Concepts of Biodiversity: How Scientists definition of biodiversity
The definition of biodiversity: The English word ‘biodiversity’ is derived from the combination of two words, namely- Bio (life) and diversity (diversity). That is, the word biodiversity means diversity of life. American biologist Thomas E. Lovejoy in 1980. Thomas E. Lovejoy first used the term “biological diversity.” Then, in 1986, the term ‘biodiversity’ was first presented by the famous scientist Walter G. Rosen. Later, the term ‘biodiversity’ became popular all over the world.
definition of biodiversity: Exploring the Variety of Life on Earth
Biodiversity is the system of interactions between animals, plants and microscopic organisms present in a particular ecosystem. However, different scientists at different times have defined biodiversity in different ways. For example-
- D. According to Kastri (1996), Biodiversity is the combination and interaction between gene species and ecological diversity at a particular place and time.
- Provided by the Joint United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Definition: Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems within a region.
- C. J. According to Barrow (2005): Biodiversity refers to genetic diversity among different species, including genetic diversity within a species in a particular region or ecosystem.
- The definition given by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) is: Biodiversity is the number of billions of plants, animals, and microorganisms (that have specific genes) that live within an ecosystem to form a living environment.
- According to CJ Barrow, biodiversity is a variety of species within a region, i.e., the ecosystem. Even the genetic diversity of a particular species belongs to biodiversity.
That is, the natural habitat or habitat belonging to a region and all the species of animals, plants, and microorganisms living in that habitat and their genetic diversity are called biodiversity in one word.
Types of Loss: Biodiversity Defined and Explained
When a species goes extinct, it loses its DNA forever. There is no chance of the species coming back. This extinction can be of various types—
Extinction: It is when a species disappears from the Earth forever. A species is extinct if only a few of its organisms remain in a human-controlled or captive environment.
Local Extinction: A particular species may have been present in a specific area in the past but may later become extinct. In such a situation, the species in question may become locally extinct. However, the species may also be present in other parts of the world. In such a situation, the species in question is called a locally extinct species.
Ecological Extinction: When the number of members of a species decreases to such an extent that the species can no longer exert any influence on the corresponding ecosystem, it is called ecological extinction.
Understanding the Types of Biodiversity: How to Define Biodiversity
Biodiversity can generally be divided into three categories. Scientists Hajwood and Baste (1995) divided biodiversity into three categories. Namely, i) Genetic Diversity, ii) Species diversity, and iii) Ecosystem or Habitat Diversity.
i) Genetic Diversity: The English word ‘genetic’ comes from ‘gene’; the word ‘gene’ means a unit in the chromosome, controlling particular inherited characteristics. And the word ‘Genetic’ means the study of heredity. Thus, the genetic variation observed within an organism or species is called genetic variation. Species variation can be attributed to differences in genes.
According to the U.S. Congress (1990), “Genetic diversity is the combination of the different genes found within populations of single species and the patterns of variation found within different populations of the same species.”
Characteristic: [i] Genetic variation can be observed between species of organisms. [ii] Organisms are divided into species, subspecies, genera, etc. according to genetic diversity. [iii] Structural variation in genes results in differences in the behaviour, reproduction, and adaptation of species. [iv] Loss of species from the environment occurs when the genetic diversity of the species decreases. [v] Genes can be arranged in different associations.
Genetic Diversity: Population, Individual, Chromosome, Nucleotide.
ii) Species Diversity: Species diversity is the diversity of groups of plants and animals composed of homozygous single genes. That is, the number of assemblages of animal and plant species that can be observed in a region is called the species diversity of the region.
According to the information of scientist Wilson (Wilson, 1928), about 70 million species of organisms live in the world today.
According to the U.S. Congress (1990), “species diversity is the variety and abundance of different types of organisms which inhabit in an area.”
Species richness: The number of species present in a particular region is called the Species Richness of that region.
Characteristic: i) The greater the range of species, the greater the number and length of the food chain. ii) There are specific relationships between different species located in a particular region. iii) Species diversity is also observed in the number, class, caste, and tribe of species in a particular ecosystem. iv) Among Earth’s different biomes, the equatorial region has the greatest species diversity. v) The presence of species diversity is essential for the functioning of living systems. vi) Differences in species numbers occur in ecosystems due to differences in natural regions.
Species Diversity: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Families Genera, Species, Population.
iii) Ecosystem or Habitat Diversity: The English word ‘Eco-System’ means ‘Biological Community of Interacting organisms and their physical environment.’ That is, the system formed by the interaction of the natural environment and organisms is an ecosystem. Thus, the great variety that occurs within ecosystems through the interaction of organisms and the environment is called ecological diversity. In other words, ecological diversity is a great variety found in ecosystems. In short, ecological diversity is the diversity of habitats and communities.
Characteristic: i) Ecological diversity is developed through the differences and interactions of different elements of the organism and the environment. ii) Different species in different ecosystems, genetic differences between species, and differences in adaptations of these species. iii) Although living in a particular habitat, some species are ecologically dependent to a large extent on the ecosystem. iv) Grassland ecosystems are characterized by the coexistence of different types of grasses with herbaceous shrubs and a diversity of insect, bird and mammal species. v) In different aquatic environments, assemblages of different plant and animal groups can be observed. vi) Each ecosystem has its own set of organisms.
Ecological Diversity: Biome, Bio-Geographical Region, Landscapes, Ecosystem, Habitat, Niche, Population
Define Biodiversity: Exploring the Types of Ecosystem Biodiversity
1) Alpha-diversity: The number of species present in a particular group of organisms in an ecosystem is called alpha-diversity. Scientist Whittaker called it point diversity. Alpha-diversity considers local or regional aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial habitats.
2) Beta-Diversity: Biodiversity observed in different communities or groups of different terrestrial and aquatic habitats in a given large area or country is called beta diversity.
3) Gamma-diversity: The density of species in a large geographic area is called gamma-diversity. The greater the diversity of a species, the greater the gamma diversity in that region. According to Whitaker, gamma diversity is “the total species diversity in a landscape.”
Why is Biodiversity Important? Define Biodiversity and Its Significance
i) Protecting the existence of the biosphere: Biodiversity plays a significant role in protecting the existence of the ecosystem. Biodiversity provides a variety of ecosystem services by preventing soil erosion, storing water, and increasing soil fertility.
ii) Pollution Control: The ecosystem protects the environment from pollution like water pollution, air pollution, etc.
iii) Forest resources: Forest resources like honey, wax, gum, wood, resin, dust, etc. obtained from forests provide biodiversity. Also, everything from food, clothing, and fuel to household furniture, etc. is collected from the forest.
iv) Source of organisms: Biodiversity is the source of different species of organisms in the environment.
v) Pharmaceutical supply: Currently more than 3000 drugs are prepared from microbes. E.g. Penicillin. The malaria drug quinine is prepared from the bark of the cinchona tree.
vi) Eco-tourism: Nowadays, places with biodiversity have become attractive to tourists. As a result, eco-tourism has grown significantly.
vii) Protection from environmental disasters: Biodiversity protects the environment from various types of disasters.
viii) Gene conservation: Genes of improved species are prepared and conserved in developed countries using the genes of local species of crops.
ix) Pedagogical Importance: Various Biodiversity is very important for the study of species. Attempts are being made to develop insulin antibodies and gene therapy by applying gene technology. So biodiversity is indirectly helping to expand human knowledge and science.
