BIO-DIVERSITY

Bio-diversity is a coined term applied to the variety of genes, species and ecosystem found on our planet, the Earth. It embraces all life forms from plant and animal life to micro-organisms and the water, land and air in which they live and interact. In other words it can be said that the earth is occupied by millions of different kinds of plants, animals and micro-organisms. So we call it a living planet. The richness of the living organisms in a particular habitat is called bio-diversity. That is, the totality of genes, species and ecosystem in a region refers to the term bio-diversity. The biological evolution over a millions of years have brought into existence several species of plants and animals.

 ECOSYSTEM

No habitat is occupied by single population or species. In a particular habitat one could see varieties of plants and animals living. They are interdependent on each other, though unrelated. It is otherwise called a community. As a community always consists of plants and animals, it is apt to call it a biotic community. Besides these, members of the community depend on the non-living factors such as light, temperature, water, gases like oxygen, carbon-dioxide and nitrogen. All the living organisms and the non-living factors are together known as an ecosystem.
Why should we the lay men worry about the bio-diversity? Is it not the concern of the scientists or the biologists? If you have such a notion changes it now. It has become everybody's business now-a-days. If you have a thorough knowledge of this important term bio-diversity you wouldn't recede from contributing at least something to this planet Earth for its richness in bio-diversity and save yourself from the threat of ecological imbalance.

FAUNA AND FLORA

As we have already seen, the community consists of living things and non-living things. Living things can be divided into two, the fauna and the flora.
FAUNA
Fauna refers to all the animals of an area. Around our home we could see a wide variety of animals, birds and insects. We could have seen a very good number of them and different species some 30 years ago or so. But now-a-days they might be less in number or not seen elsewhere in our house-yard. Some of the birds and insects of rare species could have casually visited your garden. Now they might have ceased to come. Some of the permanent settlers around your garden might have abandoned the habitat. This could be attributed to the non-availability of required convenience for a habitat or non availability of food.

FLORA

Flora refers to all the plants of an area. Plants are the living organism (that is not an animal) which grows in the earth and usually has a stem leaves and roots. Apart from these there are shrubs and trees. Small plants once considered for their medicinal value lost their significance due to the introduction of modern medicines. The trees and shrubs too have the medicinal value apart from many other utility. In spite of that the importance of growing trees has become less important. We select trees and plants which give utility by way of fruit or flowers. Very rarely we select them as ornamentals or for their medicinal value. But you must know that each and every plant or for that matter trees or shrubs has its significance and importance in the maintenance of ecosystem.

FOOD CHAIN

Every factor of bio-diversity is inter-dependent and interacting. The living components of an ecosystem are divided into three viz. the producers, the consumers and the decomposers. To maintain eco-balance threes three must be present in an appropriate ratio. The green plants are the producers. They convert the radiant solar energy into chemical energy by photosynthesis process. During this process organic food, the glucose, is synthesized. The energy is stored in the form of carbohydrates in the producers. The herbivores feed on the producers. Herbivores are the animals feed on plants. They are the primary consumers. Carnivores are the flesh eating animals. They feed on herbivores. In a food chain the flow of energy is one directional from the producers to the carnivores. Finally when these carnivores die they are decomposed by micro-organisms. The decomposers are the bacteria and fungi of the ecosystem. They fall on the dead plant or animal and decompose them. If these organisms did not decompose or decay on a living material eventually all the raw material needed for life would be used up. Life would cease. Decay organisms complete food chains, however long or short. Bacteria and other organisms return the raw materials to the soil and water, where they are available for further use. While decomposing, organic substances are converted into simple inorganic nutrients. These nutrients are useful for the growth of plants. To maintain eco-balance all the components must be in proportion. So the food chain maintains the dynamics of an ecosystem.

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ECOCIDE
The absence of one component may lead to the multiplication of the other component thus paving way for destruction. Thus all kinds of components of an ecosystem maintain an eco-balance, the absence of any one component will result harmful effect to all the members of the ecosystem. The death of the ecosystem would be the final result. It is otherwise called the ecocide.

LOVE BIO-DIVERSITY

LOVE FOR BIRDS AND ANIMALS

Do not frighten the birds because they may never come back again. Animals like squirrels or garden lizards may hesitate to come down. They may quit off the habitat. Do not use chemical insecticides on the plants or anywhere in your garden. It may pose a grave threat to the survival of insects, birds and animals. Do replenish the food and water supply. In course of time you can tame living components of nature and all of them would be your friends. Do not kill a toad or a frog. They need to be preserved in the interest of the survival of humanity. Don't take heed that toads cause warts. Human warts are probably caused by a virus. Do not allow your pet animals to scare away the birds or animals.

LOVE YOUR PLANTS AND TREES

Take care of your plants daily. Do water them regularly. Keep the dead leaves compost intact. Do not cut down trees unless otherwise required to be. However prune them at regular intervals without causing much harm to the plants or trees.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Don't think that wildlife conservation is another charity or cause to donate to. It is much more vital. It is everyone's job to create awareness about and be sensitive to animals' needs. Just taking a look at what's on your backyard is enough to learn about wildlife. You find crows, mynahs, babblers, squirrels, parrots, spiders, snakes, lizards, bats etc. Observing is the first step to building interest. It is all about individual interest.

PRESERVE NATURE

Nature is bright and beautiful. Creations are wise and wonderful too. Though we are enjoying the advantages of nature it might be less than what our ancestors have delighted in. the significance and importance of nature is depleting gradually. If this continues our future generation may not be able to survive at all. A balanced biological system is necessary for a healthy atmosphere and convenient living conditions. So let us all join together and replenish the planet Earth to its original status by adopting bio-diversity conservation. Let our house yard be a bio-diversity conservatorium.