MARINE BIODIVERSIT

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Made by;Kumar shrey -

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Contents Importance Intrinsic Value Extinctions What is Biodiversity? Genetic Biodiversity Species Biodiversity Ecosystem Biodiversity Ecosystem Function Marine Biodiversity Caribbean Diversity Extinctions Threats to Biodiversity Protection & MPA’s

Biodiversity - Definition

The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Biodiversity also provides us with a community of life, with which we share planet Earth, and the opportunity to practice thoughtful stewardship.

Why is biodiversity important?

Biodiversity also serves recreation and tourism, and supports the ecosystems which provide us with many services.

We Live in a most Fantastic Place !

Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the number and variety of life forms found within a specified geographic region.

This includes the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form.

This living wealth is the product of hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary history.

Why is biodiversity important? Human beings are dependent for their health, well-

being and enjoyment of life on basic biological systems and processes.

People get food and many medicines and industrial products from the wild and domesticated components of biological diversity.

Biodiversity is important to people because we depend on other species and the ecosystems they create. 

Biodiversity provides ecosystem services, food, medicines and natural products, economic benefits and natural beauty.

Intrinsic Value Biodiversity also has value in its own

right, and is not something that should simply be viewed for its usefulness to humans.

Human responsibility toward other living things, and obligations to future generations, provide strong reasons for conservation.

Many species keep us alive! How? purifying water fixing nitrogen recycling nutrients and waste pollinating crops

Plants and bacteria carry out photosynthesis, which produces the

oxygen we breathe. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas given off

by human activities.

A. Genetic diversity B. Species diversity C. Ecosystem diversity

3 Types of Biodiversity

Genetic diversity is the variation in the genetic composition of individuals in a population, community or species

• Evolves as a result of many different processes: e.g. chromosomal/sequence mutation, and physical or behavioural isolation of populations

• Allows individuals to adapt to different conditions. Thus, high genetic diversity increases ability of populations and species to survive major changes in their environment (e.g. climate change)

A. Genetic Diversity

Gene is a packet of information (DNA) that codes for a particular protein that has a specific function. DNA makes up genes and stores the information that is interpreted by genes for a function. 4 chemicals organized into 3 letter words make up the different amino acids in the DNA. The 3 letter words can spell a total of 20 different amino acids.

• Species diversity is the variety of species (group of interbreeding organisms) in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

• About 1.75 million species described. Total number estimated at approx 12.5 million, but could be anything from 5-100 million. There may be 10 million und-escribed species in the deep sea alone! (Convention on Biological Diversity)

• The diversity of the smaller organisms (e.g. phytoplankton, the plants of sea) is less well known than the larger organisms (e.g. mammals such as dolphins and whales).

B. Species Diversity

• Ecosystem diversity describes the variation in all living and non-living things in a particular geographic or ecological region. Ecosystems comprise unique combinations of animals, plants, micro-organisms and physical characteristics that define a location.

• Novel marine ecosystems continue to be discovered. In the ocean, hydrothermal vents, extremely distinct habitats with many endemic species, were discovered less than 25 years ago!

C. Ecosystem Diversity

Facts related to Biodiversity

Total Land Area of Earth – 510,065,284 sq.km

Forest Cover – 38.7 m. sq.km (26%)

40% of Global Forest Land is in South America, Africa, and South Asia.

Facts related to Biodiversity contd..

There are 5 million to 100 million species on earth.

Only about 1.9 million species have been catalogued so far.

There are 34 recognised “Hotspots” in the world.

44.4% of Global Plant species and

35.3% of Vertebrate species are present in Hotspots.

Total land area of India - 143 million.ha

India occupies 2.47% of the World’s geographical

area and has only 1% of the forest

Facts related to Biodiversity contd..

India has 16.1% of world human population and 15.1% of cattle population

Forest Cover in India – 23.57 %

Marine Ecosystem

• Shallow open seas including entire depth of water column

• Environment patchy in resources with upwellings, fronts, and gyres providing sufficient nutrients for high biological production

• Wide diversity of plankton supports fish and invertebrate species, which feed large predatory fish and mammals.

Pelagic Ecosystems

Photo credits: © L Quinta Imag e DOP (top) & J G Hermalin, BioMare (bottom)

Pelagic Ecosystems• Main threats to

biodiversity are: • commercial

fishing • disease• eutrophication• chemical

contamination• habitat invasion

and damage

• Shallow continental shelves, banks, oceanic islands, atolls, archipelagos

• Coral reefs potentially occur in all of these locations.

• Environment rich in resources but generally low in nutrients: ‘Deserts of the Sea’.

• Specialized adaptations result in high biological production.

Shallow Tropical Ecosystems

Shallow Tropical Ecosystems• Main threats to biodiversity

are: • Commercial fishing

and aquarium trade. • Disease• Eutrophication• Chemical

contamination• Habitat invasion and

damage• Coastal development• Groundings and

overuse

MangrovesBeaches Tide pools

Areas of the shore that are alternately exposed during low tides and submerged during high tides.

