Unit II

ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystems

The term Ecosystem was first proposed by A.G. Tansley in1935. It as ‘the system resulting from
the integration of all the biotic and abiotic components of the environment’.

It is the smallest unit of the biosphere. It is also the structural and functional unit of the biosphere.

The term ecology was coined by Earnst haeckel in the year 1869. It is derived from the Greek word
Oikos logus. Oikos means home, logus means study. Ecology is the biggest unit but AG Tansley in
the year 1935 want to specify on single unit study and he divided ecology in to various subunits
called ecosystems.

Classification of ecosystem

Ecosystem is classified into three types they are

 Natural ecosystem
 Man Made ecosystem
 Incomplete ecosystem

Natural ecosystem

These are formed with out the interference of man. These are divided into terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems.
Terrestrial ecosystems eg: land forest, desert, grassland ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems eg: ponds, lakes, river, stream ecosystems.

Man made ecosystem

These are formed with the interference of man.eg: gardens, crops, reservoirs, aquarium.

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 Incomplete ecosystem

If any one of the component is missed then it is said to be incomplete ecosystem.

Eg: caves (producers,sunlightabsent).
Abyssalzone(sunlight producers are absent).

Block diagram of Ecosystem

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STRUCTURE OF AN ECOSYSTEM

Ecosystem consists of both biotic and abiotic components

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 https://www.scraby.com/content/ecosystem-and-its-components

Abiotic Components

These are the nonliving components of the environment which includes: Physical / Climatic Factors
and Chemical Factors.

Physical / Climatic Factors (light, water, heat etc.)

Chemical factors Organic Factors (Lipids, Proteins and humus)

Inorganic Factors (C, H, N, S, etc)

Edaphic: Soil

Biotic Components

It includes the living components of the environment. The living component of the environment
consists of: Autotrophic and Heterotrophic.

Autotrophic Components: - Organisms can prepare their own food with the help of light, water,
CO2, and chlorophyll by a process called ‘Photosynthesis’.eg Plant

6 CO2 + 12 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O

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Heterotrophic component: - Organisms that depends on others for food are called, as Heterotrophic
components are ‘Consumers
Consumers may be

Macro Consumers/Heterotrophs
Micro Consumers / Saprotrophs

Heterotrophs are of three types

PrimaryConsumer: These animals feed on the plants.Eg:Grass hopper,insects,deer,goat etc.

Secondary Consumers : These feed on some primary consumer Eg :fox, lizard, snake, frog etc

TertiaryConsumers : These feed on both the secondar consumers Eg : Eagle hawk, lion and tiger.

Omnivores are those that feed on both the plants and on the meat.
Eg:crow. cockroach. man.

Decomposers : -Organisms which feed on the dead organisms.

Eg :bacteria and fungi .These are also known as Saprotrophs.
sapro means rotten and hence these are also called Rotifers. Dead organic material is called
detritus. Microbes feed on dead material so they are also called Detrivores.

Energy flow
Food chains and Food webs
The rate of nutrient cycling.
Ecological Succession
Ecological pyramids

Note: (In functions you have to explain Food chain Food webs, Energy flow and ecological
succession

ENERGY FLOW

Draw block diagram of ecosystem and explain producer’s consumers and decomposers

The flow of energy in an ecosystem is Unidirectional

The behavior of energy in an ecosystem can be termed, as energy flow.

It is always unidirectional.
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 From energetic point of view it is essential to understand for an ecosystem

(i) The efficiency of the producers in absorption and conversion of solar energy.

(ii) Use of this converted chemical form of energy by the consumers.

(iii) Total input of energy in form of food and its

efficiency of assimilation.

(iv) Loss of energy through respiration heat, excretion etc.,

FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS

The transfer of the energy from the plants/ producers to the series of organisms with repeated eating
and being eaten is known as ‘Food Chain

They may be Terrestrial and Aquatic

Terrestrial food chain : Food chain on land.

Aquatic food chain in water

Terrestrial food chain

eg:

Grass  Grass hopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk

Grass  Rabbit  Hawk

Generally food chains are of three types

Grazing Food Chain

It starts with grass or green plants and culminates in carnivores.

Eg : - Grass  Grass hopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk

Parasitic food chain

It starts with large organism and ends with small organism.

