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All unicellular Eukaryotes of the living flora & fauna are included in this kingdom. In fact this kingdom was created to place all such organisms that can neither be placed under Animals nor under plants purely because they are noted for having the characteristics typical of both plants and animals. Thus, today kingdom protista contain a variety of organisms that may be plant like or animal like or even some of them may be Fungi like. Nevertheless, of these various protistans, a category of organisms that certainly are of great economic and ecological significance are called as Chrysophytes that include two most important categories of plant like protistans called as Desmids and Diatoms. While desmids are generally called as golden brown algae, the diatoms may be called as yellow green algae. Of these, Diatoms are certainly one of the most economically important groups of algae. They are Marine in nature and have their cell walls generally impregnated with silica or more appropriately, silicon dioxide. The diatoms after death get deposited at the bottom of the water reservoir or sea wherein their resistant siliceous cell wall material gets deposited at the bottom of the sea and over million years of the accumulation of their discarded cell wall material has led to the formation of huge mountains of silica deposits under sea what we call as Diatomaceous earth. Since the cell wall material of diatoms is silica hence, the diatomaceous earth finds its extensive use in the glass industry for making commercial glass. Moreover, the fine glass particles derived from diatomaceous earth may find their application in the manufacture of the following products of great commercial significance:
As reflective paint on high ways, road signs and license plates. Nevertheless, the most significant aspect of diatoms economic importance lies in the fact that their presence in a sample core of the earth serves a useful indicator of having the oil deposits because much of the earth’s fossil fuel i.e. petroleum originates from diatoms. Over and above their immense economic significance, it is to be noted that the diatoms and desmids together constitute a major part of marine flora called as PLANKTONS and thus, are the largest photosynthesizers in the sea ecosystem on which entire marine fauna depends for survival. Noted further that the diatoms are the most well known plant like protests included under the division Chrysophyta of kingdom protista. They are characteristically noted for having fine geometrical expressions with beautiful sculpturing in their cell walls that makes these organisms as the most beautiful microscopic forms. Diatoms are so important to marine food webs that they have called the “pastures of the sea.” The economic significance of diatoms is in their being a source of diatomaceous earth or diatomite. The diatomite being a rich source of silica is an insoluble and chemically inert substance that is extensively used in the water filters. The sparkling paint used to draw road signs and even on roads has diatomite as one of its constituents. Similarly, the frosted nail polish also uses diatomite to add a sparkling touch to the same on being applied to the nails. Noted that the world’s precious diatomites are found in Lompoc of California (USA)…
Connecting concepts : What are Phytoplankton?
They are the typical plant like protists and commonly called as unicellular algae or most appropriately as the phytoplankton that simply means “floating plants”.
These protists are photosynthetic in nature and found widely distributed in lakes and oceans. The marine phytoplankton particularly, account for nearly 70% of all photosynthetic activity of the whole biosphere such that they consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen to the atmosphere thereby serving in one sense, as being the lungs of the marine ecosystem. Among these plant like protists are the protistans called as dinoflagellates which are photosynthetic and equipped with two flagella. Many dinoflagellates are known to exhibit an interesting phenomenon of bio-luminescence by emitting a characteristic bright blue green light on being disturbed. The typical example is that of Noctiluca.
Economic significance of Kingdom FUNGI
Fungi are a distinct group of plant like organisms, but are not truly called as plants because they completely lack chlorophyll and cannot do photosynthesis and are thus, better described as heterotrophs rather than being autotrophs as the green plants are known to have been. Quite naturally to assume that as the Fungi are acholorophyllous and non-photosynthetic in nature, they have for sustenance adapted to different modes of nutrition that may be saprophytic, parasitic or even symbiotic in nature. Although, in their parasitic adaptation, the fungi have been known to have caused some of the massive damages to the food crops and have had become a major cause of some of the worst famines, the world had witnessed, like Irish famine, yet their economic significance has also been a factor to reckon with in the history of mankind. Today, their role and use in the service of the man kind is so vast that it would be inconceivable to imagine the existence of a world of medicine without their being involved in one way or the other. From a wider perspective, the role and economic significance of kingdom fungi may be discussed as below:
Connecting concepts: Fungi & Zymology
Even after the discovery of Yeast and its role in the fermentation industry had been fully established, it was still remained a mystery as to what that is present in yeast actually causes the fermentation. The Scientists of the time thus called this mysterious substance in yeast as the ‘ferments’ until in the year 1903, a German chemist named Eduard Buchner isolated a substance from the yeast that was identified to be the actual substance present in the yeast that brings about the fermentation. This substance was later identified to be an enzyme named zymase. The zymase thus, became the first ever enzyme to be isolated and hence, the foundation of a new offshoot of biology was laid what we today call as zymology or enzymology. Infact, the word enzyme owes its origin to the isolation of first ever enzyme called zymase from that of the yeast. Hence, the term ‘enzyme’ is derived from a Greek en=in;zyme=yeast meaning- in yeast” However, the term Enzyme was coined by a German biochemist named Friedrich Wilhelm Kuhne in 1878 to refer to those biological catalysts that were present in the yeast and were previously called as the ferments. Noted further that the first clue about the existence of the substances called enzymes in the body of living organisms was provided by a Swedish chemist named Jon Berzelius somewhere, in the early part of the 19th century. He also discovered that an extract of potato is even more effective than the conc.sulphuric acid so far as the relative strength of the former to cause the breakdown of the starch was concerned. Given thus, Berzelius also concluded that potatoes contain some chemical substances that typically function as catalysts… Today, entire alcoholic fermentation industry is driven around the single most enzyme complex called as zymase probably, one of the most significant commercial applications of the Fungi world.
