Species diversity
Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 14 "Biodiversity and Conservation"
Meaning
Species diversity is the variety of species in a given area. It is one of the three levels of biodiversity, along with genetic and ecosystem diversity. It is measured by:
- richness: the number of species
- abundance: how many individuals of each species there are
- types: what kinds of species are present
Tropical areas and biodiversity hotspots have very high species diversity. Polar regions have far less.
Example
The Western Ghats, part of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka hotspot, has many species of amphibians, reptiles and plants. Many of them, such as the lion-tailed macaque, are found nowhere else.
Don't confuse with
- Genetic diversity: the variation within one species. Species diversity is the variety among different species.
Related concepts
- Biodiversity
- Species
- Genetic diversity
- Ecosystem diversity
- Latitudinal diversity gradient
- Endemic species
- Importance of biodiversity
- Ecosystem services
- Agro-biodiversity