Eg: Tree  insects / snakes / birds  Bugs/Lice  Microbes

Detritus Food Chain

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 It starts with dead organic matter into microorganisms and thn to organisms feeding on detritus and
their predators.
Leaf litter  Insects/Minnows/Molluscans  Smallfish  Bigfish

Aquatic food chain

Phytoplankton’s  Zooplanktons  Small fish  Big fish

FOOD WEB

Food chains in natural conditions can never occur as isolated sequence but are interlinked with one
another to form an interlocking pattern known as Food Web.

Terrestrial food web

Grass hopper → Lizard

↑ ↓

Grass → Rabbit → Hawk

↓ ↑

Mice → Snake

Aquatic food web

Pike

Perch
Frog
Roach
water beetle

Tadpole insect larvae

Small crustaceans

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 Aquatic plants

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

A series of changes in a community in which new populations of organisms gradually replace

existing ones

PROCESS OF ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

• Nudation
• Invasion
• Competition
• Reaction
• Colonisation
• Climax stage

Nudation : Formation of bare area due to melting of icecaps and glaciers

Invasion: Establishment of species

Competition occurs with the same species or different species

Reaction: Organisms will respond or react due to changes in the environment. If they tolerate to that
changes they survive otherwise they die

Colonization: Communities exist there they increase in population come close together and forms
colonies

Climax stage: It is the final community or stable community

TYPES OF SUCCESSION

There are two main types of succession, primary and secondary.

Primary succession is the series of changes that take place when there is no soil present. For

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 example, after a volcano or destroyed coral reef. Secondary succession is the series of changes that
take place when there is soil present. For example, after a fire, hurricane, flood, destruction by man .

Hydrosere : Succession in water

Lithosere: Succession on rocks

Psammosere: Succession on sand
Halosere: Succession in saline water
Xerosere: Succession in dry regions

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Marine Ecosystem (Ocean and Sea)

Marine ecosystems are the largest of all the ecosystems.

Salt content: 3.4-4%, Average depth: 4000m 49 elements have been detected in a dissolved state.,
Less species but diversity is more.

It is divided into two zones: they are Coastal zone and Open sea zone
Coastal zone is present before the continental slope
It is shallow water zone.
Open sea zone is present away from the continental slope. It is deep sea zone.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-environmentalbiology/chapter/3-4-aquatic-biomes/

There are following zones are seen in the ocean which have great species diversity.

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 Intertidal zone:

It is the shore line between the land the open sea. Mass movement of water in this zone is caused
by the gravitational effects of sun and the moon. Plenty of nutrients sunlight and oxygen is present.
This zone is influenced by tides and waves. Sometimes this zone is submerged and the other times it
is exposed so the community here constantly changes.

Neritic zone :

This zone extends from the littoral zone to a depth of 200mIt constitutes 7.5% of the total ocean.
Pelagic zone:
It occupies 92% of the total ocean. It consists of lesser mineral nutrients. Flora like surface sea
weeds, fauna like species of fish such as mammals Whales and Dolphins are seen
.
Abyssal zone:
This is the zone with more depth. Temperature is very less only 3. More pressure and Oxygen is
present but less nutrients.

Benthic zone: It consists of sand silt and dead organisms, temperature is 4 and pressure is more
due to the weight of the water above.eg; bacteria, fungi,sponges ,sea anemones worms, sea stars are
present..

Biotic components

Producers: -These includes autotrophs responsible for trapping the solar energy to prepare their own
food. This includes diatoms, dinoflagellates and microscopic algae. Macroscopic algae such as red
and brown algae are also present.

Consumers: -All consumers are Heterotrophic macro consumers that feed on the producers. These
include:

Primary consumers: These are herbivores that include crustaceans, molluscans, fishes etc.

Secondary consumers: These are carnivores that feed on the herbivores. these are chiefly various
fish, such as Herring, Mackerel, Shad etc.

Tertiary consumers: These are top carnivores that feed on the other carnivores. These include Cod,
Haddock, and Whale etc.
Decomposers: Bacteria and Fungi.

RIVERINE / STREAM ECOSYSTEM

Lotic waters such as rivers and streams are less studied than other aquatic ecosystems.

