Kavin

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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.

The three types of biodiversity are:


● Species Diversity.
● Genetic Diversity.
● Ecological Diversity.
Uses of biodiversity
Biodiversity provides vital ecosystem functions such as soil
fertilization, nutrient recycling, pest and disease regulation, erosion
control and crop and tree pollination.

Importance of biodiversity:

● Biodiversity maintains the ecological balance.


● It helps in the healthy existence of humans and other
species in the ecosystem.
● It helps in high productivity and human wellness.
● Biodiversity provides humans with valuable genetic
diversity. Because genetic material is the result of millions
of years of evolution, biodiversity preservation is critical.
● Biodiversity is a good indicator of our interdependence
with other living things.
● It also signifies each species' contribution and function in
maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Major threats for biodiversity


● Deforestation.
● Habitat loss and nature degradation.
● Overexploitation.
● Water pollution.
● Land pollution.
● Climate change.
● Invasive species.
Over exploitation
The unsustainable use of natural resources and
overexploitation, which occurs when harvesting exceeds
reproduction of wild plant and animal species, continues to be a
major threat to biodiversity.

Co extinction
Co-extinction refers to extinction due to the obligatory
association of plants or animals. This phenomenon of co-extinction
can be defined as the loss or decline of related species. When a
species becomes extinct, then plants and animals that were
dependent on it also become extinct in due time.
Alien species invasion
Invasive alien species (IAS) are animals, plants or other
organisms that are introduced into places outside their natural
range, negatively impacting native biodiversity, ecosystem services
or human well-being. IAS are compounded by climate change.

Why do we need to conserve biodiversity ?


Biodiversity is the key indicator of the health of an ecosystem. A
wide variety of species will cope better with threats than a limited
number of them in large populations. Even if certain species are
affected by pollution, climate change or human activities, the
ecosystem as a whole may adapt and survive.Biodiversity should
be conserved because we have inherited it and also because a loss
of diversity may lead to loss of ecological stability.”We are
interdependent on a variety of species of plants and animals for a
living. Hence it is very important to conserve these species and
their ecosystems which are threatened by many human activities. A
threat to biodiversity poses a threat to humankind.
So it is much important to conserve biodiversity and give it to our
future generations.

How to conserve biodiversity?


Support local and regional projects aimed at tackling biodiversity
loss. Buying fewer products and making sure the products you do
buy minimise the impact on biodiversity. Investing in ways that
promote biodiversity. Reducing waste of consumer goods: food,
clothes, electrical appliances, etc.Biodiversity should be conserved
to prevent species extinction. It is preserved to maintain a balance
in nature. If one organism in the food chain gets extinct it will impact
the lives of other organisms.
● Government legislation.
● Nature preserves.
● Reducing invasive species.
● Habitat restoration.
● Captive breeding and seed banks.
● Research.
● Reduce climate change.
● Purchase sustainable products.

Types of Conservation:
Conservation can broadly be divided into two types:

1. In-situ conservation

2. Ex-situ conservation

In-situ Conservation:
In-situ conservation is on site conservation or the conservation of
genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species,
such as forest genetic resources in natural populations of tree .It is
the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in
its natural habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat
itself, or by defending the species from predators.

It is applied to conservation of agricultural biodiversity in agro


forestry by farmers, especially those using unconventional farming
practices. In-situ conservation is being done by declaring area as
protected area.
In India following types of natural habitats are being
maintained:
1. National parks

2. Wildlife sanctuaries

3. Biosphere reserves

INDIA has over 600 protected areas, which includes over 90


national parks, over 500 animal sanctuaries and 15 biosphere
reserves.
Advantages of in-situ conservation:

1. The flora and fauna live in natural habitats without human


interference.

2. The life cycles of the organisms and their evolution progresses in


a natural way.

3. In-situ conservation provides the required green cover and its


associated benefits to our environment.

4. It is less expensive and easy to manage.

5. The interests of the indigenous people are also protected.

Ex-Situ Conservation:

Ex-situ conservation is the preservation of components of biological


diversity outside their natural habitats. This involves conservation of
genetic resources, as well as wild and cultivated or species, and
draws on a diverse body of techniques and facilities. Such
strategies include establishment of botanical gardens, zoos,
conservation strands and gene, pollen seed, seedling, tissue culture
and DNA banks.Ex-situ conservation literally means, "off-site
conservation". It is the process of protecting an endangered species
of plant or animal by removing part of the population from a
threatened habitat and placing it in a new location, which may be a
wild area or within the care of humans.
i. Seed gene bank:

These are cold storages where seeds are kept under controlled
temperature and humidity for storage and this is easiest way to
store the germ plasma of plants at low temperature. Seeds
preserved under controlled conditions (minus temperature) remain
viable for long durations of time.

ii. Gene bank:

Genetic variability also is preserved by gene bank under normal


growing conditions. These are cold storages where germ plam are
kept under controlled temperature and humidity for storage; this is
an important way of preserving the genetic resources.

iii. Cryopreservation:

This is the newest application of technology for preservation of


biotic parts. This type of conservation is done at very low
temperature (196°C) in liquid nitrogen. The metabolic activities of
the organisms are suspended under low temperature, which are
later used for research purposes.
iv. Tissue culture bank:

Cryopreservation of disease free meristems is very helpful. Long


term culture of excised roots and shoots are maintained. Meristem
culture is very popular in plant propagation as it’s a virus and
disease free method of multiplication.

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