Biodiversity included three levels-” genetic diversity” which is also known as alpha diversity,” species diversity” or beta diversity, and “ecological diversity”.These 3 levels function at the same time to build multiplicity of survival on the planet.
Genetic diversity in a species means variation at the gene or genetic level. To understand this, we will discuss an example:
In mango (Mangifera Indica) various varieties are found in the same species because of genetic variations. Genetic diversity is also known as “Alpha diversity.”
There is variation in the number of species in a particular region in species diversity. Let us understand by an example.
In this type of diversity we compare larger areas, for example, two countries:- India and Norway. India has various landscapes and ecosystems like deserts, aquatic, artificial water bodies, deciduous, rain, evergreen forests, and grasslands. So, the variety of all these ecosystems can be seen in India. However, in Norway, the most common ecosystem is found in grassland. When we compare the number of species in India and Norway, we find that the diversity in India is much more due to India being more affluent in diversity than Norway, and this is due to the variety of ecosystems that lie in India.
There are various reasons why we should conserve biodiversity. All the reasons have been organized into three categories. A very narrow vision is known as the narrowly utilitarian argument in support of the reason why we should conserve biodiversity, a broad-spectrum view, and an ethical reason or ethical view. These categories are:-
1.Narrowly Utilitarian Argument /view .for conservation
2.Broadly Utilitarian View .for conservation
In a narrowly utilitarian argument, a point of view is a narrow view. For example, If we require something then we should conserve it. According to narrow utilitarian arguments we are not thinking about what is going to happen after 500 years or after thousands of years.
Approximately 25% of the medicines which we use come from plants, so we should be conserving them. This type of narrow view is known as a narrowly utilitarian argument or view for conservation.
A Broadly Utilitarian view is also called a broad-spectrum view. The broad-spectrum view is like a wider perspective. Like, our future generation should also be able to get a fresh environment and clean water which is why we should be conserving biodiversity. This type of view of conservation is known as the broadly utilitarian view.
The broad-spectrum view or broadly utilitarian view is for future generations.
An ethical view of conservation means the moral values for conservation. Let us understand by an example:
We have 3 different levels of biodiversity in our ecosystem. Firstly the genetic diversity, where species have variation at the gene level. Secondly, the species diversity, where diversity in the number of species of a living being is observed. Thirdly the ecological diversity, where diversities can be observed in having a broad range of ecological systems. Conservation of biodiversity is important and can be categorized into three domains, which include Narrowly Utilitarian Argument /view for conservation, Broadly Utilitarian view for conservation, and Ethical view for conservation.