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Biology > Biodiversity and its Conservation > Flashcards

Biodiversity and its Conservation Flashcards

1
Q

Who coined the term biodiversity

A

Walter Rosen

Popularised by Edward Wilson

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2
Q

Define biodiversity

A

Biodiversity is the sum total of species richness i.e. the number of species of plants, animals and micro-organisms inhabiting a green habitat

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3
Q

Types of biodiversity

A
  1. Genetic diversity
  2. Species diversity
  3. Ecosystem diversity
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4
Q

Genetic diversity

A
  • Variation of genes within species
  • Occurs at molecular level
  • E.g. 50,000 genetically different strains of rice in India 1000 varieties of mangoes
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5
Q

Species diversity

A

Refers to the variety of species within a region
E.g. Western Ghats have greater amphibian diversity than Eastern Ghats
Diversity of bird species in Amazon rainforest

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6
Q

Ecosystem diversity

A

Refers to different landforms, each of which support different and specific vegetation
E.g. India has deserts, rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs, and has a greater ecosystem diversity than Scandinavian countries like Norway

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7
Q

What is latitudinal gradient

A

Species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the poles.
Tropics harbour more species than termperate or polar areas

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8
Q

GRW there is greater biological diversity in the tropics

A
  1. Tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed in the past, and thus had a long evolutionary time for species diversification
  2. Constant enviornments promote niche specialisation and lead to greater species diversity
  3. There is more solar energy in the tropics which contributes to higher productivity which in turn might contribute to greater diversity
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9
Q

What is species-area relation equation

A

log S= log C + Z log A
S= species richness
A= area
Z= slope of the line
C= y intercept

see graph in textbook

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10
Q

Rivet-popper hypothesis

A

Used by Paul Ehrlich

According to this hypothesis, the natural ecosystems of the earth are analogous to the parts of an airplane that make it a suitable vehicle for the travel of human beings

  • Airplane- ecosystem joined together using thousands of rivets- species
  • If one of the rivets (species) inside are removed (go extinct) the ecosystem will not be affected
  • But if one of the keystone rivets (keystone species) outside are removed, there will be ecological imbalance
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11
Q

Importance of biodiversity

A
  1. Economics and agriculture
  2. Pharmaceuticals
  3. Ethical and aesthetic values
  4. Traditional food plants
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12
Q

Importance of biodiversity: Economics and agriculture

A
  1. Biodiversity is important in agriculture due to its use of genetic traits from wild relatives of domestic crops.
  2. Biodiversity supports economic growth and sustainable development through direct harvest, nature tourism, and improved domestic crops via wild genes.
  3. Wild species contribute to crop productivity and act as sources of medicine and bioremediation.
  4. Genetic diversity in agriculture allows crops and animals to adapt to diverse environments and growing conditions.
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13
Q

Importance of biodiversity- Pharmaceuticals

A
  1. Key drugs like digitalis, morphine, quinine, and antibiotics originate from wild plants, fungi, or organisms.
  2. About 75% of plant-derived drugs were found due to their use in indigenous medicine.
  3. Indigenous forest communities use around 1300 plant species for medicinal and related purposes.
  4. Developing nations heavily rely on traditional medicine, often utilizing plant extracts for primary healthcare.
  5. Aloe vera extracts are widely used for skin softening and wrinkle prevention.
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14
Q

Importance of biodiversity- aesthetics and ethical value

A
  1. These are base don religious feelings of people that life forms have intrinsic value and deserve protection from destruction by humanity.
  2. Beauty of birds, trees, flowers, nature is widely enjoyed and has economic value
  3. Biodiversity directly enhances quality of life and aesthetic pleasure.
  4. It contributes to outdoor recreation and scenic enjoyment.
  5. Recreational activities like hiking, bird watching, river rafting, and more are made possible by biodiversity.
  6. Biodiversity supports the creation of new horticultural species and wildlife conservation.
  7. Zoos and parks dedicated to specific species like snakes, crocodiles, and butterflies add to the aesthetic value.
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15
Q

Importance of biodiversity: Traditional food plants

A
  1. Subsistence farmers have been producing or gathering plants from the wild or semi-wild that are accepted as desirable sources of food.
  2. Millions of people use such traditional plants for their food needs
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16
Q

Explain the narrowly utilitarian arguments in favour of conservation of biodiversity

A

The narrowly utilitarian arguments for conserving biodiversity as they provide direct economic benefits from nature like food, firewood, fibre, construction material, industrial products and products of medicinal importance.

