Overview of Biodiversity

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BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is made up of two words that is biological and diversity. Biological word is related to life and diversity is linked with variations or changes. In simple terms, we can say that biodiversity means the variations in life. Biodiversity is defined as whole life that exists on earth planet including animals , plants, fungi and micro-organisms as well as the associations among them including their eco-system (IUCN, 2010).

Classification of biodiversity

The biodiversity can be of following types (Ontario Biodiversity Council, 2011):-

1.Genetic Biodiversity:- It includes variability occur between the genes among the different species.

2.Species Biodiversity:- It is defined as alterations in different organisms in specific area.

3.Eco-system Biodiversity:- This term refers to variations in the interactions of species that they form among them.

Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is essential for the survival of every species on the earth because it maintains the equilibrium in the environment . Its importance are as follows:-

1. Plants provide food and clean environment to humans and give oxygen for their respiration.

2. Forests provide homes to several wild animals and also help in preventing soil erosion as well as floods.

3. Paper, wood, textiles, fibres are obtained from biological resources and thus helpful in running the industries which can increase the world economy.

4. many medicines are extracted from different plants and animals which are helpful in treating many deadly diseases in humans. for instance:- Quinine obtained from Cinchona tree is helpful in treating malaria. Penicillin(antibiotic) is obtained from soil fungus.

5. Biodiversity provides aest...

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...serve the biodiversity because if we keep on destroying ecosystem( land, water, air), our future generations will suffer from hunger, thirst, disasters and diseases also.

REFERENCES

1. Sterling, E. ,Chiles, A. & Cullman, G.(2008).Biodiversity 101.Connecticut,London:Greenwood Press.

2.Freedman, B. (2004). The Gale Encyclopedia of science. Detroit: Gale.

3.IUCN.(2010).About biodiversity.Retrieved From www.iucn.org/iyb/about/

4. Ontario Biodiversity Council. (2011). Ontario's biodiversity strategy 2011. Retrieved From viewer.zmags.com/publication/c527c66f#/c527c66f/9

5. Maczulak, A.E.(2010).Biodiversity: Conserving Endangered Species. New York, NY: InfoBase Publishing.

6.Tandon, P., Abrol, Y.P. & Kumaria, S .(2007).Biodiversity and its Significance. New Delhi, India: I.K. Publishing.

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