Environment - Biodiversity

                                                

                                               Tags: biodiversity, ecosystem, climate, DNA

Biodiversity  describes the variety of life  on Earth and all of the natural processes. This includes ecosystem, genetic and cultural diversity. It has taken billions of years to arrive at the present form of biodiversity. It forms the web life of which

humans are an integral part This diversity can be seen in terms of plants, animals and microorganisms. Till now scientists could identify only about 13 million species out of estimated 100 million. Chromosomes, genes, and DNA-the building blocks of life-determine the uniqueness of each individual and each species. . Biodiversity provides a  number of goods and services .

These goods and services are:

·         Purification of air and water

·         Decomposition of wastes

·         Control  Earth's climate

·         Control  floods, droughts, temperature

·         Renewal of soil fertility

·         Control of pests and diseases

·         Maintenance of genetic resources

·         Cultural and aesthetic benefits

·         Supply of food, fuel

India  is a mega diverse nation, having around 10% of world's species. Indian biodiversity is  related to the socio-cultural set up of India. Several species are facing extinction due to   population explosion, climate change and  implementation of wrong environmental policies, This affect the  livelihood and the culture of many  Indians who depend on local biodiversity.

A biodiversity hotspot is a bio geographic region that is under threat from humans. There are about 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species. Four such regions  exist in India . The Western Ghats ,the Himalayas, the Indo Burma region and the Sundaland.

 The Western Ghats are a chain of hills that run along the western edge of peninsular India. These regions have moist deciduous forest and rain forest. The region has high species diversity. How the biodiversity of Western Ghats originated is a still a puzzle.  . Much of the world's spices such as black pepper and cardamom have their origins in the Western Ghats. The highest concentration of species in the Western Ghats is believed to be the Agasthyamalai Hills in the extreme south.

 The Eastern Himalayas

This region comprises part of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and extends upto Burma. This  region is exceptionally rich in diversity and endemism.

The Indo Burma region

This region covers Myanmar,Thailand, Combodia, Vietnam ,Laos and the Indo Gangetic plains. Although it is one of the rich biologically rich it is the most threatened .

Sundaland

It covers Nicobar islands. It extends to the tectonic plates under the Indian Ocean.

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