What is Biodiversity
Our planet is full of different types of plants and animals. They live in a variety of places like forests, grasslands, rainforests, deserts, oceans, and polar regions.
The number and variety of plants, animals, and other organisms that exist is known as biodiversity. One can use the term biodiversity while talking about the organisms of a particular region or of the Earth as a whole. Depending on the size and climatic conditions, some regions show higher biodiversity than others. Before discussing various issues concerning biodiversity, let us familiarize ourselves with a few terms associated with it.
- Species: A group or class of animals or plants having certain common and permanent characteristics that clearly distinguish it from other groups. For example, Homo sapiens or human beings form one type of animal species.
- Habitat: The natural environment of a plant or animal species, where it lives, multiplies, and thrives naturally is called its habitat.
- Endemic species: Plant and animal species confined to a specific geographical area are called endemic species. The giant panda, for example, is endemic to the mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shanxi Provinces in China. In India, the Asiatic Lion is endemic to Gir National Park in Gujarat.
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- Extinct species: Species that no longer exist anywhere on the Earth are called extinct species.
Dinosaurs and the dodo bird are examples of extinct species. - Endangered species: Species that are at a high risk of getting extinct in their habitat are called, endangered species.
- Vulnerable species: Species that exist in low numbers and may become endangered because of habitat destruction, overexploitation, or other environmental disturbances are called vulnerable species.
- Threatened species: Endangered and vulnerable species are together described as threatened species. Black rhinoceros, blue whale, African elephant, sea turtle, Indian rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, and Asian elephant are examples of threatened species.
- Flora and fauna: The numerous species of plants living in their habitat are called the flora of a place. The numerous species of animals living in their habitat are called the fauna of a place.
