Question

The term “Biodiversity” was coined by whom? Why is India known as mega diversity centre?

Answer 1

Biodiversity:

1. Biodiversity refers to all the different kinds of species living together on planet Earth.
2. Thomas Lovejoy introduced the term biological diversity to the scientific community in a book.
3. The term “Biodiversity” was coined by Walter G. Rosen.
4. It is the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and prokaryotic organisms living together that form nature.
5. Each of the mentioned species lives and works together in an ecosystem to maintain the ecological balance.

Mega diversity:

1. The term mega diversity country is used for any country that harbors the majority of Earth's species along with endemic species.
2. Seventeen mega diversity countries were declared in the year $1998$.

India as a mega diversity:

1. India is one of the twelve mega diversity countries in the world.
2. india shares characteristics with all three of these three kingdoms—the Afrotropical, Indo-Malayan, and Paleoarctic—and is situated at the intersection of these three realms, creating a diversified ecosystem.
3. Two areas of India have been declared as mega diversity hot spots which are western ghat forests and eastern Himalayan forests.
4. India ranks tenth among all the mega-diverse nations.
5. India has $500$ species of mammals,$30,000$ species of insects, and about $200$ species of birds.
6. India constitutes of $101$ national parks, $35$ zoological parks, and $333$wildlife sanctuaries
7. Hence, India is declared a mega diversity nation due to its species richness and the term biodiversity was coined by ‘Walter G. Rosen’.