Ecosystem Ecology

Defining Ecology
❑ The word ‘ecology’ was first used by Ernest Haeckel in 1869. The word is
derived from the Greek “Oikos”, meaning ‘home’. Ecology might therefore be
thought of as the study of the ‘home life’ of living organisms.

❑ Haeckel Definition (1869): Ecology as the scientific study of the interactions

between organisms and their environment (abiotic).

❑ Krebs’ definition (1972): the scientific study of the distribution and

abundance of organisms and the interactions that determine distribution and
abundance.

❑ Andrewartha and Birch (1954): “the study of the distribution and abundance
or organisms.”

❑ Odum (1971): ”the study of the interactions between/among organisms and

the transformation and flux of energy and matter.”
 Hierarchical Structure of Ecology
❑ Organism or Individual-ecology deals with how
individuals are affected by (and how they affect) their
environment. Groups of organisms that resemble one
another in appearance, behavior, chemistry and
genetic structure form a species.
❑ Population- Population refers to a group of
individuals of the same species occupying a given
area at a given time and share genetic material.
Population ecology is concerned with the presence or
absence of particular species, their abundance or
rarity, and with the trends and fluctuations in their
numbers.
• Community- Community refers to all the populations
of different species that live in an area and interact
with one another. Community ecology deals with the
composition and organization of ecological
communities.
• Ecosystem- a community of different species
interacting with one another and with their nonliving
environment of matter and energy Maybe small (e.g.
a field) or large (e.g. forest)
http://www.siyavula.com/gr7-9-websites/natural-sciences/gr8/gr8-ll-02.html
Biome

❑ A biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and

animal groups, which are adapted to that particular
environment.

– Climate and geography of a region determines what type

of biome exist in that region.

❑ A biome is a kind of ecosystem, such as a desert, tropical

rain forest, aquatic or grassland.

❑ There is strong relationship between climate and biome.

 Biomes

Terrestrial Biomes

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Aquatic Biomes

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 Ecosystem Characteristics

Basic Characteristics of Ecosystems

❑Structure: An ecosystem has both living (communities of interacting
species) and nonliving (e.g. rocks, water, air, nutrients) parts

❑Process: Two basic kinds of processes must occur in the ecosystem:

1. A flow of energy (Food web)
2. A cycling of chemical elements
(e.g. nitrogen, oxygen, carbon)

❑Change: An ecosystem changes over time and can undergo

development through a process called succession
Process: Chemical cycling in Ecosystem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNLUzqW8IuA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5EOZenSSB8
Process: Water cycling in Ecosystem

Ecosystem functions: Water Cycle

The water cycle. Image from NOAA National Weather Service, CC BY 2.0.
 Ecosystem Characteristics
Process: Energy flow in Ecosystem

Ecosystem functions: Energy flow at different Level of Ecosystem

Process: Energy flow in Ecosystem.

❑ The sequence of
The term “ecosystems” was first
used by A.G Tansley in 1953. organisms, each of
Ecosystem is defined as a which is a source of
fundamental functional unit food for the next, is
occupying a spatial dimension called a Food chain.
on earth and it is characterized
by total assemblage of biotic ❑ It determines how
and abiotic components and energy and nutrients
their mutual interactions within move from one
a given time unit. organism to another
through an
ecosystem.
Energy flow of an ecosystem
Process: Energy flow in Ecosystem

❑ Autotrophs/Producer: Producers are autotrophs, or self-

feeding organisms, that make their own food (i.e. organic
molecules from carbon dioxide). Ex. Plants, algae, and
photosynthetic bacteria act as producers.

❑ Heterotrophs/Consumer: are heterotroph cannot produce its

own food. They are also called consumer. Consumers rely on
the ecosystem's producers for energy. Consumers include
herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers.
 Classification of Consumers
(Based on their Primary Source of Food)

•Herbivores: plant eaters or primary consumers, which feed directly on

producers

•Carnivores: meat eaters which feed on other consumers

– Those feeding only on primary consumers are called secondary
consumers
– those feeding on other carnivores are called tertiary (higher-level)
consumers

•Omnivores: eat both plants and animals e.g. humans

•Scavengers: which feed on dead organisms e.g. vultures, flies, hyenas etc.
• Detritivores: detritus feeders and decomposers
– Eat parts of dead organisms and cast-off fragments and
wastes

