Contents

1. Biodiversity

1.1 Introduction to Biodiversity – Concept - the ‘Umbrella’

1.1.1 Definition

1.1.2 Perspectives of Biodiversity - Taxonomic, Ecological and Genetic

1.2 Levels of Biodiversity

1.2.1 Genetic Diversity

1.2.2 Species Diversity

1.2.3 Ecosystem Diversity

1.4 Global Biodiversity

1.4.1 Major Biodiversity Areas of the World

1.4.2 IUCN Centers of Plant Diversity (CPD)

1.4.3 Megadiversity Centers

1.4.4 Diversity Zones of Barthlott et. al (1996)

1.4.5 Hot Spots of Myers

2. Population Ecology

Introduction

2.1 Population Dynamics

2.2 Population Density and Relative Abundance

2.2.1 Population Density

2.2.2 Population Relative Abundance

2.2.3 Population Richness/Species Richness

2.3 Population Age Distribution

2.3.1 Population Distribution

2.4 Population Growth Forms and Carrying Capacity

2.4.1 Intrinsic Rate of Increase

2.5 Survivorship

2.6 Population Structure: Isolation, Territoriality

3. Habitat Ecology

3.1 Habitat and Niche

3.1.1 Concept of Habitat

3.1.2 Concept of Niche

3.1.3 Generalist Species and Specialist Species

3.2 Insular Habitats

3.2.1 Flora and Fauna

3.2.2 Biogeographical Realms

3.3 Insular Habitats

3.3.1 Case No. 1 Mauritius

3.3.2 Australia Island continent – Case No. 2

3.3.3 New Guinea

3.4 Extremes of Habitats - their Flora and Fauna

3.4.1 Flora and Fauna

3.4.2 Very Special Habitat – Halophilic and Thermophilic Archaea 

3.4.3 Cold Desert

3.4.3 Hot Deserts

3.4.4 Deep Oceans – A Unique Habitat

3.4.5 Tropical Rain Forest

3.5 Ecological Equivalence

3.6 Indices for Biodiversity Analysis

3.7 Indices of Biodiversity Analysis

3.8 Basic Behavioral Pattern

3.8.1 Innate Behaviour – Inborn Responses

3.8.2 Learned Behaviour

3.8.3 Behaviour Pattern in Plants

4. Urban Biodiversity

Introduction

4.1 Urban Diversity in Cities and Towns

4.2 Concept of Opportunistic Species

4.3 Biomimetics

4.4 Urban Wildlife

5. Conservation of Biodiversity

5.1 Present Status of Biodiversity and Need for Conservation

5.2 What is Conservation?

5.2.1 Conservation of Species Diversity

5.3 Strategies of Conservation

5.3.1 “In situ” Conservation

5.3.2 “Ex situ” Conservation

5.4 Maintenance of Germplasm

5.4 Major Threats to Biodiversity

5.4.1 Detailed Account of HIPPO

5.4.2 I-Invasion

5.4.3 P-Population

5.4.4 P-Pollution

5.4.5 O-Overconsumption

5.5 Major Causes of Extinction; Vulnerability of Species to Extinction

5.6 Institutes and the Role in Conservation

5.6.1 Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

5.6.2 Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

5.6.3 Forest Research Institute (FRI) India

5.7 Role of NGOs in Environment Conservation

5.7.1 Center for Environment Education (CEE)

5.7.2 Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE)

5.7.4 Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

5.7.5 The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI)

5.8 Important NGO Movement

5.8.1 Chipko Movement

5.8.2 Pani Panchayat

5.8.3 Seed Movements

6. Uses of Biodiversity

6.1 Uses of Biodiversity

6.1.1 Uses of Plants

6.1.2 Animal as the Source of Food

6.1.3 Animals as Sources of Medicines

6.1.4 Microbes as the Source of Food

6.1.5 Lower Plants as Food

6.1.6 Microbes in Medicines

6.2 Microbes as Raw Materials for Industries

6.2.1 Higher Plants as Raw Material for Industries

6.2.2 Sugar Industry

6.2.3 Timber Industry

6.2.4 Paper Industry

6.2.5 Rubber Industry

6.3 Ecosystem Services – Indirect Use

6.4 Strategies for Sustainable Exploitation of Biodiversity 

7. Wildlife Trade and Laws

7.1 Wild Life Protection Act of India

7.1.1 Indian Scenario

7.1.2 The First Chipko Movement

7.1.3 British Regime

7.1.4 Post Independence Scenario

7.2 Wild Life Trade

7.2.1 Why is Wild Life as an Article of Trade?

7.2.2 CBD, CITES and TRAFFIC

7.3 Red Data Book (RDB) and its Importance

7.4 IUCN Threaten Categories 

8. Taxonomy

8.1 Need of Taxonomy

8.2 Principles of Taxonomy

8.3 Objectives of Taxonomy

8.4 Nomenclature

8.4.1 Need for Nomenclature 

9. Systems of Classification

9.1 Two Kingdom System

2.2 Three Kingdom System

9.3 Four Kingdom System

9.4 Five Kingdom System

9.5 Concept of Domain Six Kingdoms

9.6 Classification as per Domains and Kingdoms 

10. Important Tools and Techniques in Systematics

10.1 Systematics

10.2 Techniques

10.3 DNA Analysis

10.4 Tools used for Microbial Taxonomy

10.5 Stains Commonly used in Histological Studies

10.5.1 Stains used for botanical materials

10.5.2 Some Specific Stains for Chemical Constituents

10.5.3 Stains used for Zoological Tissues

10.6 Some Techniques

10.6.1 Homogenization

10.6.2 Centrifugation

10.6.3 Chromatography