Key Points

Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms, including plants, animals, and micro-organisms, found within a specified geographic region. It also refers to the variability within and between species and ecosystems.

Biodiversity is discussed at three distinct levels: Genetic diversity (variation of genes within species), Species diversity (variety of species in an area), and Ecosystem diversity (variety of habitats and ecological processes).

Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within a species. This is why individuals of the same species, like humans, show differences in characteristics and is essential for a healthy breeding population.

This refers to the variety of species within a defined area. Areas that are particularly rich in the number and types of species are called hotspots of diversity.

This level of diversity encompasses the variety of different ecosystem types, habitats, and the ecological processes that occur within them. It includes the broad differences between forests, grasslands, and aquatic systems.

Biodiversity is not evenly distributed across the Earth. It is consistently richer in tropical regions due to high solar energy and water availability, and it decreases towards the polar regions.

Every species performs a function in an ecosystem, such as energy capture, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. A more diverse ecosystem is more stable and better able to survive adversities.

Biodiversity provides essential resources for humans, including food crops, livestock, fish, medicinal resources, and materials for industrial products like pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Each species offers clues about how life evolved and how ecosystems function. Studying biodiversity helps us understand the interconnectedness of all living things, including ourselves.

The primary causes for the loss of biodiversity are human-driven factors like deforestation and over-exploitation of resources, pollution, the introduction of exotic species, and natural calamities.

Exotic species are non-native species introduced into an ecosystem. They can cause extensive damage to the local habitat and native species by out-competing them for resources.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies threatened species into three main categories for conservation purposes: Endangered, Vulnerable, and Rare.

Endangered species are in immediate danger of extinction. Vulnerable species are likely to become endangered in the near future if threats to their survival continue.

The Convention of Biodiversity was signed by 155 nations at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. It established a global commitment to conserve biodiversity.

Mega diversity centres are countries, mostly in tropical regions, that contain a very large number of the world's species. There are 12 such countries, including India, Brazil, China, and Australia.

Hotspots are regions with very high levels of species richness that are under extreme threat from human activities. The IUCN identifies these areas to prioritize conservation efforts.