(1) Detritus feeders: extract nutrients from partly decomposed

organic matter in leaf litter, plant debris, and animal dung e.g.
crabs, carpenter ants, termites and earthworms

(2) Decomposers: mostly certain types of bacteria and fungi

recycle organic matter in ecosystems by
– (1) breaking down (biodegrading) dead organic material to
get nutrients and
– (2) releasing the resulting simpler inorganic compounds
• In nature, simple food chains like
these are not common; real life is
more complex

• When the full complexity of the

various food and energy connections
in an ecosystem are considered, we
get a food web

• Most consumers feed on more than

one type of organism, and most
organisms are eaten by more than one
type of consumer

• Hence, we need to know about Food

Web

• Most species participate in several

different food chains, the organisms in
most ecosystems form a complex
network of interconnected food
chains, called a food web
A marine Food chain and Food web (Environmental Science Earth as a Living Planet. 8th ed. Botkin & Keller.)
 Process: Energy flow in Ecosystem

•Energy flow: Each animal in the food chain eats another animal or a plant
in order to gain energy

•The energy flow in the ecosystem keeps all of the animals alive

•With each transfer some usable energy is degraded and lost to the
environment as heat

•Only a small portion of what is eaten and digested is actually converted

into an organism's bodily material or biomass

•The amount of usable energy available to each successive trophic level

declines
 Ecological Efficiency
•The transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next is never 100%
efficient

•Ecological efficiencies of transfer from one trophic level to another ranges

from 5% to 20% depending on the types of species and the ecosystem
involved; 10% is typical

•Thus, 80% to 95% of the energy at one trophic level is never transferred
to the next

•Assuming 10%, ecological efficiency at each trophic transfer, if green

plants in an area manage to capture 10,000 units of energy from the sun,
then only about 1,000 units of energy will be available to support
herbivores and only about 100 units to support carnivores

•The more trophic levels in a food chain or web, the greater the cumulative
loss of usable energy
 Biomass
•Biomass: a quantitative measure of the amount of organic matter in an
ecosystem or part of an ecosystem. The mass of living biological
organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time.
– Phytomass: refers to plant matter
– Zoomass: refers to animal matter

•Biomass is most often given in terms of the dry weight of organisms at a

particular trophic level in a system

•The amount of biomass at the top of the food chain is much less than the
biomass at the bottom.

•This general relationship can be shown in the form of an ecological

pyramid
 Ecological Pyramid

•Ecological Pyramid: A diagram quantitatively representing biomass,

energy flow or number of organisms at different trophic levels

•A typical pyramid has a broad base

•Moving up the pyramid, the quantity of biomass, amount of stored

energy and number of individuals all decrease with each successive step

•The decrease is dramatic

– E.g. 99 percent of Earth's total biomass occurs in the form of
phytomass (producers), with only about 1 percent in the form of
zoomass (consumers)
Ecological Pyramid

Ecological Pyramid (Source: Engrade)

 Ecological Succession
❑ Succession is the process by which the component species of a community
change over time. Within any plant community some species may
progressively become more or less abundant over time.

❑ Structures of all ecosystems change constantly in response to changing

environmental conditions. When disturbed, ecosystems can recover through
ecological succession if the damage is not too great

❑ The process by which organisms occupy a site and gradually change

environmental conditions by creating soil, shade or shelter or by increasing
humidity is called ecological succession or development

❑ Succession can occur for many different reasons. In most cases, each species
affects their environment in a way that allows other species to colonize. Over
time, this increases the complexity of the environment, usually increasing
species diversity as well.

