Topics to be Learn :

  • Introduction
  • Basic Principles of Life
  • Herbarium
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Museum
  • Zoological Parks
  • Biodiversity Parks
  • Key

Organisms
  • Organisms exhibit great diversity.
  • Grouped into microbes, plants (autotrophs), animals (heterotrophs), and decomposers.
  • Microbes and decomposers vary in shape and size.
  • Plants: Classified by shape, size, structure, mode of reproduction, etc., Found in various locations: snowy, desert, forest, aquatic.
  • Animals: Classified as unicellular, multicellular invertebrates, and vertebrates, Based on environment: terrestrial, aerial, aquatic, and amphibians.
  • Autotrophs: Organisms that prepare their own food (e.g., green plants, certain microbes) using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

Basic Principles of Life 

1. Metabolism:

  • Breaking down molecules (catabolism).
  • Making new molecules (anabolism).
  • Provides energy and essential chemicals.

2. Growth and Development: Organized process from birth onwards.

3. Ageing: Molecules, organs, and systems lose effectiveness.

4. Reproduction:
  • Ensures species continuity (asexual or sexual).
  • Some organisms (e.g., mules, worker bees) do not reproduce but are still living.

5. Death: Occurs when metabolism ceases. 

6. Response to Surroundings: React to thermal, chemical, or biological changes.

All-Inclusive Characteristics of Life
  • Metabolism: Defining feature of all living organisms, Not present in non-living things.
  • Response to Surroundings (Irritability): Unique to living beings; all are conscious of their surroundings.

Note: Certain organisms do not reproduce, In unicellular organisms (e.g., bacteria, unicellular algae, Amoeba), reproduction by cell division is synonymous with growth.

Difference Between Living and Non-Living Things

Brain Death and Life Processes
  • The brain controls all life processes.
  • Brain dead patients do not exhibit defining characteristics of living things (e.g., metabolism, consciousness).
  • These patients are completely dependent on machines.
  • Lack of self-consciousness means they cannot be exactly called living.

Taxonomical Aids

  • Used to study biodiversity.
  • Examples: Herbaria, botanical gardens, museums, biodiversity parks.
  • Help in the systematic study of organisms.

Botanical Gardens, Museums, and Zoos

  • Botanical Gardens: Contain a wide range of protected and preserved plant species, Useful for observation and study.
  • Museums: Provide information about various preserved plants and animals, Act as reference hubs for biodiversity studies, including extinct species.
  • Zoos: Provide information about various animals, Harbor certain endangered animals, Help understand biodiversity conservation, food habits, and animal behavior.

Herbarium
  • Herbarium: A dried plant specimen pressed, treated, and mounted on a standard-size sheet for preservation.
  • [Note: A collection of dried, pressed, and labeled plant specimens arranged by a classification system.]

Essentials of a Good Herbarium

  • Identification and Labeling: Correctly identify and label collected specimens.
  • Storage: Store specimens in a dry place.
  • Pressing and Mounting: Press and mount plants on herbarium sheets, Some plants (e.g., succulents, seeds, cones) require preservation in suitable liquids (e.g., formaldehyde, acetic alcohol).
  • Materials: Use acid-free paper, special glues, and inks to prevent deterioration.
  • Drying: Ensure specimens are well-dried to prevent rotting.
  • Labeling:
  • Record date, place of collection, classification details, and ecological peculiarities.
  • Include local names and name of the collector.
  • Information is given at the lower right corner of the sheet (called the label).

Botanical Gardens

  • Definition: Places where plants of different varieties from around the world are grown in vivo in a scientific and systematic manner.

Importance of Botanical Gardens

  • Assemblage of living plants for botanical teaching and research.
  • Maintain records of local flora.
  • Provide facilities for collecting living plant materials for studies.
  • Supply seeds and materials for botanical investigations.
  • Associated with the history of civilization, culture, heritage, science, art, literature, and social and religious expressions.
  • May contain herbaria, research laboratories, greenhouses, and libraries.
  • Important for both botanical studies and tourism development.

Greenhouse in Botanical Gardens

  • Greenhouse: Structure with suitable walls and a roof where plants are grown under regulated climatic conditions.
  • Provides optimum temperature for better growth and flowering.
  • Protects plants from certain diseases.
  • Used to grow and propagate ornamental plants requiring stringent climatic conditions.
  • Helps plants survive seasonal changes.

