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Species diversity

The number of species of plants and animals that are present in a regieon constitues Its species diversity.This diversity is seen both in natural ecosystems and in agricultural ecosystems.some areas are richer in species than others.For example,natural undisturbed tropical ecosystems.some areas are richer in species richness then monoculture plantations developed by the forest Department for timber production .A natural forest ecosysstem provides a large number of non-timber forest products(NTPF's)that local people depand on ,such as fruit ,fuelwood,fooder,fiber,gum ,resin and medicins.Timber plantations do not provide the large variety of goods that are essential for local consumption .In the long-term ,the economic sustainble returns from NTFPs is said to be greater than the returns from felling a forest for its timber.Thus ,the commercial value of a ntural forest ,with all its species richness is much greater than a plantation .Moderen intensive agricultual ecosystem have a relatively lower diversity of crops than treditional agro-pastoral farming systems,where multiple crops were planted.

At present ,conservation scientists have been able to identify and catagerize about 1.8 million species on Earth .However,this this is only a fraction of what really exists .Many new species are being identified especially in the flowering plants and insects.Areas that are exceptionally rich in speicies diversity are called especially'hotspots'of diversity ;India is among the world's 15 nations that are exceptionally rich in species diversity.

Genetic Diversity

Each member of any animal or plant species differs widely from other individuals in its genetic makeup,owing to the large number of combinitions possible in the genes that give every individual specific its charecterstics.Thus,for example,each human being population of a species.If the number of breeding individuals is reduced,the dissimilary of genetic makeup is reduced and in-breeding occurs.This leads to genetic anomalies and eventually ,to the extinction of that particular species .The diversity in wild species forms the'gene pool' from which our crops and domestic animals have been developed over thousands of Years.Today,the variety of natur's bounty is being further expoited by using wild relatives to create new varieties of more productive,disease-resistant crops and to breed superior domestic animals .Modem biotechnology also manipulates genes to develop better types types of medicins and a variety of industrial products.

Definition

'Biological diversity or biodiversity is that part of nature which includes the differences in genes among the individuals of s species;the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at different scales in space-locally,in a region ,in the country and the world;and the types of ecosystems.both terrestrial and aqutic,within a defined area.
'Biological diversity deals with the degree with the degree of nature's variety in the biosphere.This variety can be observed at three levels-the genetic variability within a community ;and the organization of species in an area in to distinctive plant and animal communities .

Defination

'Biological diversity or biodiversity is that part of nature which includes the differences in genes among the individuals of species;the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at different scales in space-locally,in a region ,in the country and the world;and the types of ecosystems,both terrestrial and aquatic,with in a defined area.

BIODIVERSITY

The great variety of life on the Earth has provided for man's needs over thousands of years.This diversity of living creaturs forms a support system which has been used by each civilization for its growth and development.Those that used this bounty of nature carefully and sustainably survived ,while those that overused or misused it disintegrated.
Science has attempted to calssify and categorizecthe variability in nature for over a century.This has led to an understanding of its organiztion in to commubities of plants and animals.This information has helped in utilizing the Earth's biological wealth for the benefit of humanity and has been integral to the process of 'devolopment'.This includes better health care ,better crops and the use of these life-forms as raw meterial for industrial growth ,which has led to a higher standard of living for the developed world .However,this has also produced the modern consumerist society ,which adversely affects the disversity of biological resources upon which it is based .The diversity of life on Earth is os great that if we use it sustainbly we can go on devoloping new products from biodiversity for many generations.This can only happen if we manage biodiversity as precious resource and prevent the extinction of species.

Aquatic Ecosystems Using

Man uses aquatic ecosystems for the clean freshwater on which his life completely depedent.we need clean water to drink and for other domestic uses.Water is also essential for agriculture.Fisherfolk use the aquatic ecosytems to earn a livilihood,Pelple catch fush and crabs;they also clooect edible plants .These are used locally as food or for sale in the market .Over -fishing leads to a serios decline in the catch and long-term loss of income for the fisherfolk.