❑ There are two types of succession, which differ in their starting points. E.g.
Primary succession and Secondary succession.
 Primary succession
❑ Primary succession: newly
exposed or newly formed
rock is colonized by living
things for the first time. It is
the gradual establishment
of biotic communities on
nearly lifeless ground or
establishment and
development of an
ecosystem where one did
During primary succession on not exist previously e.g.
lava in Maui, Hawaii, succulent
plants are pioneer species. forest that develops on new
Image from OpenStaxDuring
primary succession on lava in
lava flows. Certain hardy
Maui, Hawaii, succulent plants plants and lichens with few
are pioneer species. Image
from OpenStax, CC BY 4.0. soil requirements, called
pioneer species, colonize
the area first.
 Secondary Succession
❑ In secondary succession, an area that was previously occupied by living
things is disturbed, then re-colonized following the disturbance.
❑ Over a long period of time, and assuming no further disturbances, a
climax community may form when a community reaches a steady,
mature state.
• Disturbance/disruption may be caused by-
– a natural catastrophe i.e. fire or flooding; or
– a human activity i.e. deforestation, plowing or mining
• Candidates for secondary succession include
– (1) abandoned farmlands
– (2) burned or cut forests
– (3) heavily polluted streams
– (4) land that has been dammed or flooded
Secondary Succession
 Community Structure in Ecosystem

❑ Community structure describes species richness and species diversity.

❑ Community structure also refers to the patterns of interaction between

different species.

❑ Community structure is influenced by many factors, including abiotic

factors, species interactions, level of disturbance, and chance events.

❑ Some species, such as foundation species and keystone species, play

particularly important roles in determining their communities' structure.

❑ A keystone species is one that has a disproportionate impact on its

ecosystem when compared to its abundance e.g sea otter, tiger etc. A
foundation species is usually a primary producer that dominates an
ecosystem in abundance and influence e.g. corals, algae, mangrove etc.
Species richness

• Species richness is the number of species that has been recorded for a
specific group of organisms during a specific time period.
• Species richness could be for a plot or sampling unit, or an assemblage of
sampling units.

How many
species in the
survey area?
Ecologists describe distribution of diversity on a spatial scale in three
classifications. Diversity can be described as alpha, beta, and gamma diversity
(note: for simplicity, in our usage here diversity means only richness, the
number of species):

α Alpha (or local) diversity expresses the number of species within a given
habitat.

β Beta (or turnover) diversity expresses the difference, or turnover, in

species from one habitat to another.

γ Gamma (or regional) diversity- total number of species observed

in all habitats within a geographic area.
Global species richness as calculated for mammal species. Image credit: "Community ecology: Figure 14," by
OpenStax College, Biology, CC BY 4.0. Modification of work by NASA, CIESIN, Columbia University.
 Ecological Niches and Competition
The Niche Concept

❑ A species' niche is its ecological role or "way of life," which is defined by the
full set of conditions, resources, and interactions it needs.

❑ Each species fits into an ecological community in its own special way and has
its own tolerable ranges for many environmental factors.

❑ Two organisms with exactly the same niche can't survive in the same habitat.

❑ species whose niches only partly overlap may be able to co-exist.

Niches of Hilsha Fish
 Niches of Tiger

Conceptual depiction of how a dominant male tiger’s territory (in black outline) overlaps with
multiple female territories (in orange outline) in a habitat matrix.
 Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity
• Ecological footprint is the impact of a person or community on the
environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain
their use of natural resources. The amount of biologically productive
land and sea area an individual, a region, all of humanity, or a human
activity that compete for biologically productive space. It measures
the biologically productive area needed to provide for everything
that people demand from nature.

• Biological capacity or biocapacity is capacity of ecosystems to

regenerate what people demand from those surfaces. It is capacity of
biosphere to regenerate and provide for life. For example, the
biocapacity of the earth is about 1.7 global hectares of productive
land per person.
The Ecological Footprint

FOREST PRODUCT footprint

L-2: Fundamentals of Environment

CARBON footprint

FISHING grounds
Biodiversity
What is Biodiversity?
Bio = Life
Diversity=Variety
Biodiversity means-
❑ The diversity, or variety, of plants and animals and other living things in a
particular area or region.
❑ Also means the number, or abundance of different species living within a
particular region.
 Biodiversity

•Combination of two words 'biological' and 'diversity‘

•Refers to the number, variety and variability of all life forms on earth

•These include millions of plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes

they contain and the intricate ecosystems of which they are a part

•The earth has an enormous variety of plants and animals, both

domesticated and wild, also a wide array of habitats and ecosystems

•Biodiversity loss would mean a threat to the survival of the human race
Types of ‘Biodiversity’
Major types of biodiversity-
❑ Species diversity- the variety and abundance of species in a given area;
❑ Genetic diversity- variation of all living forms at the genetic level e.g. genes,
alleles (i.e. alternative form of gene), or nucleic acid;
❑ Ecosystem diversity- the variety of ecosystem in the biosphere or
landscape;
❑ Functional diversity-the variety of processes that occur within an
ecosystem;

The word “diversity” is used in many contexts.

