Introduction

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life at all levels, from genes to ecosystems. It is essential for the stability and sustainability of ecosystems. NEET often tests concepts of biodiversity, its measurement, threats, and conservation strategies.

Biodiversity is critical for food security, medicine, ecological balance, and human well-being. Understanding it involves learning types of biodiversity, hotspots, species interactions, and conservation methods.

Direct Links to Download 2025-26 Formula Biology (PDF)

► Click “Download Now” next to your subject to access the free PDF.

♦ The Living World ⇒ Download Now

♦ Biological Classification ⇒ Download Now

♦ Plant Kingdom ⇒ Download Now

♦ Animal kingdom ⇒ Download Now

♦ Morphology of Flowering Plants ⇒ Download Now

♦ Anatomy of Flowerng Plants ⇒ Download Now

♦ Structural Organisation in Animals ⇒ Download Now

♦ Cell-The Unit of Life ⇒ Download Now

♦ Cell Cycle and Cell Division ⇒ Download Now

♦ Photosynthesis in Higher Plants ⇒ Download Now

♦ Respiration in Plants ⇒ Download Now

♦ Plant, Growth and Development ⇒ Download Now

♦ Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants ⇒ Download Now

♦ Human Reproduction ⇒ Download Now

♦ Reproductive Health ⇒ Download Now

♦ Principles of Inheritance and Variation ⇒ Download Now

♦ Molecular Basis of Inheritance ⇒ Download Now

♦ Human Health and Diseases ⇒ Download Now

♦ Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production ⇒ Download Now

♦ Microbes in Human Welfare ⇒ Download Now

♦ Biotechnology - Principles and Processes ⇒ Download Now

♦ Biotechnology and its Application⇒ Download Now

♦ Organisms and Populations ⇒ Download Now

♦ Ecosystem ⇒ Download Now

♦ Biodiversity and its Conservation ⇒ Download Now

♦ Environmental Issues ⇒ Download Now

♦ Body Fluid and Circulation ⇒ Download Now

♦ Excretory Products and Their Elimination ⇒ Download Now

♦ Locomotion and Movement ⇒ Download Now

♦ Neural Control and Coordination ⇒ Download Now

♦ Chemical Coordination and Intergration ⇒ Download Now

♦ Breathing and Exchange of Gases ⇒ Download Now

1. Types of Biodiversity

1. Genetic Diversity:

   • Variation of genes within a species

   • Examples: Different rice varieties, dog breeds

2. Species Diversity:

   • Number of species in a given area (species richness)

   • Formula (Shannon Index for NEET-level awareness):

     • H = – Σ (pi × ln pi), where pi = proportion of each species

3. Ecosystem Diversity:

   • Variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes

   • Examples: Forests, wetlands, grasslands, coral reefs

NEET Tip:

• Remember the three levels: Genetic → Species → Ecosystem

2. Importance of Biodiversity

1. Ecological Importance:

   • Maintains ecosystem stability

   • Pollination, nutrient cycling, soil formation

2. Economic Importance:

   • Food, timber, fibers, medicines, and bioresources

3. Aesthetic & Cultural Importance:

   • Recreational, spiritual, and scientific value

NEET Tip:

• Questions often ask biodiversity importance in daily life

3. Biodiversity Hotspots

Definition:

• Areas with high species richness and endemism under threat

Criteria:

• At least 1500 species of vascular plants as endemics

• Loss of at least 70% of original habitat

NEET-Level Hotspots in India:

1. Himalaya

2. Indo-Burma

3. Sundalands / Nicobar Islands

4. Western Ghats

5. Indo-Malayan region

6. Nicobar Islands

NEET Tip:

• Memorize hotspots and their characteristic species

4. Threats to Biodiversity

1. Habitat Loss & Fragmentation: Deforestation, urbanization

2. Overexploitation: Hunting, fishing, logging

3. Pollution: Air, water, soil contamination

4. Climate Change: Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns

5. Invasive Species: Compete with native species (e.g., Lantana, Water hyacinth)

NEET Tip:

• Understand cause → effect for MCQs

5. Endangered and Endemic Species

Endangered Species:

• Species at high risk of extinction

• Examples in India: Tiger, Asiatic Lion, One-horned Rhinoceros

Endemic Species:

• Species found only in a particular region

• Examples: Lion-tailed Macaque (Western Ghats), Nilgiri Tahr

NEET Tip:

• Questions may ask difference between endangered and endemic species

6. Biodiversity Conservation Strategies

A. In-situ Conservation (within natural habitat):

• Protected areas, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves

• Examples:

  • Jim Corbett National Park → Tiger

  • Gir Forest → Asiatic Lion

B. Ex-situ Conservation (outside natural habitat):

• Zoos, botanical gardens, seed banks, tissue culture, cryopreservation

• Examples:

  • Svalbard Seed Vault → Global seed bank

  • Captive breeding of Red Panda, Gharial

NEET Tip:

• Remember in-situ = natural, ex-situ = artificial

7. International and National Efforts

International Conventions:

• CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) → 1992

• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) → Controls trade

National Efforts (India):

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 → Protection of species

• Biodiversity Act, 2002 → Conservation and sustainable use

• Project Tiger, Project Elephant → Species-specific conservation

NEET Tip:

• Questions may involve year of acts and projects

8. Threatened Species Categories (IUCN Red List)

• Extinct (EX): No individuals left

• Extinct in the Wild (EW): Only in captivity

• Critically Endangered (CR): Extremely high risk of extinction

• Endangered (EN): High risk

• Vulnerable (VU): Likely to become endangered

• Near Threatened (NT) → Close to qualifying for threatened status

• Least Concern (LC) → Low risk

NEET Tip:

• Use acronym “E-E-C-E-V-N-L” for quick recall

9. NEET Important Formulas / Memory Aids

1. Species richness → Count of species in area

2. Shannon Index → H = – Σ (pi × ln pi)

3. Biodiversity importance → Ecological + Economic + Aesthetic

4. Population change impacting biodiversity → ΔN = (b – d) + (i – e)

Mnemonic for biodiversity conservation strategies:

• “I-E” → In-situ → Ecosystem / Ex-situ → Artificial

10. NEET Exam Tips

• Memorize biodiversity types, hotspots, threatened species, and conservation strategies

• Diagram-based questions → Biodiversity pyramid, in-situ vs ex-situ examples

• Focus on human impact and international conventions

• Prepare examples of endemic, endangered, and invasive species

Conclusion

Biodiversity and Its Conservation is a high-yield NEET topic. Mastery of types, importance, threats, hotspots, endangered species, and conservation strategies is essential for scoring in MCQs, diagrams, and conceptual questions.

With this StudentBro.in guide, students can efficiently revise biodiversity formulas, species examples, and conservation methods, enhancing speed and accuracy during NEET exams.

Remember: Biodiversity = Genetic + Species + Ecosystem Diversity → Threats + Conservation → Human Well-being → Core for ecology questions.