BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

114 FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
UNIT
VI
LIFE ON THE EARTH

This unit deals with
• Biosphere — biodiversity and conservation
2024-25
CHAPTER
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
Y
ou have already learnt about the the earth are today extinct. Biodiversity is not
geomorphic processes particularly found evenly on the earth. It is consistently
weathering and depth of weathering richer in the tropics. As one approaches the
mantle in different climatic zones. See the polar regions, one finds larger and larger
Figure 5.2 in Chapter 5 in order to recapitulate. populations of fewer and fewer species.
You should know that this weathering mantle Biodiversity itself is a combination of two
is the basis for the diversity of vegetation and words, Bio (life) and diversity (variety). In
hence, the biodiversity. The basic cause for simple terms, biodiversity is the number and
such weathering variations and resultant variety of organisms found within a specified
biodiversity is the input of solar energy and geographic region. It refers to the varieties of
water. No wonder that the areas that are rich plants, animals and micro-organisms, the
in these inputs are the areas of wide spectrum genes they contain and the ecosystems they
of biodiversity. form. It relates to the variability among living
organisms on the earth, including the
Biodiversity as we have today is the result variability within and between the species and
of 2.5-3.5 billion years of evolution. Before that within and between the ecosystems.
the advent of humans, our earth Biodiversity is our living wealth. It is a result
supported more biodiversity than in any
of hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary
other period. Since, the emergence of
history.
humans, however, biodiversity has begun
a rapid decline, with one species after Biodiversity can be discussed at three
another bearing the brunt of extinction levels : (i) Genetic diversity; (ii) Species diversity;
due to overuse. The number of species (iii) Ecosystem diversity.
globally vary from 2 million to 100 million,
with 10 million being the best estimate. Genetic Diversity
New species are regularly discovered
most of which are yet to be classified (an Genes are the basic building blocks of various
estimate states that about 40 per cent of life forms. Genetic biodiversity refers to the
fresh water fishes from South America variation of genes within species. Groups of
are not classified yet). Tropical forests are individual organisms having certain
very rich in bio-diversity. similarities in their physical characteristics are
called species. Human beings genetically
Biodiversity is a system in constant belong to the homo sapiens group and also
evolution, from a view point of species, as well differ in their characteristics such as height,
as from view point of an individual organism. colour, physical appearance, etc., considerably.
The average half-life of a species is estimated This is due to genetic diversity. This genetic
at between one and four million years, and 99 diversity is essential for a healthy breeding of
per cent of the species that have ever lived on population of species.
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116 FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Species Diversity ecosystem evolves and sustains without any

reason. That means, every organism, besides
This refers to the variety of species. It relates to
extracting its needs, also contributes something
the number of species in a defined area. The
of useful to other organisms. Can you think of
diversity of species can be measured through
the way we, humans contribute to the
its richness, abundance and types. Some areas
sustenance of ecosystems. Species capture
are more rich in species than others. Areas rich
and store energy, produce and decompose
in species diversity are called hotspots of
organic materials, help to cycle water and
diversity (Figure 14.5).
nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix
atmospheric gases and help regulate the
Ecosystem Diversity
climate. These functions are important for
You have studied about the ecosystem in the ecosystem function and human survival. The
earlier chapter. The broad differences between more diverse an ecosystem, better are the
ecosystem types and the diversity of habitats chances for the species to survive through
and ecological processes occurring within each adversities and attacks, and consequently, is
ecosystem type constitute the ecosystem more productive. Hence, the loss of species
diversity. The ‘boundaries’ of communities would decrease the ability of the system to
(associations of species) and ecosystems are not maintain itself. Just like a species with a high
very rigidly defined. Thus, the demarcation of genetic diversity, an ecosystem with high
ecosystem boundaries is difficult and complex. biodiversity may have a greater chance of
adapting to environmental change. In other
words, the more the variety of species in an
ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is
likely to be.
Economic Role of Biodiversity

For all humans, biodiversity is an important
resource in their day-to-day life. One important
part of biodiversity is ‘crop diversity’, which is
also called agro-biodiversity. Biodiversity is
seen as a reservoir of resources to be drawn
upon for the manufacture of food,
pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. This
Figure 14.1 : Grasslands and sholas in Indira
Gandhi National Park, Annamalai, Western Ghats concept of biological resources is responsible
— an example of ecosystem diversity for the deterioration of biodiversity. At the same
time, it is also the origin of new conflicts dealing
Importance of Biodiversity with rules of division and appropriation of
natural resources. Some of the important
Biodiversity has contributed in many ways to economic commodities that biodiversity
the development of human culture and, in supplies to humankind are: food
turn, human communities have played a major crops, livestock, forests, fish, medicinal
role in shaping the diversity of nature at the resources, etc.
genetic, species and ecological levels.
Biodiversity plays the following roles: Scientific Role of Biodiversity
ecological, economic and scientific.
Biodiversity is important because each species
Ecological Role of Biodiversity can give us some clue as to how life evolved
and will continue to evolve. Biodiversity also
Species of many kinds perform some function helps in understanding how life functions and
or the other in an ecosystem. Nothing in an the role of each species in sustaining
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114 FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

LIFE ON THE EARTH

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

Species Diversity ecosystem evolves and sustains without any

Economic Role of Biodiversity

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