Breathing

Endangered and endemic species of IndiaConservation of biodiversity: In-situ and exsitu conservation of biodiversity
Prerequisite Knowledge
Biodiversity
Threats to biodiversity

General Objective:
Students will be able to understand the need and two methods
of conserving the biodiversity

Specific Objectives
Students will be able to
recall the endangered and endemic species of India (S)
recognize the importance of conservation of biodiversity (S)
explain the two methods of conservation of biodiversity (T)
sketch a mind map for the conservation methods of
biodiversity

SO-1

Endangered species
A species is endangered, when its number
has been reduced to a critical level.
Unless it is protected and conserved, it is
in immediate danger of extinction.
Eg. Giant panda, Siberian tiger, Mountain gorilla, African
elephant, etc.,

SO-1

RED data book

Contains list of endangered species of
plants & animals.
Gives warning signal for those species
which are endangered and if not protected
they become extinct in near future.

The terms alpha, beta, and gamma

diversity were all introduced by R. H. Whittaker
to describe the spatial component of
biodiversity.
Imagine that you have a landscape containing
of a number of separate sites and habitats.
Alpha diversity is just the diversity of each site
(local species pool).
Beta diversity represents the differences in
species composition among sites.
Gamma diversity is the diversity of the entire
landscape (regional species pool).

Point richness
It refers to the number of species that can
be found at a single point in a given
space.

SO-1

Green & Blue book

Green book:
List of rare plants growing in protected area

Blue book:
Endangered species of the world

SO-1

Tortoise

Green sea turtle

Python

SO-1

Peacock

Siberian white crane

Pelican

SO-1

Tiger
Indian lion

Desert cat
Red fox

SO-1

Lion-tailed macaque
Hoolock gibbon

Golden monkey

SO-1

Rauvol fia serpentina

Santalum

SO-1

Factors affecting endangered species

Pollution
Over exploitation
Climate change

SO-1

Endemic species
Species which are found only in a
particular region are endemic species
Eg, 1.Sapria himalayana, 2.Ovaria lurida,
3.Nepenthes khasiana,
1.Monitor lizards, 2.reticulated python,
3.Indian salamander, 4.Viviparous toad

SO-1
1

SO-1

SO-1

Factors affecting endemic species

Habitat loss
Fragmentation
Pollution

SO-1

Some other definitions

Extinct species- A species said to be
extinct & not known during past 50 years
Vulnerable species- likely to move into
endangered category
Rare species- small population at risk
Threatened species- General term for all
the above

SO-2

Biodiversity
Conservation

Conservation

SO-2

Conservation

is

defined

as

the

management of human use of the biosphere

so that it may yield the greatest sustainable
benefit to the present generation while
maintaining its potential to meet the
needs

and

generations.

aspirations

of

the

future

SO-2

Need for conservation

Immediate benefits reclamation &
tourism
Drugs, herbs, food and other important
raw materials
To preserve genetic and ecological
diversity
To ensure sustainable utilization

FA-1
1. Endemic species are mostly (U)
a. Confined to a particular locality
b. Whose number is largest
c. Which are available in western ghats
d. Which flower annualy
2. . contain list of endangered species of plants & animals
a. Red data book
b. Blue book
c. Green book
d. White book

SO-3

Conservation of Biodiversity:
The convention on Biological Diversity held in June,
1992 stressed the need of the conservation of
Biodiversity
for
sustainable
development
and
perpetuation of human beings on earth.
The two basic approaches to wildlife conservation in
protected habitats are:
1) In- situ conservation and
2) Ex- situ conservation.

SO-3

Types of biodiversity
conservation

1. In- situ conservation

2. Ex- situ conservation

SO-3

SO-3

In- situ conservation

Protecting fauna and flora within its

natural habitat, where the species
normally

occurs

is

In-

situ

conservation
Eg: Biosphere reserves, National parks, Wildlife
sanctuaries, etc.,

SO-3

In- situ conservation:

It simply means conservation of species in its natural
ecosystem or even in man made ecosystems.
This strategy emphasizes protection of total ecosystem
through a network of protected area.
Protected Areas: an area of land and/or sea specially
dedicated

to

the

protection

and

maintenance

of

biological diversity and managed through legal effective

means.

SO-3

There are different categories of protected areas

which are managed with different objectives. These
include; Biosphere reserves, National parks, Wild
Life Sanctuaries etc.
At present we have 11 major biosphere reserves, 80
National parks, 420 wildlife sanctuaries in our
country covering 4% of the geographic area.
The JIM CORBETT National Park was 1st national
park established in India.
What is Difference among Biosphere reserves,
National parks, Wild Life Sanctuaries ?