Fungi in Medicine and therauptic drugs:
Connecting concepts: Clavicep as a source of LSD:
By nature, Clavicep is a parasitic fungus that grows inside the ovary of cereals most commonly in Rye also called as Secale cereale and hence, is responsible for causing a disease called as ergot disease. That is why; Clavicep is also called Ergot fungus and has been known to be potential source of ergotine that is being used as uterus dilator. Nevertheless, Clavicep is also a source of a highly potent hallucinating drug called as LSD that stands for Lysergic acid diethylamide. LSD acts upon the CNS and thus, described as a psychotropic drug. A person having a hallucination effect of LSD often claims that” he can see the sound and can hear the colours.” It has been reported that most of the LSD victims commit suicide after being under the influence of a severe hallucination effect of LSD
Connecting concepts: Neurospora as Drosophila of Plant Kingdom:
Neurospora is a well known fungus, found commonly growing on the moist bread on which it commonly forms pinkish or reddish colonies. This is the reason that it is commonly called as ‘Pink mould’ or the red bread mould’. Neurospora has been extensively used in so called Biochemical genetics now famous as Neurospora Genetics that it has earned the title of being called the “Drosophila of Plant kingdom”. It was the famous “one gene one enzyme” hypothesis propounded by the duo of Beadle and Tatum that the Neurospora was first used in conducting the genetic researches in which particularly, the two species called N.crassa and N.tetrasperma were used.
Connecting concepts: Fungi and the World’s greatest famines:
The famous Irish famine of 1845 that resulted in large scale death and migration of the people from Ireland was the result of a serious fungal infection that struck the staple Potato crop of the Irish people. The fungal disease called Late blight of Potato was caused by a fungus named Phytophthora infestans was found to be so destructive to the potato crop that it did not only lead to a large scale death of the populace but it also led to the realization of a fact probably, for the first time that a plant disease could also result in a calamity of such a vast proportion and thus, became a turning point for making serious efforts at establishing plant pathology. Nevertheless, in India, while we were struggling for freedom in the 1940’s, a fungal disease struck the rice crop in Bengal region and thus, became a cause for the infamous Bengal famine that exactly coincided with the famous Quit India movement of 1942. The said fungus called Helminthosporium oryzae led to a serious disease of rice crop called “Leaf spot of rice” that later became the cause of Bengal famine.
Among the entire flora present on the earth, kingdom plantae includes a highly diverse group of plants some of which are as small as the microscopic wolfia, the smallest flowering plant on the earth to as big as the Red wood tree, the largest as well as the oldest tree in the world or for that matter, Raflessia, the largest flower in the world. However, taking the entire kingdom of plants from the evolutionary point of view, the kingdom plantae includes the following groups of plants in the strict chronological order of their evolution:
Connecting concepts: What’s Phytoremediation?
As we already know that the greatest role that the green plants or so called flora play on the Earth is to purify the atmosphere particularly, of the most abundant green house gases called carbon dioxide by consuming it during photosynthesis and hence, replenishing a continuous supply of oxygen to the atmosphere. This oxygen thus, makes the survival of all other living organisms on the planet Earth possible. Infact, this role of the flora in cutting down the increasingly swelling amount of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is called as phytoremediation. Over the years, the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere has considerably increased and that purely through anthropogenic activities such that it has led to a destructive phenomenon of Global warming. In view of this, a clarion call has been given by the weather scientists to the world at large to resort to a practice of planting more and more trees for the purposes of what we call as phytoremediation. In the modern parlance however, the cultivation of more and more trees to reduce the ever rising level of carbon dioxide is also suggested as a mean to achieve “carbon sequestration.”
The Algae were the first ever group of plants to have evolved on the planet earth and have remained primitive so far the structure & development of their plant body is concerned. They have however, been included in the kingdom plantae on the basis of their being photosynthetic and Eukaryotic in nature otherwise, they lack completely the typical plant structures or organs such as vascular tissue, true roots, stem or leaves. This is the reason that their plant body is referred to as a Thalloid that refers to a plant body which is not distinguished into true roots, stem or leaves. Today, this primitive group of plants called algae holds a great ecological as well as economic significance. In terms of the habitat, they are exclusively aquatic in nature, both fresh water and marine and indeed, are the largest phtosynthesizers on the planet earth. On the basis of the dominant pigment present in them, the algae are being classified into the following three classes:
The Grass green algae……..with chlorophyll as the dominant pigment
The Brown Algae…………..with dominant brown coloring pigment called fucoxanthine.
The Red Algae……………..with dominant Red coloring pigment called phycoerythrin.
Algae as food: A number of algae have traditionally been used as a source of food across the world even till date on account of their being a rich source of carbohydrates, inorganic compounds as well as vitamins. In Japan, red algae called Porphyra is used profusely as flavoring agent in soups and salads besides being used in a food item called as Amori or Nori. Similarly, in Japan or other neighboring countries, the brown alga called Ulva, Sargassum, Laminaria etc are being used as salad so much so that Ulva is there commonly called as Sea lettuce. An alga called Laminaria is known to be a rich source of Iodine vitally required for the health of the thyroid gland and as such, even in India, Laminaria is commonly harvested for Iodine mineral. In China, a BGA called Nostoc commune is used popularly as a food. Not surprisingly, in Scotland, an alga called Rhodymenia is chewed as tobacco. Presently, the scientists are doing a research to obtain foods of some value from a green alga called Chlorella as it is known to be a good source of protein as well as vitamins A and D. Though, Chlorella is also being used for decorating pasteries, sandwitches, rice, fish and cakes in Japan. Two famous red algae named Gelidium and Gracilaria are a source of a jelly like substance called as agar-agar that is used in the manufacture of ice cream. Simultaneously, the polysaccharides derived from brown algae, Kelps including from some red algae are used to stabilize and emulsify many food and non-food products.