Marshers and wetlands are of great economic importance for people who live on their fish crustaceans ,reeds ,grasses and other produce.

Modern man impounds water in dams to be able to store it throughout the year.Agriculturae and industry are highly dependent on large quantites of water .However this leads to problems for tribal people who have lived there before the dams were built as they are displaced for these dams.

Dams are built across rivers to generate electacity.A large proporation of this energy is used by urban people ,by agriculterists in irrigated farmlands and in enourmous quantities for industry .Large dams have serios ill-effects on the natural river ecosystems .while the water from dams used for irrigation has led to economic prosperity in some areas, in semi-arid areas briught up into the surface layers of the soil.This makes such lands gradually more and saline and unproductive.

Seashore Ecosytems

Beaches can be sandy ,rocky ,shell-coveredor muddy,On each of these different types,there are several specific species which have envolved to occupy a seperate niche.There are different crustanceans,sucha sa crabs,that make holes in the sand,Various shore birds feed on their pry by probing in to the sand or mud on the seashore.Several different species of fish are caught by fishermen.In many areas the fish catch has decreased over the last tow decades.

Marine Ecosystems

The Indian Ocean,the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal constitue the marine ecosystems around peninsulat India.In the coastal area,the sea is shallow while further away,it is deep .Both these are different ecosystems.The producers in this ecosystem vary from microscopic algae to latge seaweeds .There are millions of Zooplankton and a large variety if invertebrates which fush ,turtels and marine mammals feed on.

The shallow areas near Kutch and around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are some of the most increrdible coral reefs in the world .Coral reefs are only second to tropical evergreen forests in their richness of species .Fish,crustaceans,starfish,jellyfish and polyps that deposit the coral are just a few if the thousands of species that form this incredible world under the shallow seas.

The deforestation of the adjacant mangroves leads to silt being carried out to sea where it is deposited on the coral ,which gets bleached and than dies.There are many diffrerent types of coastal ecosystemes which are highly dependent on the tide.

The marine ecosystem is used by coastal fisherfolk for fishing ,which is their livlihood.In the past,fishing was done at sustainable level adn the marine ecosystems continued to maintain its abudant supply of fish over many generations.Now,with the growth of intensive fishing by using gaint nets and mechanized boats,the fish cathc in the Indian Ocean has dropped signifciantly.

Stream and river ecosystems

Streams and rivers are flowing water ecosystems,in which all the living forms are specially adapted to different rates of flow .some plants and animals ,such as snails and other burrowing animals,can withstand the rapid flow of the hill-streams.Other species of ifsh like the Mahseer,go beetles and skaters ,can live only in slower moving water .Some species of plants and animals ,like water upstrean form rivers to hill-streams for bredding.They need crystal-clear water to be able to breed.

As deforestation occurs in the hills,the water in the streams that once flowed throughout the year becomes seasonal .This leads to flash-floods in the rains and a shortage of water once the streams dry up after the monsoon.

The community of flora and fauna of strems and rivers depends on the clarity.Flow and Oxygen content,as well as the nature of their beds.The stream or river can have a sandy,rocky or muddy bed,each type having its own species of plants and animals

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Graudally ,the more complex animals such as crabs ,frogs and fish return to the pond.The vegetation in the water consists of floating weeds and rooted vegetation on the peiphery whose roots are in the muddy floor under the water and whose foliage emerges out of the surface of the water.
As the pond fills inthe monsson season , a large number of food chains are formed .The algae are eaten by microscopic animals,which are turn eaten by small fush on which the larger carnivorous fish depend .These are in turn eaten by birds of prey.Aquatic insects,worms and snails feed on the waste material excerted by animals and animal matter.They act onthe dertius ,which is broken down into nutrients which aquatic plants can absorb,thus completing the nutrient cyle in the pond .The temporary ponds begin to dry up after the rains and the surrounding grasses and terrestrial plants spread into the moist mud that us exposed.Animals like frogs,snails and worms remain formant in the mud ,awsting the next monsoon.

