Biodiversity in India

Biodiversity in India

• India is one of the most diverse nations in the world, ranking ninth in terms of plant species richness.
• Two of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots are found in India.
• India is the origin of important crop species such as pigeon pea, eggplant, cucumber, cotton, and sesame.
• It is also a centre of various domesticated species like millets, cereals, legumes, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic crops.

Ecosystem

• An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.
• Ecosystems contain biotic or living parts, as well as abiotic factors, or non-living parts.
• Biotic factors include plants, animals, and other organisms.
• Abiotic factors include rocks, temperature, and humidity.
• Every factor in an ecosystem depends on every other factor, either directly or indirectly.

Importance of Biodiversity

• Biodiversity and its maintenance are very important for sustaining life on earth.
• Ecological stability: diverse ecosystems are more productive and can withstand environmental stress.
• Economic importance: biodiversity is a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, cosmetic products, and pharmaceuticals.
• Ethical importance: all species have a right to exist, and humans should not cause their voluntary extinction.

Types of Biodiversity

• There are three different types of biodiversity: genetic, species, and ecological.
• Species diversity: refers to the variety of different types of species found in a particular area.
• Genetic diversity: refers to the variations among the genetic resources of organisms.
• Ecological diversity: refers to the diversity observed among different ecosystems in a region.