Algae in Industry: Since, the red and brown algae have been known to be a rich source of polysaccharides that find many industrial uses such as algin, carrageenin and agar-agar, the cell wall derivatives of red & brown algae have a great commercial significance. The algin derived from brown algae is used in vulcanization, in typewriter roller and in the manufacture of non-inflammable films besides, being used in the manufacture of artificial fibres and to control blood flow during surgery. Carrageenin, is extracted from a sea weed called irish moss ( Chondrus crispus) is extensively used in the manufacture of cosmetics, boot polish and paint etc while, dairymen use the same to prevent the setting of ground chocolate in chocolate milk. Agar-agar, a jelly substance derived from some red algae has extensive industrial applications such as the manufacture of artificial fibres, leather, as a gel for canning fish and meat and for making frozen desserts. The Biscuits prepared from agar- agar are recommended to diabetic patients and above all, the agar-agar has been used for preparing the culture media on which the microorganisms like bacteria or tissues are grown for laboratory research. The brown algae like Laminaria & Ficus etc. have been used in the manufacture of Iodine, bromine and Acetone while, in Japan, the brown algae called Sargassum is used in the manufacture of artificial wool.
Note: In one of the seas, the growth of brown algae, Sargassum is so abundant that it has been named as Sargasso Sea!
Algae in Medicine: An antibiotic named chlorellin is extracted from green algae called Chlorella. This antibiotic has been found to be quite effective against almost all gram–negative bacteria. Similarly, another alga called Nitella has been proved to be quite effective against its use as a biocontrol agent of mosquitoes and is thus, grown in ponds where it is responsible for causing the death of mosquitoes and their larvae.
Algae as raw material & a source of minerals in the manufacturing industry: In this capacity, the algae find their application in the following respects:
Algae in Biological research: It is not surprising to say that one of the greatest physiological phenomena of plants called photosynthesis in parts was discovered through a research on a green alga called Chlorella. Similarly, another green alga called Acetabularia also named under the epithet of mermaid’s purse was employed to study the impact of nucleus on the morphogenesis of an organism.
The ecological significance of Algae: The greatest ecological significance of algae stems from the fact of their being the largest photo synthesizers on the planet earth especially, of the marine ecosystem where they are known collectively as the planktons. Given thus, the entire marine fauna is dependent upon them not only for their oxygen needs, but as being the very first trophic level of the food chain that sustains the marine ecosystem just, because they are the primary producers in the sea. However, there are certain red algae that cause calcium carbonate to precipitate around them derived from the dead sponges and as such have caused the formation of some of the world’s most important coral reefs. It is to be noted that some green algae are known to exist in one of the most significant symbiotic associations with Fungi called as Lichens. These Lichens are known to have a great ecological significance in their being the most notable pollution indicators. Since, they are highly sensitive to air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and cannot survive in the regions where the content of SO2 is more and hence, serve an indicator of high sulphur dioxide pollution in the atmosphere that may warrant an immediate action.
Connecting concepts: What are Bioindicators?
Bioindicators or Biological indicators are the organisms used to monitor the health of the environment or ecosystem as such. They are thus, any biological species or a group of species whose function, population or even status in the given environment or ecosystem may be used to determine the actual health or the integrity of the ecosystem or environment. An example of such a group may be cited as the copepods including several other small water crustaceans universally present in almost all water bodies. Such organisms are monitored for changes that may be biochemical, physiological or even behavioral that may indicate a problem within their ecosystem. Inshort, the Bioindicators can tell us about the cumulative effect that the different pollutants can have on the given ecosystem and how long the said problem may have been present in that particular ecosystem or environment. In other words, it can be said that a biomonitor or Bioindicator can indicate the presence of the pollutants in the environment in which that particular organism that acts as a bioindicator actually lives and simultaneously, also provides some additional information regarding the intensity and the amount of it being exposed by the said pollutant. Among these bioindicators, the Lichens have stood out more glaringly while they indicate the concentration of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. Lichens generally grow on rocks and tree trunks and respond dynamically to environmental changes in forests or to changes in the forest structure or for that matter, to the changes in the air quality or climatological changes. Therefore, the disappearance of Lichens in a forest may per se indicate some serious environmental stresses such as a high level of sulfur dioxide or the sulfur based pollutants as well as a high level of NOX. Similarly, the composition as well as the total biomass of ALGAL species in an aquatic ecosystem can serve as an indicator for the amount of organic pollution and nutrient loading in the said aquatic ecosystem which in strict biological terms is denoted as BOD…
Bryophytes followed next to algae in their evolution and have evolved little more in their body structure & differentiation as compared to algae. Owing to this evolutionary advancement that the bryophytes attained over the algae, they became adapted to enjoin two types of lives in terms of their habitat and thus, earned the title of being the Amphibians of the plant kingdom exactly parallel to what that the amphibians of the animal kingdom have been known for!
