Biodiversity in Malaysia

(UCM60203U3)
March 2015 Semester
Week 1
by
Chrishnaveni Subramaniam
E mail: chrishnaveni.s@taylors.edu.my

Content
Section 1
Brainstorming & Introduction to the Module

Section 2
Definition of Biodiversity
Origin of Biodiversity
Important Reminders

Brainstorming Activity

What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity = Biological Diversity
It simply means variety of life
i.e. Biology = study of life or living beings such
as plants and animals and diversity = variety

So what on earth is part of

Biodiversity?

Flowers?
Insects?
Bacteria?
Coral reefs?
Trees?
Forests?
Pandas?

Answer: ALL THE ABOVE

Definition & Origin of Biodiversity

The origin of the term Biodiversity is credited to 2
papers published back in 1980 by Lovejoy (1980) and
Norse and McManus (1980).

Definition & Origin of Biodiversity

The term was coined in 1980s whereby:
Lovejoy wrote about Biodiversity in the concept of
biotic diversity (variety of species)

Norse and McManus wrote about Biodiversity as 2

related concepts i.e. genetic diversity (amount of
genetic variability within species) and ecological
diversity (number of species in a community)

Definition & Origin of Biodiversity

The contracted form Biodiversity was apparently
introduced by Walter G. Rosen in 1985 for the first
planning meeting of National Forum on Biodiversity
held in Washington DC in Sept 1986, the proceedings
of which Wilson and Peters (1988) brought the notion
of Biodiversity to the attention of scientists
worldwide

Why Biodiversity Matters?

Growing concern on the following aspects gave rise
to the introduction of Biodiversity:

Natural extinction
Exploitation
(human activity)

Why Biodiversity Matters? (contd)

Growing concern on the following aspects gave rise
to the introduction of Biodiversity:

Depletion of
Resources vs Need
for Conservation

Changing
Environment
Incomplete Human
Knowledge
of Biodiversity

Do you know?
Have you heard of the
GREEN PEACE MOVEMENT?
How could you relate this to our lesson
today on biodiversity ?
Think!
Note: students to reflect on the brainstorming activity
conducted in the class and write a one page essay on one
of the current crisis of global biodiversity that is acted
upon by the above Global Environmental Organization

Convention on Biological Diversity

(CBD)
Enforced on 29 Dec 1993, one of the most significant
environmental treaties ever developed
3 main goals:
Conservation of Biodiversity
Sustainable use of the components of Biodiversity
Sharing the benefits arising from the alterations of
genetic resources in a fair & equitable manner

Obligations under CBD

Following are the obligations of each country as party
to the CBD:
Develop a national plan for biodiversity conservation
Research into what there is and what is important, in
terms of conservation (incl. monitoring important
species)
Establishing protected areas & guidelines
Promote sustainable development esp. protected areas
Help endangered & rare species to breed by protecting
them & their habitat

Obligations under CBD (contd)

Following are the obligations of each country as party
to the CBD:
Protect native species through regulating both
genetically modified organisms and foreign species that
could compete for similar food/resources
Promote sustainable, particularly customary use of
biodiversity resources
Protect indigenous and local knowledge and
communities
Engage in public education & awareness building on
biodiversity

CBDs Definition of Biodiversity

Defines Biodiversity by recognizing 3 principal
components i.e. ecosystem, species and genes.

Biodiversity as variety of life

How many species are there?

10 100 million on earth out of which about 1.5 million
sp. have been named
Covers everything that is alive on earth from microbes
to Giant river otters in the Amazon
On a finer scale, covers the genetic variation within
species

Composition & Levels of Biodiversity

Ecological/
Ecosystem Diversity
Biomes
Bioregions
Landscapes
Ecosystems
Habitats
Niche
Populations

Organismal/
Species Diversity
Kingdoms
Phyla
Families
Genera
Species
Subspecies
Populations
Individuals
Genetic Diversity
Populations
Individuals
Chromosomes
Genes
Nucleotides

Genetic Diversity
Variety of genetic info (genes) contained in each individual
plant, animal and micro-organisms
Occurs within and between populations of same species
and between different species
Non-identical gene in living being of same species
Genetic variation due to complexity of and adaptability to
habitats
measurable using DNA based & other techniques

Ecosystem Diversity
Variety of habitats, biotic
communities, and ecological
processes (energy flow, water &
nutrient cycling, succession,
competition, mutualism etc)
within and between each
ecosystem

Harder to measure

Species Diversity
Variety of living species
Species is a group of similar individuals that interbreed in nature
and are reproductively isolated from all other such groups

Malaysia & Biodiversity

Malaysia is one of the worlds megadiverse countries
ranked 12th in the world, according to the National
Biodiversity Index
Based on 2012 statistics, approximately 60% of the
countrys total land area is still forested, including
permanent reserved forest (PRF), state land forests,
national parks, and wildlife and bird sanctuaries.

10.6% of Malaysias land area has been designated as

terrestrial protected areas.

Malaysia & Biodiversity

Based on the 2008 IUCN Red List, Malaysia is home to
1,141 threatened species, including plants and animals.
Category

Estimated No of Species

Vascular Plants

15 000

Mammals

306

Birds

742

Amphibians

242

Reptiles

567

Freshwater Fish

>449

Marine Fish

>500

Invertebrates

>150 000

Assessments
Assessment Type

Overall
Weightage

Due Date

Quizzes (4)
*Individual submission

10%

Weeks 2, 4, 6 , 8

Oral Presentation on a Biodiversity

Topic
*Group submission

10%

Week 7

Field Trip & Report

* Individual submission

20%

Week 9

20%
40%

Week 5
Week 10/11

Examination
Mid Semester (all MCQ)
Final (all MCQ)

Important Reminders
Reminder on todays homework
Students to reflect on the brainstorming activity
conducted in the beginning of todays class and write
a one page essay on one of the current crisis of global
biodiversity that is acted upon by the Greenpeace
Global Environment Organization.

Submission: During next class (Week 2)