– What is “genetic diversity” within a species?
– What is meant by “species diversity” within an
ecosystem?
– Can there be genetic diversity within an ecosystem?
– Can there be functional diversity within an ecosystem?
 Functional Diversity The biological and chemical Ecological Diversity The
processes such as energy flow and matter recycling variety of terrestrial and
needed for the survival of species, communities, and aquatic ecosystems found
ecosystems. in an area or on the earth.

Solar
Chemical
nutrients
energy
Heat (carbon dioxide,
oxygen,
nitrogen,
minerals)

Heat Heat

Decomposers Producers
(bacteria, fungi) (plants)

Consumers
(plant eaters,
Heat meat eaters) Heat

Genetic Diversity The variety of genetic Species Diversity The number and abundance
material within a species or a of species present in different communities.
population.
Species Diversity

Species diversity-
❑ Number or variety of species in a given area
❑ number of different species that are represented in a given community
❑ incorporates both species richness (i.e. Number of species per unit area) and species
evenness (i.e. number of individuals of different species).
Species Diversity
Types of Species
Native Species: Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem e.g.
camel in deserts
Ubiquitous species : Species that are found almost everywhere e.g. cockroaches
Endemic species:
- is one whose habitat is restricted to a particular area; often endangered
- differs from “indigenous,” or “native,” (although it occurs naturally in an
area, is also fund in other areas)
Paleoendemic: confined to just one area. Ex. Kiwi’s are confined to New
Zealand.
Exotic Species
- is any species intentionally or accidentally transported and released by man
into an environment outside its present range.
-most severe agents of habitat alteration and degradation, and major cause
of the continuing loss of biological diversity throughout the world.
For Ex. Acacia, Eucalyptus are exotic in Bangladesh
Cosmoplitan species: common to the whole world. Ex: Blue whale
Biodiversity Hotspot

❑ A biodiversity hotspot - Is a relatively small area with an exceptional

concentration of species.

❑ A biodiversity hotspot is a region with a high level of endemic species.

Most hotspots are located in the tropics and most of them are forests.

❑ Biodiversity hotspots are home to unique flora and fauna and these
regions have been identified as some of the world’s most important
ecosystems
❑ To be considered as biodiversity hotspot, it must fulfill two criteria:
✔ Habitat should contain at least 1500 species of plants that are specific
to that area.
✔ More than 70% of the original habitat has been lost.
Biodiversity Hotspot

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 Biodiversity Hot Spots

17. Wallacea
18. The Philippines
1. The Tropical Andes
19. Indo-Burma
2. Mesoamerica
20. The Mountains of Southwest China
3. The Caribbean Islands
21. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
4. The Atlantic Forest
22. Southwest Australia
5. Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
23. New Caledonia
6. The Cerrado
24. New Zealand
7. Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests
25. Polynesia and Micronesia
8. The California Floristic Province
26. The Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands
9. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
27. Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany
10. The Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
28. The Eastern Afromontane
11. The Guinean Forests of West Africa
29. The Horn of Africa
12. The Cape Floristic Region
30. The Irano-Anatolian
13. The Succulent Karoo
31. The Mountains of Central Asia
14. The Mediterranean Basin
32. Eastern Himalaya
15. The Caucasus
33. Japan
16. Sundaland
34. East Melanesian Islands
35. The Forests of East Australia
 Values of Biodiversity
• Biodiversity provides excellent conditions for and
drives the processes that sustain species survival.

• Biodiversity provides for ecological, economic and

cultural values to the world’s community.

• Climate change is changing species distribution

through shifting habitat, changing life cycles, and
development of new physical traits enhancing the
importance of biodiversity conservation.

48
 Values of Biodiversity (cont)
• People need ecosystems for adaptation and
ecosystems need people.

• Biodiversity plays a major role in meeting human needs

directly while maintaining the ecological processes
upon which our survival depends.

