📌 Chapter Snapshot
3
Levels of Biodiversity
4
India's Biodiversity Hotspots
91
Ramsar Sites in India (Jun 2025)
1948
IUCN Established
- Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth at all levels — from genes and species to entire ecosystems.
- This chapter covers levels of biodiversity (Alpha/Beta/Gamma), biodiversity hotspots, in-situ & ex-situ conservation methods, IUCN Red List categories, and the Ramsar Convention with India's 91 wetland sites (state-wise).
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Biodiversity decreases from equator to poles — tropical regions (rainforests, coral reefs, islands) hold the highest biodiversity on Earth.
🧬 Types / Levels of Biodiversity
| Type | Measurement | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Diversity | Alpha (α) Diversity — Numerical diversity | Variation within organisms/species |
| Species Diversity | Beta (β) Diversity — Structural diversity | Diversity among species/communities |
| Community Diversity | Gamma (γ) Diversity — Diversity of inter-relationships (Proposed by Whittaker) | Diversity among communities/landscapes |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Gamma diversity concept was proposed by Whittaker — often wrongly attributed to other ecologists in MCQs.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Highest Biodiversity zones: Tropical Rainforests, Coral Reefs, Islands, Tropical Marine Zones. Largest Coral Reef → Great Barrier Reef (Australia), nicknamed "Rainforest of the Ocean".
🔥 Biodiversity Hotspots
- Concept: areas with more diversity + more threat to that diversity.
- Given by → Norman Myers (1988 AD).
India's Biodiversity Hotspots (4)
| # | Hotspot |
|---|---|
| 1 | Western Ghats, Sri Lanka region |
| 2 | Eastern Himalaya region |
| 3 | Indo-Burma region |
| 4 | Sundaland, Nicobar Island group |
🏞 In-situ Conservation (On-site)
- National Parks
- Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Sacred Groves
- Lakes, etc.
🧪 Ex-situ Conservation (Off-site)
- Biological Parks
- Zoos
- DNA Banks
- Conservation Sites
- Seed Banks, etc.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
In-situ = conservation "in the natural habitat" | Ex-situ = conservation "outside the natural habitat" — the Latin roots (in vs ex) directly hint at the meaning.
📕 Red Data Book / Endangered Species — IUCN
Full FormInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Established1948
HeadquartersGland, Switzerland
ObjectiveConservation of rare species, nature and natural resources
Red List Publication — Plants1978
Red List Publication — Animals1988
Categories of Endangered Species (decreasing severity)
Extinct→
Critically Endangered→
Endangered→
Vulnerable→
Near Threatened
Examples of Endangered Animals
- Asiatic Cheetah, Pink-headed Duck, Indian Cheetah, Vultures, Nilgai, Golden Langur, Great Indian Bustard, etc.
⚠ EXAM TRAP
IUCN Red List publication dates differ by species type — Plants (1978) came a decade before Animals (1988). Don't swap these two years.
💧 Ramsar Convention — Conservation of Wetlands
PurposeConservation of Wetlands on Marshy Lands
Ramsar Convention signed2nd February, 1971 — Ramsar, Iran
Related observanceWorld Wetland Day (2nd February)
India joined1982
Total Ramsar Sites in India91 (as per June, 2025)
Highest Ramsar Sites — StateTamil Nadu (20)
Largest Ramsar SiteSundarbans (West Bengal)
Smallest Ramsar SiteRenuka (Himachal Pradesh)
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 but India only joined in 1982 — an 11-year gap frequently tested as a standalone MCQ.
🗺 Ramsar Wetland Sites in India — State-wise (91 Sites, June 2025)
| State / UT | Ramsar Sites |
|---|---|
| Jammu & Kashmir | Hokesar, Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Wular Lake, Haigam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Shallabugh Wetland Conservation Reserve |
| Ladakh | Tso Kar Wetland Complex, Tsomoriri Lake |
| Himachal Pradesh | Chanderal Wetland, Pong Dam Lake, Renuka Wetland |
| Punjab | Beas Conservation Reserve, Harike Wetland, Kanjli Wetland, Ropar Wetland, Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Haryana | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Sultanpur National Park |
| Uttarakhand | Asan Conservation Reserve |
| Uttar Pradesh | Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, Saman Bird Sanctuary, Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Sarsai Nawar Jheel, Sur Sarovar, Upper Ganga River, Haiderpur Wetland, Bakhira Bird Sanctuary |
| Sikkim | Khecheopalri Wetland |
| Assam | Deepor Beel |
| Manipur | Loktak Lake |
| Tripura | Rudrasagar Lake |
| Mizoram | Pala Wetland |
| Rajasthan | Keoladeo National Park, Sambhar Lake, Kichan, Menar |
| Gujarat | Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Wadhwana Wetland, Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhoj Wetland, Sakhya Sagar, Sirpur Wetland, Yashwant Sagar, New Reservoir |
| Maharashtra | Lonar Lake, Nandur Madhameshwar, Thane Creek |
| Goa | Nanda Lake |
| Karnataka | Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Ankasamudra, Asanasanini, Magadikere |
| Kerala | Ashtamudi Wetland, Sasthamkotta Lake, Vembanad-Kol Wetland |
| Jharkhand | Udhwa Lake |
| Bihar | Kabar Tal Wetland, Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Nakti Bird Sanctuary |
| West Bengal | East Kolkata Wetlands, Sundarbans Wetland |
| Odisha | Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Chilika Lake, Sakoshia, Tampura Lake, Hirakud Reservoir, Ansupa Lake |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kolleru Lake |
| Tamil Nadu | Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Pichavaram Mangrove, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Vembannur Wetland Complex, Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex, Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, Velode Bird Sanctuary, Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Kuthankulum Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Long Shola Reserve Forest, Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary, Therthangal Bird Sanctuary |
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Tamil Nadu alone has 20 Ramsar sites — the highest of any state — mostly bird sanctuaries clustered in the state's wetland belt.
📋 Master Quick-Revision Table
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Biodiversity — Definition | Variety of life at all levels from genes to ecosystem |
| Alpha (α) Diversity | Numerical diversity | Genetic diversity |
| Beta (β) Diversity | Structural diversity | Species diversity |
| Gamma (γ) Diversity | Diversity of inter-relationships | Proposed by Whittaker |
| Highest Biodiversity | Tropical Rainforests, Coral reefs, Islands, Tropical marine zones |
| Largest Coral Reef | Great Barrier Reef (Australia) |
| Biodiversity Hotspots — Concept | Norman Myers (1988 AD) |
| India's Hotspots (4) | Western Ghats+Sri Lanka | Eastern Himalaya | Indo-Burma | Sundaland+Nicobar |
| In-situ Conservation | National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Sacred groves, Lakes |
| Ex-situ Conservation | Biological parks, Zoos, DNA banks, Seed banks |
| IUCN | 1948 | Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland | Red List: Plants 1978, Animals 1988 |
| Endangered Categories | Extinct → Critically Endangered → Endangered → Vulnerable → Near Threatened |
| Ramsar Convention | 2 February 1971 | Ramsar, Iran | World Wetland Day |
| India joined Ramsar | 1982 |
| Ramsar Sites in India | 91 (as per June, 2025) |
| Most Ramsar Sites — State | Tamil Nadu — 20 |
| Largest Ramsar Site | Sundarbans (West Bengal) |
| Smallest Ramsar Site | Renuka (Himachal Pradesh) |