The economic significance of the bryophytes is not at the scale as what the algae have been known for just because, they are non-edible in nature or seldom have any nutrition value as such. But even then, whatever economic significance they might have cannot be overlooked atleast. Among the various bryophytes, the most important bryophyte having some economic significance to the mankind is the peat moss that includes some of the species of a bryophyte called as Sphagnum. The peat moss is known to have a very high calorific value of around 3300 calories per gram, a value that is far greater than the wood. It is thus no surprise that a country like Ireland obtains its almost more than 20% of energy needs from peat. Second economic significance of Bryophytes lies in their capacity to hold water in their body and can absorb it as much as over 20 to 30 times of their body weight. This property of bryophytes has made them to be used as a damp cushioning material for shipping across the live plant materials over large distances. Even, a bryophyte named Dicra noweisia is being used to water proof the roof of the houses in Europe.
Connecting concepts: Anthoceros as Biofertilizer:
Just like Azolla, an aquatic fern is being used as a biofertilizer especially, in rice crops because, it has an endophytic symbiotic association of a cyanobacterium called Anabaena that is responsible for fixing the atmospheric molecular nitrogen into the useful nitrates. Exactly similar is a moss plant (Bryophyte) called Anthoceros that is also noted for having a similar endophytic symbiotic association of another cyanobacterium called NOSTOC that occurs in many colonies inside the body of this bryophyte and hence, performs a similar role of nitrogen fixation thus, making it to act as a useful biofertilizer too. Noted that the two mosses such as Reindeer moss and Iceland moss should not be confused with the actual moss plants as they are not bryophytes, but the Lichens in the true sense of the term. Similarly, Irish moss is also not a true moss, but a red marine alga scientifically called as Chondrus crispus.
Just as their predecessors, Bryophytes were called the amphibians of the plant kingdom; the Pteridophytes are described as the Snakes & Lizards of the Plant Kingdom for the simple fact that they became the first ever terrestrial or land plants on the earth just like their corresponding counterparts in animal kingdom called Reptiles became adapted to a terrestrial mode of life. Nevertheless, Pteridophytes were a major advancement over their predecessors both in terms of body structure and development of specialized plant body structures and organs. As such, the Pteridophytes not only became the first ever land plants but, were also the first ones to have developed a vascular tissue in them in the form of xylem & phloem. Their economic significance may be considered from the following view points:
As Pesticides: A Pteridophyte called Lycopodium and many of its species are to synthesize complex nitrogen containing chemicals so called alkaloids that can act as potent animal poisons. The dried and powdered leaves of Lycopodium that contain the above chemicals are thus, used as pesticides in some parts of the Eastern Europe.
Connecting concepts: Adder’s Tongue fern and other interesting ferns:
It indeed is very interesting to note that a fern plant called Ophioglossum also called as Adder’s tongue fern is the only living species that has the highest chromosome number in the entire living world. Its diploid i.e. 2n chromosome number is 1262 and haploid chromosome number i.e. is 631. Similarly, Adiantum is a fern plant that is known after an epithet of Walking fern because, its leaves on striking soil gives off roots and thus makes a new plant and hence, the name walking fern is given to it. At the same time, the Adiantum is also noted for having very beautiful leaves and thus is also called as ‘Maiden hair fern.’ Equisetum is a fern which appears morphologically as a horse tail and hence, the name horse tail or Equisetum is given to it. Equisetum holds a great economic significance in being considered as an indicator of gold. Whereas, the ferns like Lycopodium and Selaginella are of great medicinal value…
The Gymnosperms became the penultimate group of highly evolved plants that came after the Pteridophytes. Though, they became the first group of plants to have developed the seeds completely, but remained deficient so far as the development of fruit was concerned. This is why, they came to be called as Gymnosperms meaning naked seeded. Today, they are the world’s oldest and the longest ever group of plants. Sequoia wellingtonia, commonly called as red wood tree is the world’s tallest plant with a height of over 400 feet and is situated in the Red wood park, California, USA.
The economic significance of Gymnosperms may be discussed as below:
As a source of Timber: Almost 75% of the world’s timber is produced by the Gymnosperms. As such various species of Pinus are very important timber trees. In this regard, P.roxburghii (Chir) and P.wallichiana (Kail) are employed in making railway sleepers. A gymnosperm called as Douglas fir is probably, the most desirable timber tree in the world today because, its wood is not only strong, but is free of knots as well. Owing to this property, it is extensively used in manufacturing ply woods. Similarly, Red woods species called as (Sequoia sempervirens) is also an important timber tree. As it is known for having a chemical substance in it that is very effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi on it.
As a source of pulp in paper industry: The Conifers like Spruce (Picea sps.) are an important source of pulp wood used in paper manufacturing.
As a source of Resin: Resin is an exudation released by almost all Gymnosperms. It is basically, a combination of a liquid solvent called as turpentine and a waxy substance called as rosin. Turpentine has a great commercial significance for being used as a solvent in paints and varnishes including its extensive use in making deodorants, shaving creams as well in manufacturing limonene of commercially sold lemonade.
Kauripines are known to produce a mixture of resins called as Dammer being used in high quality colorless varnishes. Dammer is also called as amber and is obtained primarily in the fossil form from the remains of the dead kauri pines, has great palentological significance as it is remarkable for preserving typically life like forms of pre-historic flora and fauna t5hat might have existed on the planet earth billion or million years ago.
Juniperus, a variety of Gymnosperms, their wood is highly useful and commonly used in making pencils and cigar boxes. Wood of red spruce is especially important for the music industry owing to the property of resonance, the Juniper wood has and thus, is ideally used for making sound boards in violins and other music instruments.
