How is plant diversity defined?
Plant diversity refers to the existence of wide variety of plant species in their natural environments. There are around 300,000-500,000 species of vascular plants that exist on earth (Figure 1). Identify factors affecting plant growth and its adaptation.
What is plant species diversity?
The concept of species diversity includes two components: species richness and evenness. Species richness is the number of species per unit area (geobotanical description). Evenness is the abundance distribution of species in a community.
What are some examples of plant diversity?
Diversity in Plant Life (With Diagram)
- Hydrophytes: The plants growing near water or submerged under water are called hydrophytes.
- Hygrophytes: ADVERTISEMENTS:
- Halophytes: These plants grow in saline soil or saline water.
- Mesophytes: ADVERTISEMENTS:
- Xerophytes:
- Epiphytes:
- Parasitic plants:
- Herbs (Herbaceous):
How do you measure plant diversity?
Count the number of different species and the total number of each individual species inside the quadrat, such as plants, birds, insects, etc. After you finish collecting data in one area, randomly move your quadrat to another location to measure and compare biodiversity in more than one area.
Why is plant diversity important in an ecosystem?
Biodiversity of plants ensures a resource for new food crops and medicines. Plant life balances ecosystems, protects watersheds, mitigates erosion, moderates climate, and provides shelter for many animal species.
When can we say that there is a diversity of species in a certain area?
Diversity is greatest when all the species present are equally abundant in the area. There are two constituents of species diversity: Species richness: Number of different species present in an ecosystem. Tropical areas have greater species richness as the environment is conducive for a large number of species.
What is the importance of plant diversity?
There is consistently strong evidence that strategically increasing plant diversity increases crop and forage yield, wood production, yield stability, pollinators, weed suppression and pest suppression, whereas effects of diversification on soil nutrients and carbon remain poorly understood.
Why is diversity in plants important?
Protecting areas with greater plant diversity could ensure more stable rates of carbon sequestration. It may also help prevent desertification or other ecological upheavals, and buffer animal populations from the privations of climate extremes.
What is diversity within species?
Diversity within species is the result of continuous processes of variation generation and subsequent selection and drift (Fig. 1). Mutations and gene flow introduce genetic variability into otherwise identical lineages of clonal daughter cells.
What is the importance of plant diversity to the environment?
What is the index of diversity of area 1?
With this index, 1 represents infinite diversity and 0, no diversity. To calculate Simpson’s Index for Muntanyans, two areas (natural vegetation and disturbed vegetation) must be sampled using quadrats placed randomly or systematically.