100 New Species and Counting: CFC’s Exclusive Interview with Expert on World Biodiversity Day

By Aayushi Sharma

Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is essential for the health and sustainability of our planet. It encompasses the diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity provides critical ecosystem services, supports human well-being, and maintains ecological balance. However, biodiversity is under severe threat from human activities, making its conservation more crucial than ever.

This World Biodiversity Day 2024, CFC India had an interaction with a pioneering expert who has worked to conserve biodiversity. Dr Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan is an ecologist with more than 30 years of experience. He has discovered about 100 new species. During the conversation, Dr Priyadarsanan emphasized the importance of genetic diversity in maintaining ecosystem health, the need to rethink strategies for biodiversity conservation, and much more.

You can watch the webinar here:

Here are some key points shared by the expert:

• One of the most direct effects of climate change on habitats is rising temperatures. Many species have evolved to thrive within specific temperature ranges, and even slight deviations can have substantial impacts. 

• Not all species are affected by climate change in a similar manner: Climate change and biodiversity losses together can profoundly affect ecosystem function. The loss of biodiversity can erode ecosystems’ ability to withstand and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The population of certain species can adapt well to increasing temperatures. The abundance of these species increases whereas the species which cannot adapt to the changing climate decreases in population. 

• Climate change is causing an increase in a number of insect pests: Changing climate is leading to an expansion of the geographic distribution of many insect species. The temperature of an insect’s body is directly influenced by the temperature of its environment. As ectothermic organisms, insects rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Therefore, temperature is likely the most crucial environmental factor affecting insect behavior, distribution, development, and reproduction.

• An early understanding of the effects of climate change on species distributions is crucial for effective conservation planning. Nilgiritragus hylocrius, commonly known as the Nilgiri Tahr, is an endangered ungulate that inhabits the montane grasslands of the Western Ghats in India. Presently, the Nilgiri Tahr occupies only a small fraction of its historical range and faces significant risks from various ongoing anthropogenic pressures.

• Protected areas are vital tools for biodiversity conservation, serving as havens for numerous species and ecosystems. However, when these areas are not managed and strategized properly, they can inadvertently lead to human-wildlife conflict.  Despite their conservation value, protected areas can sometimes exacerbate tensions between wildlife and nearby human communities. When wildlife populations expand or their habitats shrink, they may encroach upon human settlements in search of food, water, or shelter. This can lead to conflicts with farmers, pastoralists, and residents living in proximity to protected areas. 

References:

https://www.atree.org/profile/priyadarsanan-dharmarajan

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925857418302301

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8150874

Photo by Suhaila Gafoor

https://www.pexels.com/photo/nilgiri-tahrs-in-a-nature-reserve-16981998

Photo by Philipp Fahlbusch

https://www.pexels.com/photo/insects-and-pest-on-infested-green-plant-13541362

Banner Photo: AI-Generated