Canada balsam derived from the balsam fir (Abies balsamea) is today used for making permanent mounts on glass slides to be viewed under a microscope.
Gymnosperms of food value: Gnetum is cultivated in Java for its shoots that are cooked in coconut oil and consumed. Similarly, seeds of Pinus girardiana called as Chilgoza are very nutritious and consumed as dry fruit.
Gymnosperms in Medicines: A very effective anti cancer drug called Taxol is being derived from a gymnosperm Taxus brevifolia, commonly known as Yew plant. Taxol has a unique property of freezing the cancer cells early in the process of their division leading to their death. Today, the taxol is being synthesized chemically as well. Similarly, another Gymnosperm called Ephedra is a source of a substance called as Ephedrine that is widely used in the treatment of asthma as well as other respiratory problems as well as a common ingredient of almost all cough syrups.
Angiosperms, the highly evolved groups of plants present on the earth today and whatever that man derives from the plants either, in the form of plant products or services is sourced, but from the Angiosperms only. In short, it may be far better to say that human existence is just inconceivable without there being the angiosperms in our life. Right from the food crop plants such as cereals to fruit bearing plants including a whole lot of herbs, spices yielding and medicinal plants are all angiosperms. They are also the plants that constitute the feed and fodder of all herbivores on this earth. Angiosperms are so numerous in their number and variety that they have been classified into a number of families such that each family is known for having its own economic significance. Let’s analyze them individually for their own economic significance:
Family- Ranunculaceae: Commonly called as Buttercup family and as such, it is considered to be the most primitive family among angiosperms. This family is known for having some of the plants of great economic value such as:
An alkaloid named aconite that is used for blood pressure is extracted from the roots of a plant belonging to this family called as Aconitum.
A famous homeopathic medicine named pulsatilla that is used for curing menstrual troubles amongst women. It is derived from Anemone pulsatilla.
Ranunculus is used against piles.
Family-Cruciferae: This family contains some of the most common plants that we often use as vegetables such as Cabbage and Radish etc. However, most important plant that is of great economic value belonging to this family is the famous oil yielding Yellow mustard, black mustard including rye that is famously used as spice.
Family- Leguminosae: All edible pulses are included in this family of angiosperms. Yet, economically important plants belonging to this family are Indigo, famous dye yielding plant called as Neel. Moreover, the famous timber yielding plants of this family are Shesham commonly called as Indian red wood and Kala Shesham commonly called as Indian Rose wood. Methi, the famous spice of Indian households also belong to this family. Not to mention more, one of the plants of this family whose seeds are famous for being used as jewelers weight as its weight is exactly equal to one ratti. This plant is known as Abrus precatorius. Similarly, another plant named Dalhousiea bracteata whose leaves are used as the wrappers for Birees, popularly called as country cigratte.
Family- Compositae: It is the largest family of angiosperms containing over 23000 species which are found growing almost everywhere in every kind of habitat on this earth. The famous sun flower belongs to this family. A plant called Cynara of this family from whose flowers, insulin is extracted for diabetic patients. Santonin is prepared from the flowers of Artemisia that is used for removing the worms from the body.
Family-Solanaceae: This family consists of some of the most common edible tubers such as potato, vegetables such as brinjal and tomato including the green or red chillies etc. However, among the commercially important crops or plants is Tobacco that yields the tobacco of commerce from its dried leaves. Moreover, as its leaves contain an alkaloid called nicotine which is also used as an insecticide. Among the medicinal plants, the most important being Atropa belladonna, the roots of which are used for deriving belladonna plasters. Also used as a sedative and an antispasmodic. An alkaloid called as atropine is commercially derived from it that is being used as a sedative drug. Similarly, another plant called as Henbane, the leaves of which yield an alkaloid called hyoscyamine that is used as a sedative narcotic besides being used in the treatment of Asthma and whooping cough.
The bottom line: Regarding the economic significance of angiosperms, it is sufficient to argue that all necessities of mankind are fulfilled almost entirely be the angiosperms not only now but ever since the dawn of human civilization when man transformed from a mere hunterer to a settled agricultural mode of life. Today, the food we eat comes from the cereals, the fruit we relish and medicines of cure, all but derived by us from the angiosperms only. Above all, the angiosperms are also a source of paper, fibers, beverages, dyes, spices and condiments. It thus, goes without saying that human life is almost inconceivable without having angiosperms in his life…….
