Biodiversity

 Basic Science VIII186Collect information on the peculiarities of these ecosystems andthe organisms found there.With the help of the indicators, discussand write them down in the science diary

Biodiversity includes all the diverse organisms that inhabit theearth along with their ecosystems. Biodiversity includes variouslevels like ecosystem diversity, species diversity and geneticdiversity. This term which denotes the richness of the biospherewas first used by a British environmentalist, Walter. G. Rosenin 1985

re all ecosystems alike in biodiversity

Are all organisms seen in an ecosystem also seen in anotherecosystem? 

 

What is the need for protecting natural ecosystems  

Importance of biodiversityWhat are the benefits of conserving biodiversity? In order tounderstand it, we must identify the services provided by biodiversity.Observe the illustration given below. On the basis of the illustration,prepare a note on the need for conserving biodiversity.

Biodiversity depletion

What is happening to the biodiversity around us?Keen observation is necessary to understand it.Birds are found everywhere. Birds fall easy victimsto changes in the ecosystem.Let us observe the birds around us to understandthe present status of biodiversity.Bird watching is also an interestingly scientifichobby. You can refer to books or internet to identifyunfamiliar birds. Remember to note down thepeculiarities of external features and the nature ofthe birds observed.Observe the figure

Biodiversity in WesternGhats under threat

The Western Ghats, rich inbiodiversity and lying parallel tothe Arabian Sea, is more than 1500kilometre long and 1.25 lakhssquare kilometre wide. Thisregion which is also known bynames like Sahya Mountain orSahyadri is abundantly rich withecosystems such as forests,grasslands, sacred groves,marshes, rivers and ponds. Veryrare species of the world are foundhere. This region is rapidlydeteriorating due to thethoughtless intervention of humanbeings. The process ofdeterioration of ecologicaldiversity in the Western Ghats hasbeen accelerated by agriculture,dams which obstruct the flow ofrivers, mining, exploitation offorest wealth, tourism and hunting    

Excessive use of chemicals in agricultural fields.Along with the inferences formulated throughdiscussion, collect relevant supplementary materialsand prepare a scientific article. Exhibit it on the wallmagazine.DodoPassenger pigeonQuaggaLost linksObserve the picture of certain extinct species. Dodo, akind of flightless bird, was common in the island ofMauritius. Other species which have become extinctinclude passenger pigeons which flew in lakhs alongthe North American skies and the Quagga, a wild zebravariety from the southern part of Africa

No Bird Sings

The book Silent Springpublished in 1962 by anAmerican researcher, RachelCarson attracted attentionworldwide because itelaborated on theenvironmental and healthhazards caused by pesticideslike DDT. Carson pointed outthat birds and other organismsdied in large numbers whenDDT mixed with petroleumproducts, affectionately called'insect bomb', was sprayedwidely on agricultural fields.She established with the helpof study reports that mostpesticides caused cancer. Thisbook was responsible for theban on DDT in America in1972. In this age when deadlypesticides are widely used, theideas put forward by Carson'swork are very relevant

What were the circumstances for the extinction of theseorganisms?Do human beings have any role in it?Discuss and write down the inferences in the science diary.

If not protected, these too...!There are many organisms on the verge of extinction due toseveral reasons. Some examples are given below

IUCN (International Unionfor Conservation of Nature)is an organization forenvironmental protection,operating in differentcountries. Under theauspices of IUCN, a list ofendangered plants andanimals is prepared everyyear. This is known as theRed Data Book. Somecountries prepare RedData Book on their own.The information in the RedData Book is helpful toidentify the extent ofbiodiversity depletion andto plan out appropriateconservation activities.

Collect more information about these organisms and writethem down in the science diary.Let us preserve diversitySustainable development is possible only with the protectionof nature. Analyse the illustration showing a wise approachto biodiversity.Write down your inferences in the science diary.

There are many national and international organisations and legalsystems working for the conservation of biodiversity. Thegovernment conserves bio-rich areas declaring them as protectedareas.Two types of conservation methods are prevalent. They are:1. in-situ conservation method in which organisms are protected intheir natural habitats and 2. ex-situ conservation method in whichorganisms are protected outside their natural habitats.Let us familiarise ourselves with some examples of such conservationmethods

These are forest areas declared asprotected areas to prevent theextinction of wild lives by protectingthe ecosystem. Peppara, Periyar,Wayanad etc., are examples of wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala.National ParksNational Parks are designed to protectwild lives along with the protectionof historical monuments, naturalresources and geographical featuresof an area. Eravikulam, Silent Valley,Anamudi Shola, Mathikettan Sholaand Pambadum Shola are the nationalparks in Kerala

Community ReservesCommunity reserves are areas protected with the participation of the public.These are ecologically important places located in populated areas. TheKadalundi Community Reserve spread over the districts of Malappuramand Kozhikode is an example

Biosphere reservesSacred grovesThese are vast regions designed with an aim to protect world'simportant ecosystems, biodiversity and genetic resources. Biospherereserves like the Nilgiris and Agasthyarkoodam include areasbelonging to Kerala too

These are small areas of biodiversity protectedin regions inhabited by human beings. Due tochanges in life style many of these which werehighly bio-rich have been destroyed. Only a feware remaining now. Sacred groves play animportant role in the conservation of water in theregion too

Ecological hotspotsEcological hotspots are areasrich in endemic species butfacing the threat of habitatdestruction. Each hotspot isecologically a very importantarea of biodiversity. Out of the34 hotspots all over the world, 3of them are in India. They are theWestern Ghats, North-EasternHimalayas and the Indo-Burmaregion.