Question

Biodiversity exists at various levels within an ecosystem. Explain biodiversity at genetic and ecological level.

Hint:

Genetic diversity is variation within a species; ecological diversity is the variety of ecosystems in a region.

Answer 1

Step 1: Genetic diversity:
Genetic diversity is the variation in genes within a single species. It makes populations of the same species differ in traits.
Example: the medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria in the Himalayas shows different potency and amounts of the chemical reserpine in different regions. India also has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice and about 1,000 varieties of mango.

Step 2: Ecological diversity:
Ecological diversity is the variety of ecosystems and habitats in a region.
Example: India has deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries and alpine meadows. This gives it greater ecosystem diversity than a country like Norway.

Final Answer:
Genetic diversity is variation within a species; ecological diversity is the variety of ecosystems and habitats in a region.