• Biodiversity is a national asset and a powerful

contributor to economic development, provision of
natural resource, ecological processes, and improving
human wellbeing.

49
Ecological importance of biodiversity:
1.Trees provide habitat and food for birds, insects, other plants and animals,
fungi and microorganisms
2.Insects, bats, birds and other animals serve as pollinators
3.Parasites and predators act as natural population controls
4.Various organisms, such as earthworms and bacteria, are responsible for
recycling organic materials and maintaining the productivity of soils
5.Green plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and replenish it
with oxygen
6.Forests, for example, are particularly important "sinks" for the absorption
of carbon dioxide and thus are key factors in reducing global climate
change
7.Wetlands serve as sponges to reduce the impacts of floods and to cleanse
streams by filtering sediments, nutrients, and contaminants from inflowing
waters
8.The interaction of all these natural processes forms a complex web of life.
If any part of this web suffers or breaks downs, the future of the other parts
is threatened
Economic importance of biodiversity:
1.Food: species are hunted, fished, and gathered, as well as
cultivated for agriculture and aquaculture. From about 80,000
available comestible plants, humans use less than 30 to satisfy
90% of our planet's alimentary needs
2.Fuel: timber and coal are only two examples of natural
resources used to produce energy
3.Shelter and warmth: timber and other forest products (e.g. oak,
beech, pine) are used as building materials and for shelter. Fibers
such as wool and cotton are used to make clothes
4.Medicines: both traditional medicines and processed drugs are
obtained from biodiversity: penicillin is produced by a fungus
and quinine from the bark of cinchona trees
5.Other goods such as paper and pencils come from raw materials
provided by the biodiversity
Ecosystem Diversity-Biosphere

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 Biological Evolution
•Evolution (or more specifically biological or organic evolution) is the
change over time in one or more inherited traits found in populations of
individuals. Biological evolution refers to the change in inherited
characteristics of a population from generation to generation.

•It can result in new species.

•Species have evolved in response to changing environmental

conditions

•Each species here today represents a long chain of evolution

4 key process of biological evolution
– Genetic Mutation

– Natural Selection

– Geographic Isolation and Migration

– Genetic Drift
 Genetic Mutation
•Process that causes changes in the DNA structure of genes

•Genetic variability in a population originates through Genetic Mutation:

random changes in the structure/number of DNA molecules in a cell

•Mutation might cause death/extinction in one hand or contribute to develop

new characteristics on the other.

•Every genetic feature in every organism was, initially, the result of a

mutation.

•Mutation usually takes place due to exposure to radiation, chemical or

other agents. Examples of mutations in animals are those born with extra
body parts, e.g. two-headed snakes, four-legged ducks, and a cyclops kitten.
 Natural Selection
•Occurs when some individuals of a population have genetically based traits
that increase their chances of survival and their ability to produce offspring

•When there is a variation within a species, some individuals may be better

suited to the environment

•These better suited individuals will survive and reproduce offspring leading
to a large population in a few generations

•This process is known as Natural Selection. For example, evolving long

necks has enabled giraffes to feed on leaves that others can't reach, giving
them a competitive advantage.

•Which characteristics will lead to more offspring will depend on

environment. If the environment changes over time, the desirable
characteristics will also change
 Geographic Isolation and Migration
•Sometimes populations of the same species become geographically
isolated from each other for a long time

•During that time they may change so much that they can no longer
reproduce together even when they are brought back together, thus, two
new species occur

•Migration has been an important evolutionary process over geologic

time.

•A pretty common example of geographic isolation is a population

migrating to an island and becoming separated from the mainland
population. This stops the gene flow between the groups of organisms.
Over time, the two populations become reproductively isolated and they
evolve separately.
 Genetic Drift
•Diversity due to random changes in the frequency of gene variants in a
population

•Frequency of genes in a population changes because of the possibility of

non-proportional inheritance

•It's a random shift in the occurrence of this specific gene variation that
isn’t caused by environmental factors.

