Biodiversity included three levels-” genetic diversity” which is also known as alpha diversity,” species diversity” or beta diversity, and “ecological diversity”.These 3 levels function at the same time to build multiplicity of survival on the planet.
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Genetic diversity:
Genetic diversity in a species means variation at the gene or genetic level. To understand this, we will discuss an example:
- In the Himalayan region, a medicinal plant, “Rauwolfia vomitoria” is found. Various varieties of this plant are found at different levels of this region. They are different from each other because they have a chemical with different potency levels. This chemical is known as “Reserpine”. It is an alkaloid that is obtained from the root and bark of this plant.
- In Africa, another plant of the same genus i.e. “Rauwolfia serpentina” is found but this plant belongs to a different species (serpentine). This species is found in different varieties in various regions of Africa. One variety contains a chemical of higher potency, while the other varieties of the same plant have the same chemical of low potency. so, there are genetic variations or genetic diversity present in the members of the same species.
In mango (Mangifera Indica) various varieties are found in the same species because of genetic variations. Genetic diversity is also known as “Alpha diversity.”
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Species diversity
There is variation in the number of species in a particular region in species diversity. Let us understand by an example.
- In this instance, we can consider two different areas and compare them based on the number of species.
- There is higher species diversity present in ‘Amphibian species’ in the Western Ghats than in the Eastern Ghats. Species diversity is also known as beta diversity.
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Ecological diversity.
In this type of diversity we compare larger areas, for example, two countries:- India and Norway. India has various landscapes and ecosystems like deserts, aquatic, artificial water bodies, deciduous, rain, evergreen forests, and grasslands. So, the variety of all these ecosystems can be seen in India. However, in Norway, the most common ecosystem is found in grassland. When we compare the number of species in India and Norway, we find that the diversity in India is much more due to India being more affluent in diversity than Norway, and this is due to the variety of ecosystems that lie in India.
Conservation
There are various reasons why we should conserve biodiversity. All the reasons have been organized into three categories. A very narrow vision is known as the narrowly utilitarian argument in support of the reason why we should conserve biodiversity, a broad-spectrum view, and an ethical reason or ethical view. These categories are:-
1.Narrowly Utilitarian Argument /view .for conservation
2.Broadly Utilitarian View .for conservation
- Ethical view. for conservation
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Narrowly Utilitarian Argument /view for conservation
In a narrowly utilitarian argument, a point of view is a narrow view. For example, If we require something then we should conserve it. According to narrow utilitarian arguments we are not thinking about what is going to happen after 500 years or after thousands of years.
- For example, Timber is used for construction purposes and wood for paper making, etc. Some plant products are used in various industries for the production of tannins, resins, perfume, etc. All these things which we are using come from plants and also various kinds of fibers are coming from plants that is why we should conserve biodiversity.
Approximately 25% of the medicines which we use come from plants, so we should be conserving them. This type of narrow view is known as a narrowly utilitarian argument or view for conservation.
2.Broadly Utilitarian View .for conservation
A Broadly Utilitarian view is also called a broad-spectrum view. The broad-spectrum view is like a wider perspective. Like, our future generation should also be able to get a fresh environment and clean water which is why we should be conserving biodiversity. This type of view of conservation is known as the broadly utilitarian view.
The broad-spectrum view or broadly utilitarian view is for future generations.
- For example, the Amazon forest is known as the lungs of the planet or earth so we should conserve it so that our future generations can get clean air and a clean environment.
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Ethical view for conservation
An ethical view of conservation means the moral values for conservation. Let us understand by an example:
- The earth belongs to all organisms so we don’t have the right to kill them or modify them. There must be a proper and unbiased distribution among all organisms. The ethical view is talking about moral values and these are called bioethical values.
- According to the ethical view of conservation, the earth belongs to all animals and plants, and as we humans don’t have any right to change anything in nature, we must conserve it.
Conclusion
We have 3 different levels of biodiversity in our ecosystem. Firstly the genetic diversity, where species have variation at the gene level. Secondly, the species diversity, where diversity in the number of species of a living being is observed. Thirdly the ecological diversity, where diversities can be observed in having a broad range of ecological systems. Conservation of biodiversity is important and can be categorized into three domains, which include Narrowly Utilitarian Argument /view for conservation, Broadly Utilitarian view for conservation, and Ethical view for conservation.