The term "biodiversity" or "biological diversity" describes the variety of living beings on Earth encompassing microorganisms, plants, animals, and ecosystems, such as coral reefs, forests, and deserts. In fact, it also represents a wealth of biological resources available to us.
Today, instead of exploring and preserving its unmapped biodiversity, mankind has gone away from mother nature, conquering the domain through relentless exploitation. This has resulted in an ecological imbalance and thereby has posed serious threat to biodiversity.
Declining biodiversity is, therefore, a concern for countless reasons. Biodiversity's wealth of genetic information can be conserved by storing biological material from endangered species. Cell lines, gametes, and embryos are preserved so that in case a species becomes extinct or there is a need to increase the population of the species, then cloning and artificial reproductive techniques can be used to revive and reproduce the said species.
The present volume discusses the biodiversity of specific animal groups, such as cnidarians and fish, as well as potential risks to and methods for conserving some of them.
The following important aspects are addressed:
1. The importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem balance for sustainability
2. The emerging role of biodiversity as a source of important materials, pharmaceuticals, food, and so on as such or through genetic manipulation to meet the contemporary and future challenges
3. The impact of environment degradation on biodiversity and conservation in a changing environment
4. Conventional and emerging biotechnological techniques to conserve biodiversity
The book is intended for academics, scientists, and naturalists working in the fields of biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and biomedical sciences.
Ranbir Chander Sobti, former Vice-Chancellor Panjab University, Chandigarh &Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (Central University), Lucknow is a scientist, an able administrator and dynamic institution builder.
He has published more than 300 papers in the journals of national and international repute such as Mutation Research, Carcinogenesis. Achieves of Toxicology, Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics, Molecular Cell Biochemistry, PLOS I to name a few. He has also published more than 50 books by international publishers such as Springers, Academic Press, CRC, Elsevier, and others.
He is a Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences India, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences Canadian Academy of Cardiovascular Diseases and few others. He was the General President of Indian Science Congress for the 102nd session held at University of Jammu in 2013. Dr.Sobti is the recipient of many prestigious awards like, the INSA Young Scientist Medal, UGC Career Award, Punjab Rattan Award, JC Bose Oration and Sriram Oration Awards and of Life Time Achievement Awards of the Punjab Academy of Sciences, Zoological Society of India, and the Environment Academy of India, besides many other medals and awards of national and International levels.
