Biodiversity and Conservation

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity occurs not only in the species level, but also in the macromolecular levels.

• Biodiversity as described by Edward Wilson is the combined diversity at all levels of biological organisation.

• The most important forms of biodiversity are:

  • Genetic diversity (diversity at the genetic level)

  • Species diversity (diversity at the species level)

  • Ecological diversity (diversity at the ecosystem level)

• There are close to 1.5 million plants and animals that have to be discovered and described. More species have been discovered in temperate regions as compared to tropics.

• According to an estimate made by Robert May, global species biodiversity is about 7 million.

• Of the total species discovered so far, 70% are animals and 22% are plants. Of the animals, 70% are insects.

• India has 2.4%…