BIODIVERSITY IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION: MEANING OF BIODIVERSITY IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Abstract

The tenn biodiversity is a neologism and a portmanteau word from bio and
diversity. Generally biodiversity is knovim as variety of species, but it is divided to three subdivision; genetic diversity, which means diversity of gene within a species, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Here, I would like to describe about gene diversity and species diversity of animals, especially vertebrate in relation to animal production.

Species diversity of vertebrate animals is variety of fish, reptile, birds, and mammals, each include about 30,000, 3,000, 6,000, 8,600, and 4,500 species, respectively. Hmnrm beings utilize less than 50 species as livestock and less than 20 species as laboratory animals. If the total number of the animal species sum up both invertebrates and vertebrates, the number of animal species has increased during the last century. However, the increment is descriptive data, and substantial animal species has decreased. The increment in descriptive number is due to addition of newly found insects especially in tropical areas and fishes, because all extant insect and fishes are not listed yet. Actual number of extant animals has continued to shrink for the last century and erosion of animal diversity is worried not to leave current state for the future.

In addition to species diversity of animals, more serious problem is decrease of genetic varieties within a species of animals. Typically the panther is.the represent of shrinkage of genetic variety. In the domestic animals, similar problem occur in the sophisticated domestic animals by breed improvement.