BIO DIVERSITY

Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on earth. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to:

1) Genetic variation within an area.

2) Ecosystem variation within an area

3) Species variation within an area.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous-native plant life.

Fauna is all of the animal life that constitutes to bio-diversity of any particular region or time.

Flora and Fauna along with other forms of life likes fungi are called the biota of a particular region.

FLORA AND FAUNA IN INDIA

India has some of the world's most biodiverse regions. It is a mega diverse nation, housing around 8% of world's species.

India hosts 3 biodiversity hotspots: the western Ghats, the Himalayas and the Indo-Burma region. These hotspots have numerous endemic species.

FLORA IN INDIA

The flora of India is one of the richest of the world due to a wide range of climate, topology and environments in the country.

There are over 15000 species of flowering plants in India, which account for 6 percent of the total plant species in the world.

India covers more than 45,000 species of flora, out of which there are several species that are not found anywhere else.

FLORA IN INDIA

FAUNA IN INDIA

India is one of the eighteen mega diverse countries.

it is home to 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of all avian, 6.2% of all reptilian, 4.4% of all amphibian , and 11.7% of all fish species.

India is home to several well-known large mammals, including the Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard ,Indian rhinoceros etc.

FAUNA IN INDIA

DEFORESTATION

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO RED

DATA BOOK

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN ) has classified existing plant and animal species into following categories. They are :

1. Normal species

2. Endangered species

3. vulnerable species

4. Rare species

5. Endemic species

6. Extinct species

NORMAL SPECIES

ENDANGERED SPECIES

These are species which are in danger of extinction.

In 2012, the IUCN Red List featured 3079 animal and 2655 plant species as Endangered (EN) worldwide.

Eg: Lion tailed macaque, black buck, Tiger, Indian rhino.

ENDANGERED SPECIES

VULNERABLE SPECIES

A vulnerable species is one which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as likely to become endangered

Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or excessive poaching.

Eg: blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, Penguins etc.

VULNERABLE SPECIES

RARE SPECIES

Rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce, . This designation may be applied to either a plant , animal, bird, or insect.

These species with their small population may move into endangered or vulnerable species if they are not protected.

Eg: Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox , hornbill etc.

ENDEMIC SPECIES

An endemic species is one whose habitat is restricted to a particular area. The term could refer to an animal, a plant, a fungus, or even a microorganism.

The area where endemic species are found is relatively isolated from the rest of the world by a natural or geographical barrier.

Eg: Andaman teal, Andaman wild pig, Kangaroo, Nicobar pigeon etc.

EXTINCT SPECIES

A species is extinct when the last existing member dies. Extinction therefore becomes a certainty when there are no surviving individuals that can reproduce and create a new generation.

A species may be extinct from the entire region, country, continent or entire world.

Eg: Asiatic Cheetah, Dodo, Dinosaurs, Mammoth, Pink Head Duck etc.

EXTINCT SPECIES

ADITHYAN P.V

SURYAKANTH