Brown-Eyed Children Example

•The father of a family has brown eyes, which is a dominant allele. The
mother of the family has blue eyes, which is a recessive allele. The four
children all have brown eyes by chance.
 Common Misconceptions About Evolution

•"Survival of the fittest" means "survival of the strongest." To

biologists, fitness is a measure of reproductive success not strength.
Thus the fittest individuals are those that leave the most descendants

•Evolution involves some grand plan of nature in which species

become progressively more perfect. From a scientific standpoint, no
plan or goal of perfection exists in the evolutionary process
 Speciation & Extinction

Speciation:
•Process of generating a new species

•Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological

species arise

•Under certain circumstances, can lead to an entirely new

species. In this process, two species arise from one
Extinction:
•End of an organism or of a group of organisms, normally a species

•Biologists estimate that 99.9% of all the species that have ever
existed are now extinct

•When environmental conditions change, a species must:

– evolve (become better adapted)
– move to a more favorable area (if possible)

•Causes of Extinction:
– population risk
– environmental risk
– natural catastrophe
– genetic risk
– human actions
 Interaction between species

There are four basic categories of interaction among species:

-Competition: A relationship between organisms that has a negative effect on both
of them. This can happen when two organisms are trying to get the same
environmental resource like food or land. Two species are competing in the same
habitat and have the same requirements. One will win out. For example, two male
birds of the same species might compete for mates in the same area. This type of
competition is a basic factor in natural selection. It leads to the evolution of better
adaptations within a species.

-Symbiosis: In ecology, symbiosis describes a relationship between two organisms

that is beneficial to both and enhances each organism’s chances of persisting. Each
partner in symbiosis is called a symbiont. Symbiosis is widespread and common;
most animals and plants have symbiotic relationships with other species.
-One of the most obvious symbiotic relationships that can be seen by almost
anyone anywhere is the relationship of a honey bee and a flower. The bees must be
able to obtain their food and other resources from flowers, or they will die. It’s the
same for the plant. Flowers must be pollinated, and if they aren’t, the plant will
die. Furthermore, both the flowers and the bees have “body parts” specifically
designed for interaction with each other.
- Predation- Predation is when an organism (a predator) feeds
on other live organisms (prey), usually of another species.
Some examples of predator and prey are lion and zebra, bear
and fish, and fox and rabbit.

- Parasitism: Parasitism is when one organism (the parasite)

lives on or within another (the host) and depends on it for
existence but makes no useful contribution to it and may in
fact harm it. Examples of parasites are ticks, lice, fleas etc.
 Factor influence Biodiversity
• Each species has a unique range, the
Factors that tend to
set of locations where members of increase diversity:
that species are found on Earth. •A physically diverse habitat
•Moderate amounts of
• A species' range depends on disturbance
the biotic (living) and abiotic (non- •A small variation in
living) conditions it needs for survival environmental conditions
•High diversity at one trophic
and on geography. level, increasing the diversity
• The ranges of species and the at another trophic level
distribution of biomes (types of •An environment highly
modified by life
ecosystems) are shaped by climate. •Middle stages of succession
• A place's climate depends on global •Evolution
patterns of solar energy input and air
flow, as well as features like
mountains and bodies of water.
 Tolerance ranges of species

• Different species has different tolerance range

for various environmental parameter
 Threats to Biodiversity
❑ Natural Originated –e.g. Natural disaster
❑ Man made Threats:
▪ Overexploitation
▪ Habitat Loss
▪ Habitat Fragmentation
▪ exotic/invasive species
▪ Pollution
▪ Climate change
Threats to Biodiversity-IUCN Classification
 Biodiversity Conservation Approach

• In-Situ Conservation: It is the methods of

conserving all the living species, especially the wild
and endangered species in their natural habitats and
environment.

• Ex-Situ Conservation: Ex situ conservation is the

technique of conservation of all levels of biological
diversity outside their natural habitats through
different techniques e.g. zoo, aquarium, botanical
garden etc.
Biodiversity of Bangladesh
 Due to its’ unique geo-physical location Bangladesh is
exceptionally endowed with a diverse variety of flora and fauna

A hollock gibbon in the evergreen forests An evergreen forest landscape of Sylhet

of Sylhet region
 Floral species of Bangladesh

N.B. Angiosperm-Flowering plants; Gymnosperms-non-flowering plants

Source: IUCN
Faunal species of Bangladesh

Source: IUCN
Biodiversity loss in Bangladesh

Sloth Beer

Nilgai Swamp Deer

Biodiversity loss in Bangladesh…continue
Forest areas of
Bangladesh
Protected Areas of Bangladesh for Conservation

❑ In Bangladesh, the concept of protect area is quite new.

