Significance of marine biodiversity and environment

Sobhana, K S (2024) Significance of marine biodiversity and environment. In: Know your Marine Biodiversity & Environment MarBiE 3: Water and Sediment Analytical Techniques with Special Reference to Marine Life. CMFRI Training Manual Series No: 45/2024 . ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, pp. 3-10.

Text MARBIE 3_2024_K S Sobhana.pdf Download (581kB)

Abstract

Marine biodiversity refers to the vast variety of life forms that exist in the world's oceans, including ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity. Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth‘s surface and are home to millions of species, many of which remain undiscovered. Marine ecosystems, from the shallow coastal waters to the deep ocean floor, provide numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits. Given the increasing environmental challenges faced globally, the conservation of marine biodiversity has become a key focus in efforts toward sustainable environmental management. Marine biodiversity spans a vast range of life forms, from microscopic virioplankton to massive marine mammals, adapted to diverse habitats from the shallow seas to the deepest trenches (Ormond et al., 1997). The number of species in the ocean varies widely depending on the estimation methods and sources used. To date, approximately 3,00,000 marine species have been formally identified and described. It is believed that the oceans may harbour between 500,000 and 2 million species, with ongoing discoveries adding an average of 2,300 new species each year. This vast diversity includes not only animals, plants, and fungi but also protists and an innumerable variety of microorganisms like bacteria and archaea. Microbial diversity, in particular, is exceptionally high and difficult to quantify, likely making up the majority of species in marine ecosystems. These figures underscore the vast extent of marine biodiversity that remains unexplored, especially in under-researched environments such as the deep sea, polar regions, and remote coastal ecosystems. The challenge of uncovering this hidden diversity is particularly pronounced given the vastness of oceanic habitats and the technical difficulties associated with studying them.

Actions (login required)

View Item