Biodiversity and Conservation

SYNOPSIS

• Biodiversity refers to the totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region.
  

• Speciation is the evolution of a new species.

• Patterns of Biodiversity
  
  

• Causes of Biodiversity Losses
  
  
  

• IUCN Red Listis a catalogue of taxa facing the risk of extinction.

• Strategies of Biodiversity Conservation
  

  In situ	This strategy emphasises protection of total ecosystems including the protection of endangered species in their natural habitat.
  Ex situ	This strategy includes botanical gardens, zoos, tissue culture and gene/DNA, pollen and seed banks.

   

• A species confined to a particular region and not found anywhere else is termed an endemic species.

• Sacred groves are the large number of trees and wildlife protected due to religious sanctity and cultural traditions.

• Hot spots are the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth.

• Protected areas are the areas of land or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and natural and associated cultural resources.

• National park is an area which is strictly reserved for wildlife and where no other activity like grazing or cultivation is allowed.

• Sanctuary represents an area reserved for the conservation of animals only and other activities such as harvesting of timber, collection of forest products etc. are not allowed.