Until today, there are 50 PAs in Bangladesh that includes
Marine reserve, Marine Park, National Park, wildlife
sanctuary, Dolphin Sanctuary, Safari Park, Eco-Park and
National Botanic Garden.

❑ At present, there are 37forest protected areas out of 50

PA’s in Bangladesh covering nearly 0.27 million hectares of
forests land managed.

❑ These forest PAs represents 1.8% of total land masses

of the country, 10% of total forest land and 17% of forest
land managed by Forest Department (Ahsan et al. 2016).
 What are PAs?
• Protected areas or conservation areas are
locations which receive protection because of
their recognized natural, ecological or cultural
values.
• A clearly defined geographical space,
recognized, dedicated and managed, through
legal or other effective means, to achieve the
long term conservation of nature.
 Protected Areas of BD
✔Bhawal National Park
✔Madhupur National Park
❑ National Park ✔Ramsagar National Park
✔Himchari National Park
“National Park means ✔Lawachara National Park
comparatively large ✔Kaptai National Park
✔Nijhum Dweep National Park
areas of outstanding ✔Medhakachhapia National Park
scenic and natural beauty ✔Satchari National Park
with the primary object of ✔Khadimnagar National Park
protection and ✔Baroiyadhala National Park
preservation of scenery, ✔Kuakata National Park
✔Nababgonj National Park
flora, fauna in natural ✔Singra National Park
state to which access for ✔Kadigarh National Park
public recreation, ✔Altadighi National Park
education and research ✔Birgonj National Park
may be allowed”.
❑ Wildlife Sanctuary

“Wildlife Sanctuary means an area closed to

hunting, shooting or trapping of wild
animals and declared as undisturbed
breeding ground primarily for the protection
of wildlife inclusive of all natural resources,
such as vegetation, soil and water”.
 ✔Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in BD ✔Sundarban (East) Wildlife Sanctuary

✔Sundarban (West) Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Sundarban (South) Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Fashiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Hajarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Dudpukuria-Dhopachari Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Sangu Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Tengragiri Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Dudhmukhi Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Chadpai Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Dhangmari Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Sonarchar Wildlife Sanctuary
✔Nazirganj Wildlife (Dolphin) Sanctuary
✔Nagarbari-Mohanganj Dolphine Sanctuary
✔Shilanda-Nagdemra Wildlife (Dolphin) Sanctuary
 Ecologically Critical Areas

An Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) is an environmental

protection zone in Bangladesh where the ecosystem is
considered to be endangered to reach a critical condition by the
changes brought through various human activities. In 1995,
specific areas in Bangladesh could be deemed Ecologically
Critical Areas as a result of the Environmental Conservation Act.

In 1995 after the enactment of the Bangladesh Environment

Conservation Act, 1995 the Government is empowered to
declare an area which is enriched with unique biodiversity and
environmentally significant and shall need protection or
conservation from destructive activities as ecologically critical
area (ECA).
Ecologically critical areas of Bangladesh

It is worth mentioning that most of the ECA are wetlands.

 Discussion
What would be the most effective way for humans to reduce the loss of
biodiversity?
A Supporting the deforestation of the rainforest
B Creating more shelter for human near forest areas
C Creating large preserves in biodiversity hotspots
D Introducing non-native species into new areas
Which of the following is true regarding the value of
biodiversity?
A Biodiversity has ecological value, but not economic value.
B Biodiversity has economic value, but not ecological value.
C Biodiversity has neither economic nor ecological value.
D Biodiversity has both economic and ecological value.
 Reading materials
1. Book: Daniel B. Botkin and Edward A. Keller. 2000. Environmental Science: Earth as a living
planet. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [Book Chapter-5 and 8]

2. Protected Areas of Bangladesh http://www.bforest.gov.bd/

Biodiversity (current status): http://www.bforest.gov.bd/
Ecologically Critical Area: http://doe.portal.gov.bd/sites

3. Book: NRC 1999. Perspectives on biodiversity: valuing its role in an everchanging world.
Washington, DC: National Academy Press. 129 p. [Chapter 2 and Chapter 3]