Ponds Ecosystems

The pond is the simplist aquatic ecosystme to observe

There are differences between a temporary pond that has water only in the monsoon season and a larger tank or lake tht is an aquatic ecosystem throughout the Year.Most ponds become dry after the rains are over and are covered by terrstrial plants for the rest of the Year.

when a pond begins to fill during the rains are over,its life forms -such as the algae and microsopic animals,aquatic insects snails and worms come out of the floor the pond where they have remained dormant during the dry phase.

MORE DEATAILS WILL BE CONTINUE...

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In aqutic ecosystems,plants and animals live in water.These species are adapted to live in different types of aquatic habibates.The special abiotic features are its physical aspects such as the quality of the water ,which includes it s clarity,salinity,Oxygen content and rate of flow .aquatic ecosytems may be classified as being stagnant ecosystems or running water ecosystems.The mud gravel or rocks that form the bed of the aquatic ecosystems are also classified in to freshwater,brackish and marine ecosystems,which are based on the slaianity levels.
The fresh water ecosystems that have running water are streams and rivers.Ponds,tanks and lakes are ecosystems where water does not flow .wetlands are special ecosystems in which the water level fluctures dramtically in different seasons .They have expenses of shallow water with aquatic vegetation,which forms an ideal habitat for fish,crustaceans and water birds.
Marine ecosystems are highly saline,while brajcish areas have less sline water such as in river deltas.Coral reefs are very rich in species and are found in only a few shallow tropical seas .The richest coral reefs in India are around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in the Gulf of Kutch .
Brackish water ecosystems in river deltas are covered by mangrove forests and are among the worlds most productive ecosystems in items of biomass production.The largest manganore swamps are in the sunderbans in the delta of the Ganges river

Aquatic Ecosystem

The aquatic Ecosystems comprise of the marine environments of the seas and the fresh water systems in lakes,rivers,ponds and wetlands.These ecosystems provide human beings with a wealth of natural resources.They provide food like fish and crustaceans.Natural aquatic such as rivers and seas,break down the chemical and organic wastes created by man .Hoever,this function has limitations,as the aquatic ecosystem cannot handle grat quantities of waste .Beyond a certain limit ,pollution destroys this natural function.

If aquatic ecosytems are misused or over-uitlized ,thier ability to provide resources suffers in the long teem.over-fishing leads to fall in fish catch .River courses that are changed by dams to provide electricity affect thousands of people who do not get a continuous supply of water downstream for their daily use .when wetlands are drained ,their connected rivers tend to cause floods.wetlands are drained,their connected rivers tend to cause floods .These are all exemples of unsustainable changes in the use of natural resources and nature's ecosystems that are dependent onhydrological regimes.

water is an important factor in all our ecosysms.several ecosystems exist in fresh water and marine saltwater.There is very little fresh water on earth ,which fundamental resource for people all over the world.

Desert Ecosystems

Desert and semi-arid lands are extremely specialized and sensitive ecosystems that are easily destroyed by human activites.The species of these dry areas can live only in this specialized habibat .
The deserts and semi-arid areas are mainly located in western India and the Deccan plateau .The clinate ub these vast tracts is extremely dry.There are also cold deserts such as in Ladakh ,which are located in the high plateaus of the Himalayas.The most typical desert landscape that is seen in Rajasthan is in the Thar Desert.This has sand dunes;it also has areas covered with sparse grasses and a few shrubs,which grow if it rains.In most areas of the Thar,the rain only once every few years .In the adjoining semi-arid tract ,the vegetation consists of a few shrubs abd throny trees,such as kher and babul.
The Great and Little Rann of Kutch are extraordinarily specialized arid ecosystems .In the summers,they are similar to desert landscape.However ,as these are low-lying areas near the sea,they gert converted to salt marshers during the monsoons.During this perios they attract an enomous number of aquatic birds ,such as ducks geese,crans ,strokes,etc..The Great Rann is famous as it is the onle known breeding colony of the Greater and Lessar Flamingous in India.