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17
Q

Explain the broadly utilitarian arguments in favour of conservation of biodiversity

A

Services provided gratis
2. As an estimate the fast dwindling amazon forest produces about 20% of the total oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
3. Pollination by bees, birds etc is another service the ecosystem provides
4. Aesthetic pleasure we get from biodiversity cannot be measured in terms of money

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18
Q

Explain the ethical arguments in favour of conservation of biodiversity

A
  1. The ethical argument is that we share biodiversity with millions of plant, animal and microbe species.
  2. Every species has an intrinsic value, even if it may not be of any economic value to us.
  3. We also have a moral duty to care for their well-being and pass on our biological legacy in good order to future generations
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19
Q

Causes of loss of biodiversity

A
  • habitat loss and fragmentation
  • over-exploitation
  • alien species invasion
  • co-extinction
  • pet-trade
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20
Q

Causes of loss of biodiversity: habitat loss and fragmentation

A
  1. Habitat fragmentation occurs when large blocks of habitat are cut into smaller pieces by development such as roads or housing. The remaining blocks of habitat may be too small to sustain populations of a number of species and the fragmentation often results in barriers to species movement.
  2. Vast expanse of forest area is under a lot of stress due to industrialisation
  3. Human activities like cattle ranching, timber exploitation leads to lack of resources
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21
Q

Causes of loss of biodiversity- overexploitation

A
  1. Overexploitation of natural resources
  2. Wildlife poaching, natural resources being taken from forested areas (illegal trade of sandalwood, spices etc.)
  3. Illegal farming of narcotic drugs (clearing forested area in the core of the forest and subsequent burnig of area + surrounding forest to escape law enforcement authorities). This reduces the quality of the soil (topsoil is disrupted and microhabitat is destoyed)
  4. Tiger population, African elephant population is decreasing for ivory trade, trophies, souvenirs
22
Q

Loss of biodiversity: alien species invasion

A
  1. Eutrophication- Condition where there is an extensive growth of algae, water hyacinth due to increased amount of organic content (which increases due to pollution) in a habitat that is not their own. When organic content increases, oxygen decreases (dissolved oxygen decreases– biological oxygen demand increases)
  2. Parthenium, a weed- invasion of parthenium which utilises resources which species local to the area would use otherwise
  3. Rats are frequently identified with catastrophic declines of birds on islands, and transmit the plague bacterium via fleas in certain areas of the world.
23
Q

Loss of biodiversity pet trade

A

Exotic parrots, snakes getting traded leads to loss of habitat, ecosystem.
Leads to ecological imbalance

24
Q

Loss of biodiversity- co-extinction

A
  1. Co-extinction refers to extinction due to the obligatory association of plants or animals.
  2. If flowers with long corolla are extinct then ornithophilous birds (birds with long beak) go extinct
  3. If eucalyptus trees go extinct, the koala bears go extinct
  4. When a species becomes extinct, then plants and animals that were dependent on it also become extinct in due time
25
Q

IUCN

A

International Union for Conservation of Nature

26
Q

Extinct species

A

Species no longer known to exist in the wild but survive under captivity or cultivation (biosphere reserves, national parks)
E.g. Dodo bird, Pyrenean ibex, Lesser Indian Rhinoceros, Calamites (plant)

27
Q

Endangered

A

Due to human activity and unfavourable environmental conditions, their numbers have drastically decreased
Eg. White-winged duck, Asiatic lion

28
Q

Vulnerable species

A

Population size is decreasing and close to becoming extinct

29
Q

Rare species

A

Two headed snake, Hammerhead shark, White tiger, Different varieties of parrots, Coral snakes

