Biodiversity:- The term biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms and habitats found in a defined area. UNEP (1992) defines it “as the variety and variability of all animals, plants and microorganisms and the ecological complexes of which they are a part”.The term biodiversity was coined by W.G. Rosen (1985).
Biodiversity is an umbrella term covering diversity at genetic ,species and ecosystem level. The conversation on biological diversity defines biodiversity as “The variability among living organisms from all sources including ,interalia terrestrial ,marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and ecosystem.”In short it refers to the whole variety of life on earth.’ Biodiversity represents the totality of genes, species and ecosystem of region.
∆ Components of Biodiversity:- Biodiversity is said to have three levels ,or components.
1. Ecological (Ecosystem) diversity:- It is the diversity of ecological complexes or biotic communities found in a given area. Indian ecosystem diversity is described at each of the three levels (biogeographical region,biotic province and biome).Largest of the identified ecosystems has been the biogeographical zone. The vast area covered by biogeographical zone contains a wide diversity of smaller units called biotic provinces.
2. Species diversity:- Species diversity refers to veriety of species in a region. Number of species per unit area is called species richness. Eveness or equitability differ due to difference in number of individuals in an area. With increase in area , number of species increase. Species are the most commonly used unit describing biodiversity.
3. Genetic diversity:- The diversity of basic units of hereditary information (genes) which are passed down the generations, found within a species is genetic diversity. Genetic diversity refers to variation of genes within species. The genetic diversity within a species is expressed by many terms, subspecies, breeds, races, varieties and forms. The diversity arises from “variations in the sequence of four base pairs which as component of nucleic acids which constitute the genetic code.” Genetic information is stored in genes.
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