IAS Exam and are under UPSC
Mains GS-III syllabus. This article will discuss the major biodiversity hotspots in India.
Aspirants will also find the list of IUCN endangered species. Aspirants can also download the
notes PDF at the end of the article.

What are the criteria for determining hotspots?

According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two criteria to
qualify as a hotspot:
1. The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a
high degree of endemism.
2. It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.

Following the criteria must for an area to be declared as Biodiversity Hotspot, there are major
four biodiversity hotspots in India:
1. The Himalayas
2. Indo-Burma Region

3. The Western Ghats

4. Sundaland
The Himalayas
Considered as the highest in the world, the Himalayas comprises of North-East India, Bhutan,
Central and Eastern parts of Nepal. This region holds a record of having 163 endangered
species which includes the Wild Asian Water Buffalo, One-horned Rhino, and as many as
10,000 plant species, of which 3160 are endemic. This mountain range covers nearly 750,000
km2.
Indo – Burma Region
The Indo-Burma Region is stretched over a distance of 2,373,000 km². In the last 12 years, 6
large mammal species have been discovered in this region: the Large-antlered Muntjac, the
Annamite Muntjac, the Grey-shanked Douc, the Annamite Striped Rabbit, the Leaf Deer, and
the Saola.
This hotspot is also known for the endemic freshwater turtle species, most of which are
threatened with extinction, due to over-harvesting and extensive habitat loss. There are also
1,300 different bird species, including the threatened White-eared Night-heron, the Grey-
crowned Crocias, and the Orange-necked Partridge.
The Western Ghats
The Western Ghats are present along the western edge of peninsular India and covers most of
the deciduous forests and rain forests. This region consists of 6000 plant species of which
3000 are endemic. Originally, the vegetation in this region was spread over 190,000 km 2 but
has been now reduced to 43,000 km2. The region is also known for 450 species of birds, 140
mammals, 260 reptiles, and 175 amphibians.
Sundaland
The Sundaland hotspot lies in South-East Asia and covers Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia,
Brunei, and Malaysia. In the year 2013, the Sundaland was declared as a World Biosphere
Reserve by the United Nations. This region is famous for its rich terrestrial and marine
ecosystem. Sundaland is one of the biologically richest hotspots in the world which
comprises 25,000 species of vascular plants, of which 15,000 are found only in this region.

Biodiversity in India – Flora, and Fauna

India is famous for its rich flora and fauna. India houses over 500 species of mammals, more
than 200 species of birds, and 30,000 different species of insects. Moreover, the country has
101 National Parks, 333 Wildlife Sanctuaries, and 35 Zoological Gardens which comprises a
wide variety of fauna. The Zoological Survey of India which is headquartered in Kolkata is
responsible for surveying the faunal resources of India.
India has a diverse climate, topology, and habitat are known to have the richest flora in the
world with over 18000 species of flowering plants. These plant species constitute 6-7% of the
world’s plant species. There are 8 main floristic regions in India- the Western and the
Eastern Himalayas, Indus and Ganges, Assam, the Deccan, Malabar, and the Andaman
Islands which is home to 3000 Indian plant species. The forests in India cover ranges from
the tropical rainforest including Andaman, Western Ghats, and North-east India to the
coniferous forests of the Himalayas. The deciduous forests can be found in the eastern,
central, and southern parts of India.
ENDANGERED SPECIES OF INDIA
India is known to be home for 6.5% of the world’s species which includes 7.6% of all
mammals and 12.6% of all bird species. But with the rapid loss of biodiversity, many species
are becoming extinct or at risk of becoming critically endangered. The species that are at risk
of extinction due to the sudden decrease in their population and habitat are known as
endangered species.
Top 5 endangered species (Flora and Fauna) in India are listed in the table below:

Top 5 Endangered Species of India

Endangered Animal Species Endangered Plant Species

The Royal Bengal Tiger Ebony tree

The Great Asiatic Lion Indian Mallow

The Snow Leopard Malabar Lily

The Pig Nosed Frog Assam Catkin Yew

The Pink Headed Duck Milkwort

What is the IUCN Red List?

Founded in 1964, the IUCN Red List also known as the Red Data List evaluates the
biological species in the world which are at the risk of extinction. IUCN aims to focus on the
conservation of the world’s species to reduce the species extinction. More than 77,300
species have been assessed on the IUCN Red List.
According to the reports of 2019 as per the IUCN Red List, 41% of the amphibians and 33%
of the coral reefs are in the threatened category.
The IUCN Red List can be divided into the following 9 categories:
1. Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
2. Extinct in the wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized
population outside its historic range.

3. Critically endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

4. Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.

5. Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.

6. Near threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered shortly.

 7. Least concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at-risk category.
Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

8. Data deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess its risk of extinction.

9. Not evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria

To know about the critically endangered species of India as per IUCN Red List 2019 refer to
the linked article.

TIGER CONSERVATION IN INDIA

Since a large number of the tiger population in India is entering into the list of endangered
species, the conservation of tigers has become a crucial point in India. One of the initiatives
taken by the Government of India for the protection of the tigers is the ‘Project Tiger’. This
project was launched in April 1973 and was administered by the National Tiger Conservation
Authority.
Project Tiger aims at protecting the tiger population in India, preventing them from the risk of
extinction and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage.
The list of major threats to Tiger Population are:

 Man- animal conflict

 Hunting, poaching and illegal trade

 Habitat and loss of prey species

It is due to this initiative that India’s tiger population has risen to 2,967 in 2018 within 12
years. As per the latest data, the largest survey conducted by the government to map the Tiger
Population in India till date was over 381,400 km of forested habitats across 20 states.
To know more about Tiger Conservation & Tiger Reserves in India, refer to the linked
article.

Frequently Asked Questions related to Biodiversity Hotspots

What is a biodiversity hotspot?

To be classified as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must have lost at least 70 percent of its
original natural vegetation, usually due to human activity. There are over 30 recognized
biodiversity hotspots in the world.

How many biodiversity hotspots are there in the world?

Around the world, 36 areas qualify as hotspots. They represent just 2.4% of Earth’s land
surface, but they support more than half of the world’s plant species as endemics – i.e.,
species found no place else – and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species
as endemics.
Which is the biodiversity hotspot in India?
India hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots:the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region
and the Sundaland (Includes Nicobar group of Islands). These hotspots have numerous
endemic species.

What are examples of hotspots?

In geology, the places known as hotspots or hot spots are volcanic regions thought to be fed
by underlying mantle that is anomalously hot compared with the surrounding mantle.
Examples include the Hawaii, Iceland and Yellowstone hotspots.

What is hotspot region?

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is both a significant reservoir of
biodiversity and is threatened with destruction. The term biodiversity hotspot specifically
refers to 25 biologically rich areas around the world that have lost at least 70 percent of their
original habitat.

Why is California a biodiversity hotspot?

The California Floristic Province is a world biodiversity hotspot as defined by Conservation
International, due to an unusually high concentration of endemic plants: approximately 8,000
plant species in the geographic region, and over 3,400 taxa limited to the CFP proper, as well
as having lost over 70% of its primary vegetation