30
Q

Threatened species

A

Endangered, vulnerable, or rare but due to lack of information cannot be classified as these

31
Q

Hotspots

A

Hotspots are species rich, most threatened reservoirs of plants and animals on earth
E.g. Eastern ghats, Western ghats

32
Q

Red data book

A

It is a State document where endangered/rare and threatened species of flora and fauna are enlisted

33
Q

Types of conservation

A
  • In-situ
  • Ex-situ
34
Q

In-situ conservation

A

Conservation and preservation of flora and fauna in their natural habitat

E.g. Biosphere reserves, national park, wildlife sanctuary, wild heritage sites, sacred groves

35
Q

Ex-situ preservation

A

Conservation and preservation of flora and fauna away from their natural habitat
E.g. botanical garden, zoological park, tissue culture centres

36
Q

In-situ methods

A

biosphere reserves, national
parks, wildlife sanctuaries, sacred groves

37
Q

Biosphere reserve

A

In-situ method of conservation

Multi-purpose protected areas to preserve the genetic diversity in representative ecosystems
E.g. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (first biosphere reserve in india), Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

38
Q

national park

A

In-situ

A national park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of wildlife and where activities such as forestry, grazing, or cultivation are not permitted

E.g. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

39
Q

Wildlife sanctuary

A

In situ

An area where protection is given especially to the fauna and operations like harvesting of timber and collection of minor forest products is permitted as long as it does not interfere with the well being of animals

E.g. Annamalai Sanctuary TN
Periyar Sanctuary Kerala

40
Q

Zones in a biosphere

A
  1. Core zone: Natural and minimally disturbed ecosystems. No human activity permitted
  2. Buffer zone: Limited human activity which contributes towards development taking into consideration traditional cultures and evolving land use
  3. Manipulation zone: Large number of human activities allowed and marked for tourism, education and training
  4. Restoration zone: Degraded areas for restoration to natural or near natural conditions

can babies make rainbows

41
Q

in-situ conservation advantages

A
  1. The species is allowed to develop in its native environment, where it has been developing for a long time, with the elimination of factors that are harmful to the species’ survival.
  2. This significantly lowers the cost of conservation activities.
  3. Genetic diversity is maintained
  4. A natural ecosystem permits the fluctuations in environment which give organisms the chance to adapt to the environmental conditions and develop into better adapted living forms.
42
Q

Sacred grove

A

In situ

Tracts of forest that have been completely immune from human interference on the basis of religious beliefs

E.g. Western Ghats, Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan
Ficus religiosa has been preserved

43
Q

in situ disadvantages

A
  1. Survival: Fragmented endangered habitats may not have enough space to guarantee the survival of these species.
  2. Diseases and Interspecific Competition: There may still be diseases or interspecific competition, for example, that threaten the local organisms.
  3. Poaching And Tourism Activities: The developing area can present a chance for poachers and ecotourists to do harm.
44
Q

ex situ methods

A

captive breeding, zoo, botanical gardens, cryopreservation, wildlife safari, seed banks, tissue culture.

45
Q

botanical gardens

A

ex situ
Well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names

Auroville Botanical Gardens, Auroville TN
Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty, TN

46
Q

wildlife safari

A

ex-situ

safari park

E.g. Dudhwa national park

47
Q

seed bank

A

ex situ

a seed bank stores seeds to preserve genetic diversity

advantage:
1. ease of storage
2. economy of space
3. low labour costs

embryos stored by cryopreservation: method where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to temperatures of -196 celsius in liquid nitrogen

48
Q

Ramsar sites

A

Ramsar sites are those wetlands which are of international importance

Criteria:
Group A: Sites containing representative, rare, or unique wetland types
Group B: Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity

E.g. Wular Lake, Chilka Lake, Loktak lake

49
Q

Earth Summit

A

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development or Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit

1992

agenda: This convention called upon all nations to take appropriate measures for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilisation of its benefits.

50
Q

World Summit

A

UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in south africa in 2002

Summit to set deadlines and to come out with a plan of implementation for the promises made at Rio de Janeiro in 1992

Biology (30 decks)

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