Shallow Marine – Exposed Tropical Habitats

Photo: MA 2002

Shallow Marine – Exposed Tropical Habitats

Can be affected by wet and dry seasons and other seasonal changes (hurricanes & winter storms).

Important habitats as nurseries for marine species, and for diversity of bird species, both residential and migratory.

Photo: MA 2002

• Ecosystem functioning is a term that comprises both the ecological and evolutionary processes (e.g. food webs, competition) and the individual components (e.g. herbivores, predators) within a system.

• Many scientists believe that ecosystems with a high variety in processes and components are more resilient to change than ecosystems with fewer functional roles

Ecosystem Functioning

Important facts: • The Ocean covers > 70% of earth• Over 50% of humans live in the

coastal zone and draw 90% of our marine-living resources from this region

• Life evolved in the ocean 2.7 billion years before terrestrial life.

• All except one phyla (33) occur in the ocean while only half exist on land (high phyletic diversity)

• 15 phyla are exclusively marine.• Ocean creatures contain a diversity of

survival strategies not found on land so exhibit high functional diversity.

Marine Biodiversity Facts

Adaptation Food Raw materials Climate Knowledge Aesthetic and cultural value Economics

• Biodiversity allows the environment to adapt to changing conditions. How rapidly can the marine environment adapt? Preserving genetic diversity is paramount if marine organisms are going to adapt to rapidly changing environments.

• Food – fish, invertebrates, algae are especially important for developing countries.

• Raw materials - The potential for discovery is enormous and includes medicines (biochemical diversity is high), agriculture (seaweeds as feedstock), building materials, human supplements.

Why is Marine Biodiversity Important ?

Why is Marine Biodiversity Important ?

• Climate – Biogeochemical cycling of cases is controlled by living organisms (esp. ocean life). Marine plants and animals control carbon dioxide and are a biological pump.

• Knowledge – New marine ecosystems have been discovered with many endemic and new species.

• Aesthetic & Cultural Value – human spirit, tourism, recreation.

• Economics & Employment (e.g. fisheries, tourism)

Diversity of Coral Reef Ecosystems

There exists 34 animal phyla globally32 are found on living coral reefs

Contain 25% of all marine species 9 are found in tropical rainforests

Only 10% or fewer of the species contained in reefs have been described

Caribbean Marine Life An amazing diversity of marine life

including corals, sponges, fish, turtles, invertebrates and other creatures.

Corals provide the home for thousands of different creatures.

Extinction Rates• Extinction has usually progressed at what scientists call a

natural or background rate. Today the tempo is far faster. • Many scientists believe this is the sixth great wave - the

sixth mass extinction to affect life on Earth. • We (humans) have more than doubled our numbers in half

a century, and that is the most obvious reason why there is less room for any other species.

We are taking their living room to grow our food, their food to feed ourselves.

We are exploiting them, trading in them, squeezing them to the margins of existence - and beyond.

•

Threats to Marine Biodiversity Eutrophication (Red

Tides) Effects of contaminants

(especially estrogenic mimic hormones)

Habitat degradation, fragmentation and destruction

Fishing and especially trawling

Climate Change

Habitat Degradation

Reclamation (= coastal habitat destruction)

Threats to Marine Biodiversity

Threats to Marine Biodiversity; Trawling

A full trawl

Threats to Marine Biodiversity; Trawling

Above: Before Trawling; Below: After Trawling

Marine Biodiversity Hotspots(Myers et al 2000 Nature)

Tropical cone snails contain toxins which show promise for treating some forms of cancer and heart irregularities. One toxin may be a thousand times more potent than morphine for pain relief.

But millions of cone snails are now killed annually for their shells, and their habitats are under pressure.

Cone snail from the Pacific Ocean.

Biodiversity Losses = Loss of Services & Potential Helpful Products

How can we prevent biodiversity loss?

•Research •Legislation •Education/Awareness •Sustainable use of habitats and fisheries •Integration/Co-ordination

Marine Protection Areas (MPA’s) are used to….. Nationally / internationally to conserve biodiversity. Manage natural resources. Protect endangered species. Reduce user conflict.

Provide educational and research opportunities.

Enhance commercial and recreational activities.

What is a Marine Protected Area?Varying definitions based on level of protection provided by MPA…….

“Any area of the intertidal or subtidal terrain together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.”

Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas are used as management tools to protect, maintain, or restore natural and cultural resources in coastal and marine waters.

Kinds of Marine Protected Areas

1.National marine sanctuaries.

2. Fishery management zones.

3.National seashores.4.National parks/

monuments.5.Critical habitats.6.National Wildlife refuges.7.National estuarine

research reserves.8.State conservation areas.9.State reserves.

Varying levels of protection in MPA’s

Closed to public access. Permit access but no consumptive use. Use of specific types fishing gear restricted. Multiple-use areas. No-take zones.

What do MPA’s protect?

Aggregations

Habitat important to valuable fisheries

Sea Turtle nesting areas. Endangered Species

What do MPA’s protect?

ShipwrecksCoral reef habitats

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