Biotic components

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 Producers: These remain permanently attached to the substratum, which includes green algae such
as Diatoms, Dinoflagellates and aquatic mosses.

Consumers: these show certain features such as permanent attachment to the substratum, presence
of hooks and suckers, streamlined bodies, flattened bodies etc. these include caddis fly larvae,
snails, flatworms, fish an stone fly, may fly nymphs while decomposers include bacteria and fungi.

ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEM

An estuary is a place where river meets the sea. It is a semisolid coastal water body which has a free
connection with the open sea, strongly affected by the tidal action.

Producers: There are 3 types of producers; these include Macropyhtes, Microphytes and
Phytoplanktons.

Consumers: These include zooplankton, crabs, crustaceans, and some native fish capable of
surviving the estuarine environment forms primary, secondary and tertiary consumers.

Decomposers: Bacteria and Fungi

POND/LAKE ECOSYSTEM

https://public.wsu.edu/~rlee/biol103/ecologybiosphere/sld041.htm

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 https://nmk.world/pond-ecosystem-meaning-types-characteristics-importance-5619/

Pond or the lake are the minor fresh water bodies .Temperature on the surface 22 and bottom has the
temperature of 4

Pond /lake is classified into three regions

Littoral

Three zones
Limnetic

Profundal

Based on the sunlight penetration it is classified into two zones

Euphotic

(Light penetration zone)

Zones

APhotic

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 ( Zone with no light penetration)

Pond as a whole serves a good example for fresh water ecosystem. It exhibits a self sufficient and
self-regulating system. Not only the pond is a place where plants and animals live, but makes it a
physico-chemical environment.

Abiotic Components

The chief substances are heat, light, and pH basic organic and inorganic nutrients. A Lux
Photometer to measure the light intensity, turbidity index of water by Secchi Disc and pH with the
help of Electric pH Meter.

BioticComponents

Producers eg: Macropyhtes Phytoplankton

Producers: These are Autotrophic green plants and some photosynthetic bacteria.

a. Macropyhtes: They are large rooted free floating, suspended or emergent hydrophytes. Some
common plants are Hydrilla, Azolla, Lemna, and Utricularia Vallisneria etc.
b. Phytoplanktons: These are minute free floating or suspended lower plants. Eg: Cladophora,
Oedogonium and Spirogyra.

Consumers: depends on others

Consumers may be Primary Secondary Tertiary Primary consumers: Zooplanktons

Benthos (bottom forms)

a. Benthos: These remain at the bottom of the pond and feed on the plant remains. Eg: Mites,
Beetles, Molluscans and Crustaceans.
b. Zooplankton: These are chiefly the rotifers, protozoan’s & crustaceans. Eg: Euglena, Coleps,
and Cyclops etc. They feed on the phytoplankton.

Secondary consumers

They are carnivores that feed on the primary consumers.

Tertiary consumers: They feed on the secondary consumers. Some large fish a game fish feed on the
smaller fish forming the tertiary consumers.

Decomposers

They are also known as Micro consumers. These include bacteria and fungi.

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 TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Terrestrial Ecosystems are the Forest Ecosystem, Grassland Ecosystem and the Desert Ecosystem.

Forest Ecosystem

-The term forest is derived from the latin word foris It means fence outside being reference to
village boundary.

Forests roughly occupy 40% of the land .in India, the forests occupy roughly one-tenth of the total
land area.

Rainfall:2000-2500mm/yr

Types of forests

Tropical rain forests

Tropical deciduous forests
Tropical scrub forests
Temperate rain forests
Temperate deciduous forests
Boreal forests

Abiotic Components: - These are organic as well as inorganic substances present in the soil and
the atmosphere. In addition to these we find the dead organic debris the litter accumulation chiefly
in the temperature climate.

Biotic Components: - These includes Producers, Consumers and Decomposers.

Producers: -Forest mainly consists of trees that show much diversity. In addition to trees we find
some herbs, shrubs, grasses, epiphytes and parasitic plants.

Consumers
Primary Consumers: -these includes herbivores which feed on the plants, grasses / producers. Eg:
Beetles, Insects, Deer, Goat, and Elephant.
Secondary Consumers: -these includes carnivores that feed on the herbivores. Eg: Snake, Fox,
Lizard etc.
Tertiary Consumers: -These includes top carnivores that feed on the secondary consumers. Eg:
Lion, Tiger, Eagle and Hawk.

