The Living World - Biodiversity

Description:

The term biodiversity or biological diversity refers to the variety of life forms and habitats found in a defined area. The term biodiversity was coined by W.G. Rosen (1985).

Levels or components of Biodiversity

Ecological (Ecosystem) diversity

• Diversity of Biotic communities.
• Individual smaller units of diversity present in a biogeographical zone is known as biotic province.
• Classified into a number of ecosystems.

Species diversity

• Variety of species in a region.
• Number of species present per unit area is called species richness which can be used as an indicator

  of conservation significance.

Genetic diversity

• Diversity of genes.
• Variation of genes within species.