ANIMAL world is not only vast but quite diverse as well. As on date, over a million species or varieties of fauna have been identified, reported, named and known to us and still more and more are being discovered steadily; almost day in and day out. Nevertheless, the discovery and reportage of over a million species of animals today indicates that there is indeed a large scale and gradient of diversity in animal life that might be present on this earth. However, it sounds rational to assume that as there is a huge diversity of fauna on this earth; equally diverse are the habitats that this fauna may be found in. As such, some are known to be aquatic in their habitat then, others are found to be terrestrial in nature. Even amidst these terrestrial forms, some of them may be arboreal, aerial or for that matter, may be fossorial in nature. In the same vein, of those aquatic forms, some of them may be marine or fresh water in nature. Since, the oceans constitute well over 71% of the planet earth, it is highly probable that the marine fauna certainly exceeds in number as against their terrestrial counterparts and most likely be the highly diverse in nature. This is how that the marine fauna may be described as either being benthonic, pelagic or littoral in existential character. Even among the pelagic forms, some are adapted to live in coastal waters where the sea depth may be around 200 meters and hence, called as neritic while, the others that may live at greater depths in sea and are being described as oceanic. Similarly, among the fresh water forms, the one’s that inhabit the standing water bodies are said to be the Lentic and those that are found in the running water are accordingly called as Lotic. Notwithstanding these aquatic forms whether marine or fresh water, some are being found in an actively swimming mode and as such are called as Nektonic. Whereas, those that are adapted to swim or floating passively on the surface are respectively called as Planktonic and so on…
Keeping in view the fact of there being a huge diversity of flora and fauna or for that matter, of the fauna particularly around us with their equally varying habitats, the world community of Biologists and Naturalists took upon themselves a daunting task of classifying the entire fauna in a way that it could facilitate their easy study and understanding besides, helping them to trace their evolutionary path. Hence, a modern yet, scientific system of classification was proposed to classify today’s entire fauna into the following six categories or ranks starting from the lowest to the highest rank thereby, tracing the complete description of an organism that will not only point out at its closest stock of origin but the remotest relationship as well. The fauna that has been classified today starting from the lowest unit of classification to the higher one is given as below:
SPECIES
GENUS
FAMILY
ORDER
CLASS &
PHYLUM. And encompassing all these units; at the apex is kingdom Animalia or animal kingdom.
For a layman, this hierarchy of classification of world fauna may be compared with a TREE that in its entirety represents the kingdom Animalia and its different parts shall denote the following units of classification:
Entire LEAVES
represent the various Species.
Slender BRANCHLETS
represent the Genera.
Larger BRANCHLETS
represent the Families.
Smaller BRANCHES
represent the Order.
Larger BRANCHES
represent the Classes.
Main BRANCHES
represent the Phyla.
Main TRUNK/ TREE
represents the Animal Kingdom.
Today, the animal kingdom incorporates the various kinds of fauna divisible into various Phyla notwithstanding the fact that all animals in kingdom animalia are essentially multicellular & Eukaryotic in nature in the first place and as such are described as Metazoans. The Metazoans are further classified into the two main branches respectively called as Parazoa and Eumetazoa. Noted that the entire animal kingdom is classified into 11 major phyla of which 10 are from non-chordates and only 1 belongs to chordates. Accordingly, of the two major branches of Eumetazoans, the parazoa includes only a single phylum called as Porifera that represent the most primitive of all animals included in animal kingdom. However, the Eumetazoa includes all those animals other than in the phylum porifera. Since, Eumetazoa include somewhat more advanced animals than the poriferans although, in the strict order of their having evolved on this earth, they are as such further being classified into two main divisions purely, on the basis of their body symmetry characteristic. Therefore, the two main divisions, the Eumetazoans have been classified into are: Division Radiata and division Bilateria respectively.
Division Radiata: includes all those animals that have been noted for having a radial symmetry of their body that exactly refers to symmetry or simply called geometry of the body wherein, the body of an organism can be divided or cut into two equal halves by any plane passing through the central axis of their body.
Division Bilateria: includes all those organisms that have a body symmetry in which their body can be divided or cut into two equal halves, but by a single plane passing through the centre. Invariably, more advanced and evolved groups of animals have been included under division bilateria that also include human beings as well. In terms of phyla, the division radiata includes the following two phyla of organisms:
*Division Radiata: Phylum Cnidaria (formerly called Coelenterata)
--Do------ : Phylum Ctenophora (formerly under Coelenterata)
*Division Bilateria: includes the following phyla of organisms that covers rest all.
Phylum Platyhelminthes, commonly as: Flat worms.
Phylum Aschelminthes, commonly as: Round or thread worms.
Phylum Annelida, commonly as: Segmented worms (Earth worms)
Phylum Arthropoda, commonly as jointed legged- invertebrates.
Phylum Mollusca: soft bodied invertebrates such as snails, bivalves
Phylum Echinodermata: spiny skinned invertebrates such as star fish.
Phylum Chordata: All vertebrates right from fishes to mammals (man).
Following a perusal of phyla given above, it may be concluded that all organisms right from the porifers to chordates are essentially multicellular (metazoans) in nature and together constitute the whole animal kingdom. Herein below follows the economic significance of our vast and highly diversified fauna with a special mention of only those that really have some economic significance to the mankind as such:
Their name is derived from the characteristic pores that they have on their body and hence, also called as pore bearers. In common parlance, they are called as sponges and their study is called as parazoology. Their entire body is either Calcareous or Siliceous in nature such that their endoskeleton is chemically made up of Calcium carbonate or Silicon and clearly, the Sponges are commercially important for being a source of calcium carbonate as well as silica that may be used in glass industry. In ancient times, due to Sponges great ability to hold water or fluid, they were said to be used for drinking wine or other beverages.
Euspongia is a common bath sponge commonly used in Indian households whereas; Hyalonema is a common glass sponge has an ornamental use.