SO-3

Wildlife sanctuaries

SO-3

Examples of Biosphere reserves of India:

1.Nilgiri- 5,520 sq.km
2.Nanda Devi- 5,860.69 sq. km
3.Manas 2837 sq. km
4.Gulf of Mannar 10,500 sq. km
5.Great Nicobar 885 sq. km
6.Panchmarhi 4,926.28 Sq Km
Examples of some National park in India
1.Kaziranga- Assam, Gir National Park- Gujarat, Periyar Kerala,
Sariska Rajasthan
Examples of some Wild Life Sanctuaries of India:
1.Ghana Bird sanctuaries
2.Hazaribagh sanctuaries
3.Abohar wild life sanctuaries
4.Jaldapara wild life sanctuaries
5.Mudamalai wild life sanctuaries

SO-3

Merits:
Cheap & convenient
Species gets adjusted to natural disasters

Demerits:
A large surface area is required
Maintenance of habitat is not proper

SO-3

Ex- situ conservation:

It is defined as the conservation of component of
biological diversity (Sample of genetic diversity,
particularly of endangered species) outside their natural
habitats.
It involves maintenance and breeding of endangered
plant and animal species under partially or wholly
controlled conditions. E.g. Zoos, Botanical Gardens,
Aquaria, Nurseries, DNA bank, Seed bank, Gene bank
etc.

Tissue and cell culture

Zoological gardens

SO-3

Role of Ex-situ conservation

Involves maintenance and breeding of

endangered plant ant animal species
under controlled conditions.
Identifies species which are at the verge of
extinction.
Prefers species which are more important
to man in near future among the
endangered species.

SO-3

There are more than 800 zoos around the

world with about 3,000 species of
mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
There are more than 1500 Botanical
gardens in the world containing more than
80,000 species.

SO-3

In India, we have many gene bank. The important ones

are:
National Bureau of Plant genetic Resources (NBPGR),

New Delhi:
Agricultural and horticultural crops and their wild

varieties are preserved by cryo-preservation of seeds

(at -196 C in Liquid Nitrogen), pollen etc.
National Facility for Plant Tissue Culture Repository

(NFPTCR) at NBPGR Campus New Delhi:

It has been set up for the development of a facility of

conservation of varieties of crop plants/ trees by tissue

culture.

SO-3

Merits
Increase in survival of endangered species.
Animals are assured food, water, shelter
and security hence longer life time.
Demerits
Expensive method.
Freedom of wildlife is lost.
These animals cannot survive in natural
environment.
Can be adopted for only few species.

SO-3
Discussion:
The students will be asked to discuss the relevant topic among their team/other
team/Faculty. The students those who have not taken part will be noted and kindle them to
do.

FA-2
1. An example of ex-situ conservtion is (U)
a. Biosphere reserve
b. Gene bank
c. Sanctuary
d. National park
2. The biosphere reserve spread over kerala, karnataka and Tamil nadu is called (R)
a. Nilgiris
b. Nanda devi
c. Gulf of mannar
d. Great nicobar
3. NBPGR is (U)
a. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
b. National Bio Plant Genetic Resources
c. National Biological Plant Genetic Resources
d. National Bureau of Plant Resources

Summary:
A.Introduction
Endangered and endemic species of India
Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.
Documentation of the endangered flora and fauna in your native place

Assessment through Stimulating questions/Analogy/New ideas and Concepts:

1.Why is it harmful to keep animals in zoo's?
2.Liquid hydrogen cannot be used in the preservation of plant/animal genes. Justify.
3.Why more of advertisements are telecasted for saving tigers?

References: (Books/Periodicals/Journals)
1.Anubha Kaushik, C.P. Kaushik, Environmental Science and Engineering, 4th Multi
Colour Edtion, New Age International Publishers, 2014.
2.A.Ravikrishnan, Environmental Science and Engineering, 5th revised Edition, Sri
Krishna Hitech Publishing company (P) Ltd, 2009.
3.T. G. Jr. Miller, S. Spoolman, New Environmental Science, 14th Edition, Wadsworth
Publishing Co, 2014.
4.E. Bharucha, Textbook of Environmental studies, second Edition, Universities press Pvt.
Ltd., 2013 .
5.A K De, Environmental Chemistry, 7th Edition , New age international publishers, 2014.
6.http://www.ipcc.ch/index.html