Although the phrase ‘diversity’ is not new and has a long history, the term ‘biological diversity’ was coined recently. It was only in the 1980s that it was first used in scientific publications.
The phrase biological variety was coined by Robert E. Jenkins and Thomas Lovejoy in 1980. “Biological diversity” is defined as “variability among living creatures from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic habitats, as well as the ecological complexes of which they are a part, including biological variety within species and ecosystems.”
Or we can say biodiversity may be described as the sum of species richness, or the number of plant, animal, and microbe species found in a certain location, nation, or continent throughout the world.
A Short Guide on biodiversity and conservation
Now we will learn more about biodiversity, biodiversity and conservation/ its notes, its types and will look at the importance of biodiversity and conservation.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity, also known as biological diversity, refers to the variety of life present in a particular location on Earth or, more often, the overall diversity of life on the planet. The count of species in a region is a standard metric of this type, known as species richness. Colombia and Kenya, for example, each contain over 1,000 breeding bird species, but the woodlands of the United Kingdom and eastern North America only have around 200.
There might be 500 kinds of fish on a coral reef off the coast of northern Australia, yet only 100 species on Japan’s stony coastline. Raw species count is not the sole measure of diversity—the tropics, for example, contain greater biodiversity than temperate regions—but it does reflect some of the distinctions between areas. Biodiversity also includes the genetic diversity inside each species as well as the diversity of habitats that those species produce.
Biodiversity and conservation/ Biodiversity and conservation notes-
Conservation of Biodiversity refers to the conservation, maintenance, and management of biodiversity in order to keep it at its peak and gain long-term advantages for current and future generations. Biodiversity conservation guarantees that species variety is protected and preserved, as well as that species and ecosystems are managed sustainably.
Its types
1. Diversity of Genetics- Animals, microbes, and plants all have genetic diversity. When compared to creatures of a single species with the same genetic make-up, a single species of organisms with distinct genetic diversity exhibits greater adaptation and survival mechanisms under harsh environmental situations.
2. Diversity of Species- The variety of organisms in an ecosystem is referred to as species diversity. They are further classified into the following categories-
(A) Variety of species It refers to the overall number of species found in a certain area. Menhink and Mangalet indices are used to calculate it.
(B) Abundance of a certain kind. This is the number of creatures in each species as a percentage of the total number of organisms (the number of individuals per species). When species are abundant in similar numbers, their variance increases, resulting in increased diversity. When one species has 98 individuals and the other has one, it is considered a low diversity situation.
(C) Diversity in taxonomy (Phylogenetic). The genetic link between diverse groupings of animals is referred to as taxonomic diversity (TD). A hierarchical categorization based on the evolutionary evolution of distinct kinds of organisms is used to illustrate this type of variety.
3. Variety of Ecosystems- It’s comparable to species diversity, but it’s focused on the differences in ecosystems within a certain geographic region. There are several ecosystems or biomes that vary from one place or nation to the next, with examples being alpine meadows, taigas, wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, and deserts.
4. Diversity in the World- The range of distinctions that indicate the makeup of a group of two or more species in a global context is referred to as global diversity. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that there are around 1. There are about 5 million distinct plant and animal species on the planet. Animal species account for 70% of the total, with plants accounting for 22%.
Importance of Biodiversity and conservation
1. Ensures the long-term viability of numerous ecosystems across the world- Biodiversity is critical for ecosystem rejuvenation and conservation. Photosynthesis in the Amazon jungle, for example, may create around 20% of the total oxygen on the planet.
There are also hundreds of pollinators in the forest, such as insects and birds, as well as various biological processes. When the Amazon forest’s biodiversity is preserved, the whole ecosystem that depends on it is also protected and allowed to regenerate.
Coral reefs, tundra, rivers and streams, and grasslands are examples of ecosystems that may be sustained and conserved via biodiversity conservation.
2. Ecological balance- Biodiversity protects the ecology’s integrity, the peaceful coexistence of organisms and their surroundings. Some of the most important characteristics may be stated as follows:
(A) Carbon dioxide and oxygen balance- It aids in mitigating climate change consequences. Biodiversity helps to maintain the sequential balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. Failure to protect biodiversity causes carbon dioxide to build up, resulting in a greenhouse effect and progressive ozone depletion. Global warming and natural disasters are the outcomes.
(B) Cycles of biochemical reactions- A hydrological cycle is one example. Biochemical cycles rely on the availability of biological resources such as forests and wetlands. Incomplete cycles and increasing rates of natural disasters such as desertification and species extinction would result if these resources were not available.
Decomposition. Decomposers – creatures that help in the decomposition of waste organic materials – are protected under biodiversity protection. Decomposition is thus an important aspect of the food chain because it converts the waste of dead organic matter into new biochemicals that may be used by primary producers.
(C) Climate- Biodiversity is what determines and regulates the micro, local, and regional climate. Biodiversity does this via altering air turbulence, temperature, and precipitation patterns.
Conclusion
In this article we read about biodiversity, biodiversity and conservation, its kinds and significance of biodiversity and conservation. Biodiversity conservation is critical for a healthy and functioning environment. It’s all about preserving, enhancing, and scientifically managing biodiversity in order to keep it at its peak and generate long-term advantages for current and future generations. Biodiversity conservation is critical for the survival of all species. It is also necessary for people, since this environment provides them with several ecological and economic advantages. Biodiversity conservation is essential for a healthy environment.