I. INTRODUCTION
Biodiversity, the variety of organisms living together in a specific place, is very important in maintaining balanced ecosystems. An ecosystem is a group of organisms that live inter-connectedly in a community (Vogt, 1997). If the community's environment suddenly change, the balance of that community may also change which can cause its destruction. The destruction of an ecosystem can have serious effects on the organisms in it such as loss of different species or even their extinction. Therefore, conserving biodiversity is very significant.
There are various methods on which biodiversity can be conserved. According to Buchanan (2002), keystone species should be prioritized for conservation. A keystone species is an organism which performs a critical role that greatly affects its community (Power et al., 1996). Sea otters, for example, are the keystone species in kelp forests. These mammals feed on sea urchins. Without sea otters regulating the sea urchins’ population, sea urchins would eat up most of the ecosystem’s kelp, which is one of the primary sources of food and shelter for that ecosystem. Everything that depends on kelp would be also much affected by the loss of sea otters. Thus, being a
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For example, Lirbralato et al. (2006) analyzed a group of species in food web model and their keystone factors using ecosystem modelling software Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE). Afterwards, he ranked the level of keystone factors to get the keystone species. Jordan et al. (2008), on the other hand, used CosBiLab Graph Software to evaluate the importance of structure and function of species in the food web model in Prince William Sound. Their studies found that the relationship of keystone species and ecosystem characteristics can give an efficient way to understand ecosystem
Mills, Scott L., Daniel F. Doak, and Michael E. Soule. "The Keystone-species Concept in Ecology and Conservation." BioScience 43.4 (1993): 219-25. Apr. 1993. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.
For example the canopies of kelp provide shelter for many organisms . Because the kelp is able to float, it creates a canopy. This canopy has warm temperatures and slow water currents, providing a home to defenseless young. This is important because the kelp is able to protect many organisms from predators and rough storms (6). Kelp is also the base of the food chain. Since kelp is the base of the food chain many organisms eat kelp and other animals eat them.This is important because without the kelp all the primary consumers would starve having no other food source (5). Finally each part of kelp is home to a different species. Because each part of kelp is home to a different species, many species breed in them. This is important because if the kelp where gone there would be no place for the organisms to breed downsizing their population (4). Overall kelp is providing food and shelter to many
This review will be useful for research scientists and conservation practitioners as it will highlight the current paradigms of biodiversity conservation in relation to reducing habitat fragmentation through the use of ecological
Soulé, M., & Orians, G. (Eds.) (2001). Conservation biology: Research priorities for the next decade. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.
The 1992 Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) conceded that the eminent adversity threatening biological and resource diversity is a global calamity. Pertaining to biodiversity alone, studies have revealed that about 1.4 million of all known species (comprising of 26.96% of flora and 73.04% of fauna) are in existence globally (WCMC, 1992; Bhargava, 2006). Despite the rich biological diversities, there are manifestations that, these global diversities are constantly disappearing at quite an alarming proportion. Biodiversity levels are projected to be deteriorating across the globe with about 25% of all mammals threatened by extinction in the next three (3) decades (Yelfaanibe, 2011). Some scholars have advanced reasons responsible for the failure
Landscape fragmentation contributes to loss of migratory corridors, loss of connectivity and natural communities, which all lead to a loss of biodiversity for a region. Conservation of biodiversity must include all levels of diversity: genetic, species, community, and landscape (CNHP 1995). Each complex level is dependent upon and linked to the other levels. In addition, humans are linked to all levels of this hierarchy. A healthy natural and human environment go hand in hand (CNHP 1995). An important step in conservation planning, in order to guarantee both a healthy natural environment as well as a healthy human environment, is recognizing the most endangered elements.
Keystone species are such species that has an excessively large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. Such species are described as playing a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms’ inane ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.
SIEVANEN, L., CAMPBELL, L. M. & LESLIE, H. M. 2012. Challenges to Interdisciplinary Research in Ecosystem‐Based Management. Conservation biology, 26, 315-323.
The degradation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity is increasing at an alarming rate every year. Humans are certainly not the only reason for this, but they are the main contributors. The well-being of ecosystems affects our everyday lives - consumption and consumerism depend on natural resources. Everything humans use is derived from them, in seemingly indirect and direct ways. Yet despite the fact that humans are destroying the environment, many continue to and neglect to take important measures to protect it.
Ecosystem is best defined in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) (2005) Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington page 40 as the collection of interrelated things that work or reside within in one area and that carry immediate impact in changes of one to another, within the environment as a whole. Moreover it goes on to add that Ecosystem services as benefits people obtain from ecosystems and distinguishes four categories of ecosystem services. What are services? These are the benefits that are provided by the ecosystems in the way of making the provision of good. For example, the service of regulation of air is followed by the provision of oxygen by the ecosystem. A specific example being that of forest ecosystems,
Loss of biodiversity is an environmental issue that is causing a lot of global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth. There are measures that are being taken worldwide to prevent loss of biodiversity. Many wildlife sanctuaries have been built worldwide to preserve the lives of various endangered species. However, it is important to remember that every individual has a role in the protection of wildlife and biodiversity. Every human being should play his part of the role by following simple rules such as stopping others from the hunting of endangered species, preventing deforestation, encouraging reforestation and creating awareness among fellow human beings.
One of the most important aspects in life is protecting the wildlife. The wildlife drives the earth’s biodiversity. Biodiversity is the diversity, or variety, of plants and animals and other living things in a particular area or region. Without biodiversity there would be nothing on the earth. One of the important aspects of biodiversity is that each species of vegetation and creature play a particular role of the circle of life. Protecting their food, shelter, oxygen and soil enrichment will keep the ecosystem thriving. Our society created many different ways of keeping the wildlife and animal populations up to par. Habitat management and population management are necessary to controlling the population of game animals and fish, and take a big part in protecting the habitat they live in.
Biodiversity conservation is about saving life on Earth in all its forms and keeping natural ecosystems functioning and healthy. Biodiversity is being depleted by the loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, over exploitation of resources, human sponsored ecosystems, climatic changes, pollution invasive exotic species, diseases, shifting cultivation, poaching of wild life etc. Since the human beings are enjoying all the benefits from biodiversity, they should take proper care for the preservation of biodiversity in all its form and should prevent the degradation as well as the destruction of the habitats thereby maintaining the biodiversity at its optimum level which will ultimately conserve the biodiversity for the future generation.
NEED AND PURPOSE FOR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY: Biodiversity, a contraction of “biological diversity,” generally refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth. The very existence of human species and sustainable development depend on biodiversity conservation, therefore the need for conservation of biodiversity is basically for this reason that all living creatures need other creatures and plants in one way or the other. At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are mainly derived from biological resources. Biodiversity is necessary for our existence as well as valuable in its own right as it provides the fundamental building blocks for the many goods and services which are essential
Degradation, destruction and fragmentation of natural habitat of many forest residing animals has resulted in the extinction of their natural territory. It has resulted in the complete destruction of biomes as a whole.