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Threats to Biodiversity : Habitat loss, Poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife

conflicts
Endangered and endemic species of India
Conservation of Biodiversity : In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity

1)

Threats to biodiversity

Habitat Loss

Poaching of wildlife

Man-wildlife conflicts

Habitat Loss
1.

A process in which natural habitat is functionally unable to

support the present species that is it cannot support its natural
wildlife.

2.

Organisms previously used this site are either displaced or

destroyed.

Causes
o

Population over explosion

Pollution

Use of chemical herbicide and pesticides

Conversion of land to Agriculture

Infrastructure development

Mining , Logging , Trawling ,Urban Sprawl

Timber harvesting and slash and burn cultivation which lead to

deforestation

Natural causes

Volcanic eruptions, fire ,climate changes but the

contributions of natural causes are very small compared
to that of human

Consequences

Reduces carrying capacity which can led to extinction

Co-extinction

Increases area's vulnerability to flood , drought , water

contamination

Loss of valuable ecosystem services

Deforestation increases Carbon Dioxide level which causes

climate change

It affects Endemic organisms

Reduces genetic diversity which perhaps causes production of

infertile youth

Poaching of Wildlife
1.

Illegal hunting , killing or capture of wild animals usually

associated with land use rights

2.

This is done for Economical benefits. For eg. skin and bones
from tiger , ivory from elephants , horns from
rhinos and perfume from musk deer.

3.

It is considered as environmental crime.

4.

Fishing and hunting without a license.

5.

Hunting from moving vehicles or aircraft.

6.

Trapping, Caging and Drugging animals Capturing Wildlife

outside legal hours and hunting season.

Effects

Reduction of animal population in wildlife and possible extinction

It affects Tourism industry

Various species of flora and fauna are needed to maintain health

and balance thus our survival sometimes
depend on it

Effective size of protected areas reduces as poachers use edges

of these areas

Tree species with large seeds dominates while locally extincting

small-seeded plants

Man-Wildlife conflicts
1. Interaction between wild animals and people and the resultant
negative impact on people or their resources or wild animals or habitat
2. Thus it have negative impact on human , social , economic, cultural life
3. It can take forms ranging from loss of life to injure humans
animals(wild or domestic)
eg. Vehicle wildlife conflicts

Causes

Population expansion to wild animal habitats causes wildlife territory to

displace

Competition for food resources

Consequences

3)

Injuring and loss of human and wildlife

Crop damage

Livestock depredation

Damage of human property

Habitat destruction

Collapse of wildlife population

Reduction of geographic ranges

Conservation of biodiversity

The Need for Conservation

1. Biodiversity is the cornerstone of our existence on Earth.
2. Biodiversity is the life support system of our planet- we depend on it
for the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink
3. The connections between biodiversity and our sustainable future
appear closer and closer the more we look. We literally need to
conserve biodiversity like our lives depend on it.

In-situ conservation

Also known as on-site conservation

Process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its

natural habitat

Main objective is to protect microscopic unicellular plants and animals

to the giant trees and large animals in its own natural habitat

Endemic and endangered species are protected

Its done by protecting or cleaning their habitat

Defending the species from predators

Helps in recovering population thus helping them to develop their

distinctive features

Species rich or "Biodiversity hotspots" which are significant reservoir

rich in biodiversity are chosen so to protect wildlife that is under threat
which are also economically feasible

It includes National Parks , Wildlife sanctuaries , biosphere reserves

It helps in raising awareness

Ex-situ conservation

Threatened animals and plants are taken from their natural habitat and
are placed where they are protected and are given special care

Also known as off-site conservation

They are protected in carefully controlled situation such as a botanical

garden for plants and zoological park for animals

Expertise multiply these species under artificially managed conditions.

Ex situ conservation can be considered successful with the

reintroduction of the species to its original wild habitat. It requires
eliminating the causes of poaching, disturbances which caused
reduction of its population.

Methods

Zoos and botanical garden are examples for this conservation which
informs the public of its threatened status and the causes led to it.

Seed banks: seeds are preserved in cryogenic labs and can be used
whenever necessary

Gene banks: It provides the genetic information needed to reproduce

an organism in future .They are stored in gene banks

Interspecific Pregnancy

Cryogenic facilities store sperms, eggs, embryo

It Provides excellent research conditions

2)Endangered and Endemic species of India

Endangered Species
1. Plants or Animals that is in immediate risk of biological extinction is
called endangered species

Causes
destruction of habitat
Wildlife trading
Hunting

Effects
Disrupts food chains and food web
affects national wealth and biodiversity
Ecological imbalance

Endangered animals

Leopard

Asiatic lion

deer

Indian tiger

The great Indian Bustard

Endangered plants

soap root

Pitcher plant

Zcentella

White orchid

Sandal wood

Endemic species
1. Species found only in a particular geographical region because of its
isolation, soil and climatic conditions

Causes

Poor adaptability

Geographical barrier

Changing climatic conditions

Endemic Animals

Amigos

Indian Rhinoceros

Gibbon

Black Buck

Endemic Plants

Alpine

Acacia

Conifer

Rhododendron