Decomposers: -these includes wide variety of microorganisms such as bacteria (Bacillus and
Pseudomonas) and fungi (Alternaria and Aspergillus). They actively participate in the
biogeochemical nutrient cycling.

Grass land Ecosystem

Grasslands are grassy windy partly dry biome.

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 The principal grasslands include the prairies of Canada and the USA, the pampas of South America,
the steppes of Europe and the veldts of Africa.
Following are the characteristic features of the grass land.

1) Rain fall:It receive 500-900mm per year.

2) Grasses are dominant form of plant life in the ecosystem with varying size from2.1mtall with
roots extending down in to the soil1.8m,to the short grasses growing to the height ofonly 0.20-
0.25m tall. These short grasses can have roots that extend upto 1m deep.

3) Temperature is often extreme.

Types of grass lands

 Tropical grass lands

 Temperate grass lands
 Polar grasslands

Tropical grass lands

These are called as Savannahs. These are grassy windy semidry biome Climate never gets very
warm and most of the time is doesn’t change below freezing.

Temperate grass lands

Temperate grass lands have cold winters with hot and dry summers. These are located in north of
the tropical cancer and south of the tropic of the capricorn.

Polar grasslands

These are also called Tundra.Tundra means barren or treeless land. It is the coldest and driest of all
the biomes.

It consists of both biotic and a biotic components.

Abiotic Components: - The abiotic components are the nutrients present in soil and the aerial
environment. The essential elements like C.H.N.O, P, S, etc., are supplied by water while others are
present both in the soil and the air.

Biotic Components:
-
Producers: -Producers consists of mainly grasses, though few herbs and shrubs are also present.
Some of the common species of grass are Digitaria, Setaria and Cynodon etc.

Consumers: -
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 Primary Consumers: -herbivores feeding on the grasses. Eg: Termites Insects, Cow, Goat, Sheep,
and Rabbit etc.

Secondary Consumers: -Carnivores feed on the herbivores. Eg: Frog, Lizard, Foxes, and Birds etc.
Tertiary Consumers: -Organisms which feed on the secondary consumers. Eg: Hawks etc.

Decomposers: - These includes bacteria and fungi.

Desert Ecosystem

Desert is present through out the world. Deserts of the world are mainly located in Mexico. Chile,
Peru, North Africa (Sahara), Australia and Asia (Gobi, Thar, Tibet and West Asia) etc. deserts are
characterized by extremely hot days and cold nights. The rainfall is less than 25 Cm/year or 200-250
mm/yr.

Even if rain occurs the water gets quickly absorbed by the soil or evaporates quickly resulting
water scarcity even during winter. Soils of deserts often have abundant nutrients but little or no
organic matter and need only water to become very productive.

Day time temperature is 38oC and night time temperature is –4oc.

Most of the plants and animals show adaptations.

In plants wide spread roots helps to absorb water quickly and the leaves are modified into thorns.
Plants are succulent (juicy or fleshy.)

In animals long legs to withstand very high temperatures. Long hair is present to store the heat. Some
animals live in the burrows.

Types of deserts

Hot and dry deserts: These are located nearer the equator..Mean annual temperature is 20-25 o C
Rain fall : 1.5cm/yr.
Eg:Sandy Egyptain desert in Egypt.

Semiarid desert: They have moderately long and dry Summer. Average summer temperature
:21-27OC .Rainfall:2-4cm/yr.
Eg : Great Basin desert in USA.

Coastal desert: These desrerts occur in moderately cool to warm areas such as Nearctic and
Neotropical realms. Average summer temperature :13-24OC.Rain fall:8-13cm/yr.
Eg: Atacama desert in Chile .

Cold desert: These are characterized by cold winters with snow fall.
and high overall rain fall through out the winter and occasionally over the summer. Mean summer
temperature:21-16OC Rain fall: 15-26cm/yr.eg: Antarctica , Green land.
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It has both biotic and abiotic components given below.

Abiotic Components: An -abiotic component mainly includes nutrient present in soil and the aerial
environment.

Biotic Components

Producers: -Producers are mainly bushes, some grasses few trees. In addition to them lichens and
xerophytic mosses are also present.

