Dr Arun - Biotic resources

Summary

This session, led by Dr. Arun K. from Christ University, explores biotic resources, emphasizing their importance for sustainability and ecological balance. The discussion covers various biotic resources such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, aquatic ecosystems, and microbes, highlighting their roles in supporting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and promoting human well-being. Challenges like deforestation, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change are also examined, with a call for responsible management and conservation to ensure the resilience of these vital resources for future generations.

Takeaways

• 🌳 Biotic resources refer to all living organisms and organic materials, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, which are essential for sustaining life and supporting ecosystems.
• 🌱 Forests are crucial biotic resources that play a vital role in ecological balance, biodiversity, and oxygen production, but they face significant threats from deforestation and climate change.
• 🌾 Grasslands support diverse species and provide critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and water cycle regulation, but they are threatened by habitat loss, overgrazing, and invasive species.
• 🌊 Wetlands are highly biologically diverse ecosystems that prevent floods, improve water quality, and regulate climate change by storing carbon. However, they are vulnerable to urbanization, pollution, and habitat degradation.
• 🐠 Aquatic ecosystems, both freshwater and marine, are vital for biodiversity, human livelihoods, and climate regulation. They face threats from pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change.
• 🦠 Microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, are important for nutrient recycling, bioremediation, and industrial applications, but they are also under threat due to habitat destruction and pollution.
• 🔥 Deforestation is a major issue for forests worldwide, leading to habitat loss, species decline, and the release of carbon, contributing to climate change.
• 💧 Grasslands and wetlands are at risk from agriculture, urban expansion, and climate-related events such as wildfires, which degrade their ecosystems and reduce biodiversity.
• 🐋 Marine ecosystems, like coral reefs and mangroves, are crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem services but are severely impacted by pollution, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification.
• 🚨 Conservation and responsible management of biotic resources are critical to mitigate threats like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution, ensuring these resources are available for future generations.

Q & A

What are biotic resources?

Biotic resources refer to all living organisms and organic materials in the environment that can be utilized by humans. This includes plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, which are essential for sustaining life and ecosystems.

How do biotic resources impact sustainability?

Biotic resources play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and contributing to human well-being and economic development. Their sustainable use ensures long-term ecological health and resources for future generations.

What challenges do biotic resources face?

Challenges include deforestation, habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, climate change, and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, all of which threaten the integrity and sustainability of biotic resources.

Why are forests considered one of the most valuable biotic resources?

Forests maintain ecological balance by producing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, preventing soil erosion, and providing habitat for a diverse range of species. They also offer economic resources such as timber and medicinal plants.

What are the main threats to forests?

The main threats to forests are deforestation due to agriculture, logging, urban expansion, and infrastructure development. This leads to habitat loss, biodiversity decline, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.

How do grasslands contribute to climate change mitigation?

Grasslands store significant amounts of carbon in their soils, which helps mitigate climate change by reducing atmospheric carbon levels. They also play a role in regulating water cycles and preventing soil erosion.

What are the main threats to grasslands?

Grasslands face threats from agricultural conversion, overgrazing, invasive species, and climate change, leading to habitat loss, ecosystem fragmentation, and degradation of their biodiversity and ecological functions.

What role do wetlands play in ecological balance?

Wetlands support a high level of biodiversity, providing habitats for migratory birds, aquatic species, and plants. They also prevent flooding, improve water quality through filtration, and store carbon, helping regulate climate change.

How are aquatic resources categorized, and what are their benefits?

Aquatic resources are categorized into freshwater and marine ecosystems. Freshwater systems, such as rivers and lakes, provide water, food, and recreation, while marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangroves, protect coastlines, support biodiversity, and play a role in carbon sequestration.

What challenges do marine ecosystems face?

Marine ecosystems are threatened by pollution (from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, plastics, and oil spills), overfishing, destructive fishing practices, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and increased temperatures, all of which disrupt marine biodiversity and ecosystem services.