Biodiversity: The degree of variation of life forms in an ecosystem.

Loss of Biodiversity

  • Moral and ethical issue.
  • Helps maintain ecosystem stability.
  • Harm to other organisms can result in biodiversity loss.
  • Loss of one variety can affect the entire ecosystem.
  • Matters due to its impact on the environment and human life.

Tools for Maintaining Biodiversity Records

  • Flora: Plant life in a particular area at a particular time.
  • Monograph: Describes any one selected biological group.
  • Manual: Provides information and keys for identifying species in a particular area.
  • Catalogue: A list that enumerates all species found in an area with brief descriptions aiding identification.

Conservation: Attempting to slow down, stop, or even reverse the loss in the natural habitat of an organism.

Types of Conservation

In situ conservation:

  • Conserving species in their natural habitats.
  • Activities like grazing, cultivation, and collection of products from forests are banned.
  • Includes legally protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves.

Ex situ conservation:

  • Conserving species outside their natural habitats.
  • Includes botanical gardens, culture collections, and zoological parks.

Role of Humans in Biodiversity Conservation

  • Overutilization: Rapid population growth and industrialization have led to environmental degradation.
  • Conservation Efforts: Humans can conserve and improve nature, playing a major role in biodiversity conservation.
  • Rational Resource Use: Must use resources rationally and avoid excessive environmental degradation.
  • Stakeholders: Need to collaborate to reduce pollution and improve environmental quality.
    Example: Banning or limiting harmful products (plastic, chemicals) toxic to birds and animals.
  • Establishment of Conservation Sites: Humans establish sites for in situ (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves) and ex situ (botanical gardens, culture collections, zoological parks) conservation.

Laws to Protect and Conserve Biodiversity in India

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
  • Environment Protection Act, 1986
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Effects of Connecting Rivers or Cities by Constructing Roads

  • Barriers to Animals: Creates barriers affecting animal movement.
  • Deforestation: Requires cutting down trees, leading to large-scale deforestation.
  • Habitat Loss: Occupies large land resources, resulting in habitat loss for various species.
  • Ecosystem Damage: Alters water flow patterns and damages ecosystems.
  • Pollution: Increases air, water, soil, and noise pollution, disturbing animals and birds, and affecting their behavior.

Effects of Bauxite Mining in Western Ghats

  • Western Ghats: A global biodiversity hotspot with over 30% of India's plant, aquatic, reptile, amphibian, and mammal species.
  • Developmental Activities: Have adversely affected the region's flora and fauna.
  • Bauxite Mining:
  • Deforestation: Removal of above-ground vegetation causes large-scale deforestation.
  • Vegetation Loss: Dumping affects vegetation in adjacent areas.
  • Threats: Leads to vegetation loss, forest fragmentation, and biodiversity loss.
  • Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ): Most mines are in ESZ, seriously affecting flora and fauna.
  • Black Panthers: Mining affects the health and numbers of black panthers in the region.
  • Endangered Species: Species like Ceropegia and Eriocaulon, endemic to the area, are critically endangered.

Museums

  • Definition: Places where collections of preserved plant and animal specimens are kept.
  • Specimens:
  • Formalin Preserved: Plant and animal specimens in formalin (10% to 40% formaldehyde) in transparent jars.
  • Stuffed Animals: Larger animals like birds and mammals.
  • Dried Specimens: Certain dried forms.
  • Collections: Systematic collections of shells, skeletons of animals, and insect boxes.

Taxidermy: The science of stuffing and preserving larger animals like birds and mammals.

Zoological Park (Zoo)

  • Definition: A place where wild animals are kept in captivity.
  • Environment: Protected environment similar to their natural habitat.
  • Conservation: A form of ex situ conservation.
  • Study: Allows naturalists to study the food habits and behavior of animals.

Biodiversity Park

  • Definition: An ecological assemblage of species forming self-sustaining communities on degraded or barren landscapes.
  • Example: Uttamrao Patil Biodiversity Park in Mahabaleshwar.

Key

  • Definition: A taxonomical aid used in the classification of plants and animals.
  • Function: Based on contrasting characters; one is accepted and the other rejected.
  • Lead: The statement in a key.
  • Nature: Typically analytical.