Consumers: -These includes insects, reptiles and birds that are capable of living under xeric
conditions. Besides them mammals like camel called Ship of the desert is also present. Most of
them are nocturnal (active during night)

Decomposers: -these include bacteria and fungi, most of them are thermophilic (which can
withstand high temperature).

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 BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth and its myriad of purposes It includes all life forms from
unicellular fungi, bacteria, protozoa to complex multicellular plants, animals, birds and humans.
The word was coined by Walter Rosen (1985) in the National Forum at Smithsonian Institute,
Washington.

The totality of genes,species and ecosystems in a locality.

Biological diversity is the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological
complexes in which they occur.

Diversity can be defined as the number of different items & their relative frequency.

Biodiversity can be subdivided into 3 levels as follows

Genetic Diversity

Species Diversity

Ecosystem / Community Diversity

Genetic Diversity:At finer levels of organization biodiversity includes the genetic variations within
the species, both among geographically separated populations and among individuals within the
single population.

Species Diversity: Biodiversity at its most basic level includes the full range of species on the earth,
from microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria & Protists through the Multicellular kingdom of
plants and animals. The richness of species in an ecosystem is called as ‘species diversity.

Ecosystem /Community Diversity: On a wider scale biodiversity includes variations in the

biological communities in which the species live, the ecosystems in which the communities exist
and the interactions among these levels.

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

1. Biodiversity provides us valuable natural resources to satisfy the subtle needs of mankind.
2. In many cultures, maintenance of mountains and other diverse land forms are of religious
significance.
3. Biodiversity helps in maintaining a stable and healthy ecosystem.
4. They act as recreational spots and picnic spots.
5. Biodiversity provides us with many drugs and medicines.

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 6. Biodiversity act as gene pools, gene banks and genetic reserves.

INDIA AS MEGA DIVERSITY NATION

India has a great diversity of natural ecosystems from cold and high Himalayan ranges to the sea
coasts, from the wet northeastern green forests to the dry north western deserts, different types of
forests, wetlands, islands and oceans.

India being a vast country, shows a great diversity in climate, topography and geology and hence the
country s very rich in terms of biological diversity.
In terms of mammalian species India ranks 10th,in terms of endemic species it ranks 11th,in terms of
agriculture and animal husbandry it ranks 7th and in terms of plant diversity it ranks 10th position in
the world.

a)India has 2 major realms called Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan.

b)India has 10 biogeographic regions.
c)India is one of the 17th mega diversity nations of the world.
d)India has four hot spots namely Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas. Indo Burma and
Sunda land
e)India has 18 biosphere reserves
f)There are 105 national parks and 553 sanctuaries.
g)India has 26 recognized endemic centers.

HOT SPOTS
Recently Norman Myers and team of Scientists have brought out an updated 35 hot spots in the
world.35 hot spots were shown in the map.
Some of the hot spots are Caribbean, Atlantic forest, Central Chile, Tropical Andes, Philippines,
Sunda land etc.

Hot spots are the areas that are extremely rich in species, have high degree of endemism and are
under constant threat.
Among 35 hot spots in the world and 4 are present in India they are: Western Ghats, Eastern
Himalayas, Indo Burman and Sundaland

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are parallel to western coastal region. They are extending from the mouth of
Tapti and Kanyakumari. The southern Western Ghats is called as Malabar is the major genetic estate.

Three areas Periyar Agastyamalai Hills, Silent Valley and Periyar National Park are found in this
region.

About 1500 endemic species of dicot plants are reported from this region. About one third of all the
flowering plant species in India are found in this region.
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There is an equal diversity of plants and animal life. There is only one biodiversity reserve in the
western ghats, the Nilgiri biosphere reserve, helps in conserving endemic and endangered species.

The national parks in this region are:

 Borivali National Park

 Nagarhole National Park
 Bandipur National Park
 Annamalai wildlife sanctuary
 Periyar National Park

Nearly 235 species of endemic flowering plants are considered endangered. Rare fauna of the region
includes : Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Flying Squirrel and Malabar Gray
Hornbil.

Eastern Himalayas

The Eastern Himalayas extend from Sikkim to upper Assam, bounded on the north by Tibet and
south by Bengal. They are recognized as ‘Cradle of Speciation’.