Euplectella, a sponge that holds a great economic and emotional significance especially, in Japan where it is famously called as Venus flower basket that is given as a wedding gift to symbolize “Union till death” or “Till death do us apart” denoting the newly wed couple. This giving away of the symbolic gift of Euplectella sponge on a wedding occasion, but has a biological rationale behind rather than having a mythological basis. And the biological truth about this is that when Euplectella is young, at its mouth opening called osculum, sieve plates have not been developed such that its osculum remains open. This time, pair of small crustaceans (shrimps) male and female enters into its body. This crustacean pair is called as Spongicola. Later, as this sponge grows up, it develops sieve plates on its osculum and closes it such that the shrimp pair cannot escape and remain inside this sponge until death. Hence, it symbolizes a union of two individuals as life partners who are destined to live & die together…
These organisms of marine fauna were named after the presence of specialized stinging capsules on their tentacles which they generally use as their organs of defence and offence. Since, these stinging capsules are called as cnidoblasts though; they are also called as nematocysts sometimes and thus, been the logic behind their current nomenclature. No doubt, the Cnidarians include some of the very interesting organisms of the marine fauna though, most of them are highly predacious and poisonous notably, Jelly fish, Portuguese man of war etc, but still some of them do possess some economic significance of their own if not, then certainly of great ecological significance atleast. In this regard, the significance of Cnidarians have been in the formation of the world’s some of the best known coral reefs. As a majority of the Cnidarians are known to secrete an exoskeleton of corals that may exist either in their solitary or colonial form. The coral of the former kind is called as Corallium and the one of the later kind is called as Coral reef. On the basis of their proximity to the sea, the coral reefs are being classified into following three types:
The Annelids include a diverse kind of fauna that are characterized for having a segmented body not only externally, but internally as well. On the evolutionary scale became the first organisms to have a blood vascular system with their blood having the typical respiratory pigments like Hb. although, their blood still lacked the RBC’s. But their name is certainly coined after the characteristic segmentation in their body that appears in the form of rings and hence, the name Annelida (Gk.Annulus=rings). However, of the many annelids, the one that certainly holds great economic as well as ecological significance is the common soilivorous creature, Earth worm. It has since long been known to the mankind as the natural ploughman or tiller of the land. As such, it is of great significance in the agriculture because; it can make the soil porous and airy through its property of vermicomposting thereby, facilitating in the germination of the seeds. Owing to this unique property, the earth worm is today extensively used as a biofertilizer throughout the world and is thus, reared as vermiculture for manuring the agricultural fields and has long been recognized as a ‘friend of the farmer’. Darwin, the great evolutionary biologist predicted that there is around 50,000 to 25 Lac earth worms present in an acre of land, making it fertile for the cultivation of crops. In ecological terms, it constitutes an important part of a food chain what we call as Detritus food chain. There are many varieties of earth worm, the most common being the Pheretima posthuma. However, other varieties of Earth worm include, Lumbricus (European earthworm), Megascolex (south Indian earthworm) etc. Noted that a variety of Earth worm called Tubifex is noted for living in muddy waters or some highly polluted water bodies. It can survive under extremely less oxygenic conditions and as such, serves the purpose of being used as an indicator of water pollution. It looks bright red in color and is commonly called as Blood worm. The earliest instance of Earth worm being of any economic significance comes from its use in Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine for the treatment of gout, but its importance in some other areas may also include its use as a bait for fishing, as the nature’s ploughman, to increase the soil fertility through the addition of its excretory and faecal matter such that today, there is a high demand for the so called wormi-post manure in the domain of ‘organic farming’. Noted further that there is another Annelid, famous as blood sucking leech that generally lives as a blood sucking ectoparasite on vertebrates commonly, on cattle had been found to be of great medicinal importance during ancient times. Since, it is known to have an anticoagulant called as hirudin in its saliva that prevents the coagulation of blood during its blood meal. In ancient China, it was used to treat the high blood pressure patients. However, in the Indian context, the great surgeon of ancient India, Susruta is known to have made an extensive use of live leeches during his operative surgeries. This use of leeches in operative surgeries in medical parlance is called as Phlebotomy.
Of the entire approximately, 12 lakh animal fauna that has been discovered, reported or recorded and found to exist on the earth today, almost around 9.5 lakh fauna species are the Arthropods. Thus, Arthropoda today is the largest phylum of animal kingdom. This in simple terms means that out of 10 animal fauna present on the earth today, 7 are the arthropods. Although, Arthropods today include a huge variety of organisms that are as much diverse in their shape, size and nature as they are diverse in their habitats. Thus, Arthropods today may be found as being adapted to aquatic that may be fresh water or marine, terrestrial or even to aerial mode of life. This may probably be the reason that they are the most abundant group of organisms on the planet earth because; they managed to survive through the time amidst whatever habitat & conditions, they found themselves to be in. Nevertheless, the name Arthropoda was and is given to them after their characteristic feature of having the jointed legs or appendages from the Gk. (Arthro=jointed; poda= legs/appendages). The Scientists also argue that their being the largest group of all organisms included in the kingdom Animalia today, can also be attributed to the fact of their being covered over by an exoskeleton made of a special material called as chitin that chemically is a complex polysaccharide completely resistant to external wear and tear of any kind thereby, making them to tide over even the harshest and severest of the external environmental conditions. As said earlier, the Arthropods as being the highly diverse group of organisms, the most important and abundant among these all have been the Insects that also represent the arthropods which are aerial in mode of their habitat. Ofcourse, the only non-chordates than can be aerial in nature as well as the one’s that can be of greater economic significance for the mankind. These economically significant arthropods (insects) may be classified as beneficial insects whose economic significance is being described as below:
The economic significance of these beneficial insects may be studied from the following view points:
Insects as the producers of useful products: In this category, following insects may fall
*Silk moth: The silk worm or silk moth has long been recognized as a source of commercial silk across the world such that it has given birth to an industry of its kind what we call as sericulture. China was the first country in the world where silk production started on a commercial scale and from there it is believed that the silk cocoons were smuggled across to India by the traveling monks through the route which even till date is called as silk route. The silk is secreted by the larval form of the silk moth (caterpillar) as a secretion of saliva from its salivary glands which are specialized and modified in the form of silk glands. It is the Parotid gland of the salivary glands that actually secretes the silk. As this salivary secretion gets exposed to the air, it solidifies into a fine thread of silk. Soon the caterpillar larvae undergoes next moulting and transforms into a pupa and starts winding around itself the silk so as to enclose itself into a cocoon. It is at this stage that the silk of commerce is actually derived by placing the cocoons in boiling hot water and hence, the commercial silk is extracted from cocoons.