Grassland species vanishing

Most people feel that it is only our forests and its wildlife that isdisappearing .However,other natural ecosystems,such as grasslands,are disappearing even morerapidly.
Many of the grasslands,are disappeared from several parts of India in which they were found 50 or 60 years ago.The cheetah is extinct in India;the wolf is now highly threatned;the blackbuck and chincara are being poached for thir meat;birds sucha s the beautifull great Indian Bustard and vanishing.unless grassland species are protected,they will vanish form their shrinking habibat ,as natural and undisturbed grasslands are left in very few locations.If these animals and birds are killed or their habibat is reduced further ,their extinction will rapidly follow.

Threats to Grass land

In many areas,grasslands have been used for centuries by pastoral communties.Over utilization and in many changes in landuse of the 'common grazing lands' of rural communities has lead to their degradation c.The grassland cover in the country,in terms of permanent pastures,nw covers only 3.7% of the total land.A main threat to natural grasslands is the conversation of grasslands into irrigated farmlands .In the Deccan,grasslands have been altered to irrigated farms and are now mainly used to grow sugercane,which is a water-intensive crop.After continuous irrigation ,such land becomes salineuseless in a few years .More recently,many of these residual grasslands tracts have been converted in to industrial areas.This provides short-term economic gains but results in longterm economic and ecological losses.
Grasslands have a limited ability to support domestic animals and wildlife.Increasing this pressuring by increasing the number of domestic animals reduces the'naturalness' of the grassland ecosystem leading to its deterioration.
Most grassland ecosystem are highly modified by human activities .Cattle,sheep and goat grazing and lighting repeated fires all affect the grass lands adversely.changing the grasslands to other forms of landuse such as agriculture,tree plantations and industrialization poses a serious threat to this highly-productive ecosystem.Thus some of the grassland patches,which are in a less disturbed state and have retained their special plants and animals ,need tobe urgently protected.
The degradation of grasslands due to over-grazing by scttle,sheep and goats occures if more than a critical number of doemstic animals are presemt in the grasslands.when animals overgrgraze the area,the grasses are converted into flat stubs with very little green matter .Degraded grasslands have fewer grass species as the nutrious species are entirely used up by the large number of domestic animals and are thus unable to regenerate.

Grasslands uses

Grasslands are the grazing areas of many rural communities.Farmers who keep cattle or goats ,as well as shpherds who keep sheep are highly dependent on grasslands .Domestic animals are grazed in the 'common' land of the village.Fooder is collected and stored to feed cattle when there is no grass left for them to graze in summer.Grass is also used and farm-sheds.The thorny bushes and branches of the few trees that are seen in grasslands are used as a major source of fuelwood .
over-grazing by huge herds of domestic llivestock has degreaded many grasslands.Grasslands have diverse species of insects that pollinate crops.There are also predators of these insects such as the small mammals like srews,reptiles like lizaeds,birds of prey and ambhibians such as frogs and toads .All these carnivorous animals help to control insect pests in the adjoining agricultural lands.

Shola Grasslands

Grasslands are not restricted only to low rainfall areas .Certain grassland types form when clearings are made in different forest types.Some are located on the higher,steep hill-slopes with patches of forest that occur along the streams and in depressions.The grasslands are related to repeated fires that do not permit the forest to grow.

The grasses are the major producers of biomass inthese regions .Each grasslland ecosystem has a excessive grazing and are suppressed if the area is over-grazed.Others are destroyed by repeated fires and cannot regenerate.Thus over-used or frequently burnt grasslands are degraded and are poor in plant species diversity.