It is estimated that Eastern Himalayas consists of about 9000 plant species, with 3500 endemic
plants. Among them 55 flowering plant are recognized to be rare. Several monocot species like
Orchidaceae, Zingiberaceae and Arececeae abound in this region. Gymnosperms and Pteridophytes
are also found in the area.

Tea is reported to be cultivated in this region. The Taxol plant ‘Taxus wallichiana’is sparsely
distributed in the region and has come under red data record due to its over exploitation for the
extraction of drug against cancer.

2 new mammals have been discovered, they are Golden Langur from Assam-Bhutan region and
Namdapha flying Squirrel from Arunachal Pradesh.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS OF INDIA

India has 10 biogeographical regions.They are:

Trans-Himalayan Zone Himalayan Zone

Desert Zone Semi-Arid Zone
Western Ghats Zone Deccan Penninsula Zone
GangeticPlain Zone North-East India
Islands Coastalregion

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 Trans-Himalayan Zone:-It has sparse mountain vegetation but richest in wild sheep and goat. The
snow leopard and black necked migratory crane are also found in this region.

Himalayan Zone:- It comprises of 4 biotic provinces. They are: North-West, West, East and Central
Himalayas. Attitudinally it has 3 vegetation zones-the sub-montane / lower region, Montane /
temperate zone and Alpine zone. Alpine zone is the limit of tree growth known as “tree line/
timber”.

Desert Zone:- It comprises of 3 biotic provinces-Kutch, Thar and Ladakh. The plants are mostly
Xerophytic. Climate is characterized by very hot and dry summer and cold winter. Ladakh on the
other hand, has sparse vegetation. It is the cold desert region.

Semi-Arid Zone :- Semi-Arid areas comprise of MP, Chattisgarh, parts of Orissa and Gujarat.
Depending on the rainfall the forests are thorny, mixed deciduous and Sal type.

Western Ghats Zone:-The Western Ghats Zone comprises of Malabar coast and Western Ghat
mountains of India. Vegetation is of 4 types-Tropical moist ever green forests, Sub-tropical /
temperate ever green forests, Mixed deciduous forests and the Mangrove forests.

Deccan Penninsula Zone :-The Deccan Penninsula Zone comprise of 5 biotic provinces namely
Deccan plateau, Central highlands, Eastern plateau, Central plateau and Chotanagpur plateau. The
zone consists of a central hilly region with forests.

Gangetic Plain Zone :- The Gangetic Plain comprise of UP, Bihar and Weat Bengal. It extends
upto Himalayan foot hills. It is the most fertile region. Vegetation is mostly of topical moist and dry
deciduous forest type.most of the swampy and halopyhtic vegetation is in the Gangetic delta region.

North-East India:-The North-East India is one of the richest floral regions of India. It receives the
heaviest rainfall. The temperature and the wetness is also very high, resulting in dense tropical ever
green forests.

Islands:-The Islands of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the
Bay of Bengal have a wide range of mangroves and beech forests.

Coastal region:-India has a coast line of about 7,516.5 Km. Mangrove vegetation is the
characteristic of estuarine tracks along the coast.

BIODIVERSITY AT GLOBAL NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL

Global Level

Conservative estimates of the existing biodiversity is ten million species, but if estimates for insects
are correct then it could be around 30 million species, we have till now enlisted about 1.4 million
species.
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It is estimated that at least 179, 80,000 species exist in the world, but as a working figure 122, 50,000
species are considered to be near reality.

• There are 300,000 species of vascular plants; 40,000 species of vertebrates; 800,000 species
of insects; 360,000 species of microorganisms
• About 4,000 different viruses are known to date.
• About 5,300 species of bacteria (including 1,700 species of cyanobacteria) have been
recorded so far
• 70,000 species of fungi
• 98% birds, 95% reptiles and amphibians, 90% fish and about 85% higher plants known to
exist on this Earth

ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) has classified
the threatened species of plant and animal into 4 categories for the purpose of their conservation.

Extinct Species: Some animals are not in existence, They have already left the face of the world
such species are called Extinct Species. Eg :Dodo and Passenger pigeon.

https://www.britannica.com/science/extinction-biology

Endangered Species: These species are in danger of extinction and they are not likely to survive if
the factors threatening their extinction continue Eg: Peacock, Cheetah, Tiger and Lion.

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 Endemic Species:These species are confined to a particular locality or area and are found nowhere
else in the world are called Endemic Species Eg : Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri tahr
and Brown palm civet.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Extinction, the elimination of species, is a process in nature. Species die out and are replaced by
others, generally by their own descendants, as part of evolutionary change.

Causes

 Population Risk
 Environmental Risk
 Genetic Risk
 Natural Catastrophe and
 Human Actions

Population risk: Random variations in population rates can cause a species in low abundance to
become extinct.

Environmentalrisk:-Variation in the physical and biological environment, including variations in

the prey, predator relations, symbiotic or competitor species.

Geneticrisk :- It is due to reduced genetic variation, genetic drift or mutation.

Natural Catastrophe :-It is a sudden change in the environment. It includes earthquakes,

volcanoes, floods, forest fires etc.

Human Actions :- Human Actions that cause extinction are :

Habitat Loss and Degradation

Poaching of Wild Life and Man-WildLife Conflicts

Habitat Loss and Degradation:- Habitat is the total sum environmental factors such as food water
and cover that a given species need to survive and reproduce in a given area.

Poaching of Wild Life

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 It refers to illegal killing or hunting of wild animals. Animals are killed for their internal organs,
skin, as well as for sport, fun and accidental killing of animals.

Animal Killed For

Tiger Skin, Bones & Nails
Bear Internal Organs
Snake Skin
Elephant Tusks
Rhinos Horns
Even though it is illegal to kill an elephant in Africa and India people continue to slaughter them if
not for ivory, then for revenge.

Man-Wild Life Conflicts

Man is continuously interacting with many ecosystems for his day to day life affairs through several
activities like hunting, food, fuel, recreation, wild sport, urban development, industrialization etc.
Each activity is either directly or indirectly responsible for disturbance of the wild species on the
earth.

Causes

1. Dwindling the habitats of lions, tigers, elephants and bears due to shrinking of forest cover
compels them to move outside the forests into the villages and cities and some times they attack
even humans also.

2. Usually the ill, weak and injured animals have a tendency to attack the humans. The
tigressattack the human if she feels that her cubs are in danger. Once the tiger tastes human
flesh than that tiger does not eat any other animal.

3. Very often the villagers put electric wiring around their ripe crops. the elephants get injured,
suffer pain and turn violent

4 Forest departments used to cultivate paddy and sugar cane in the sanctuaries as the food for the
animals, but at present such practices are lacking resulting in the animals to search for their food.

5. Earlier there used to be corridors for the wild animals to migrate during unfavorable seasons but
at present such corridors are occupied by human settlements disturbing their routes which resulted
in the attack of animals on humans.

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

Conservation :-The management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest
sustainable benefit to the present generation while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and
aspirations of future generations.

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 OBJECTIVES
1. To maintain the essential ecological processes and life supporting systems.
2.To preserve the diversity of species or the range of genetic material found in the organisms on the
planet and
4. To ensure sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems

Basic approaches to the conservation of wildlife or conservation methods

In-situ / On-site Ex-situ / Off-site

In-situ / On-site conservation:- In-situ / On-site conservation means conservation of species in its
natural ecosystem or even in man-made ecosystem. This type of conservation applies only to wild
flora and fauna, not to the domestic animals. It includes a system of protected areas.
Protected area:- “An area of land / sea specially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of
biological diversity and of nature and associated cultural resources and managed through legal or
effective means”. These include National Parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves.

Ex-situ / Off-site conservation :- Ex-situ / Off-site conservation means conservation of species,

particularly of endangered species, away from their natural habitats under human captivity and care.
Conservation is done through establishment of gene pools, gene banks and genetic reserves.
Conservation Strategies

 Create new type of legally recognized reserves, other than national parks and sanctuaries.
 Critical habitats of the animals such as breeding, feeding, nursery and resting areas should
be safe guarded.
 Hunting of females and younger ones should be prohibited or hunting should be completely
banned.
 Illegal poaching of animals should be curbed.
 Deforestation should be controlled.
 Special efforts to preserve the endangered and endemic species.

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