Noted that the silk is chemically a protein that is structurally a beta pleated protein whose inner core is made of a protein called Fibroin while, its outer coating is made of a protein called as Sericin. The silk on being burnt gives a smell of burnt feather.
Noted that a single cocoon of silk worm yields about 1000 meters of silk thread.
About 25,000 cocoons can yield approx one pound of silk.
Connecting concepts: India and her Silk industry
It is said that the rearing of silk worm and silk industry started in India with the introduction of silk worm from China that was believed to be smuggled across to India by the Buddhist monks in the form of cocoons. On the basis of the leaves that the silk worms feed on, they are of two types
Mulberry silk worm: This is scientifically called as Bombyx mori and is entirely domesticated and reared on the leaves of Mulberry tree (Morus alba)
Non-Mulberry silk worm: Since this silk worm does not feed on the Mulberry leaves, but on some other leaves and thus, is of three types
Eri silk worm: Its larvae feed on the leaves of Castor and thus, produce a low quality silk called as eri silk popularly called as’ poor man’s silk’.
Tasar silk worm: Its larvae feed on the leaves of Arjuna or on the leaves of Saal tree (Shorea robusta) and thus is producer of what we call as Tasar silk.
Muga silk worm: This worm feeds on the leaves of Som plant and is a producer of muga or munga silk that is the costliest of all silks. It is pertinent to note that India is the only country in the world that produces all the four varieties of natural silk at commercial scale. Otherwise India ranks 3rd among the mulberry silk producing countries while, it ranks 2nd among the Tasar silk producing countries of the world. Nevertheless, Muga silk is produced only in India in its state of Assam…
Throughout the world, around 5 crore pounds of silk is being produced currently per annum from the cultivation of silk worm.
Besides being a source of commercial silk, the silk worm has been known to be of great medicinal importance as the extract of the bodies of silk worm pupae has traditionally been used in the treatment of disorders like abnormal menstrual cycles in females, leucorrhoea and even for treating chronic diarrhea.
*Honey Bees: Their economic significance has given birth to a new cottage industry of commerce called as Apiculture. As such, the honey bees have been a source of honey and bee wax. There are many species of honey bees that are being reared for honey. However, a species called Apis dorsata, commonly called as Rock bee is not only the largest honey bee species, but also has the hugest honey production per comb that may range from 15 to 30 kg/comb yet, the Indian species called as Apis indica yields around 5-15kg of honey per comb and is cultivated in different parts of the country for commercial honey and wax. Karl Marx, the great philosopher and propounder of Marxisian economic concept once remarked that “the architectural arrangement of “CELLS” in a beehive puts the best of human made architecture to shame.” Notwithstanding this all, the economic significance of honey bees may be enumerated as below:
* The bee wax is commercially used for making wax candles, cream, polish, carbon ribbons and papers as well as used in cosmetics and in certain ointments.
* The honey is a natural antiseptic and a valuable tonic for the human body per-se. Honey is believed to contain over 80 substances of great medicinal value besides being a rich source of enzymes, vitamins and disaccharide sugars. The most important sugars present in honey are glucose (laevulose + dextrose) and predominantly, fructose. Being an antiseptic, honey may even be applied on the exposed wounds and has traditionally been used for the cure of ulcers. Not surprising, all ayurvedic medicines are always recommended for being consumed with honey only. It is pertinent to note that the honey is not a secretion of the honey bee, but is a produce formed in the crop of the honey bee from the pollen grains and nectar through enzymatic actions. Honey is not only the sweetest substance on the earth, but has traditionally been known to be a great laxative agent. Medically, it is also a blood purifier and is known to raise the hemoglobin level in the blood. Simultaneously, it is also a good source of vitamins such as B1, B6 and vitamin C and is also used in confectionary and alcohol industry. Notably, a drug prepared from the bodies of honey bees has traditionally been used for the treatment of Diphtheria. Similarly, the venom of honey bees has also been used in the treatment of arthritis and snake bite…
(Note): Propolis, a substance called as Bee-glue is prepared by the honey bees from resin collected by them from the plants. It is used by the honey bees for filling up the cracks and crevices of the cells of honey comb.
Surprisingly enough, to make one kg of honey, a foraging bee has to bring in over 1 to 1.5 lacs of nectar loads from flowers. Supposedly, if the said flowers are about 1500 metres away from the hive, the forager bee has to fly for an average of 3kms for each load that simply translates into a figure of whopping 360,000 to 450,000 kms to collect just one kg of honey. This further sound incredible that for raising this much of honey, a forager bee has flown over 8 to 11 times of the distance round the earth!
*The Lac insect: Scientifically called as Laccifer or Tachardia Lacca, is a type of scale insect found in the thick forests of India, Burma and other south Asian countries. During unfavorable conditions, the female species of this insect secretes lac to form a sort of protective nest upon the branches of some popular trees like Peepal, Dhak and Bargad etc for the purpose of laying eggs. The nest wall is generally 1 to 2 cms in thickness. In India, a place called Mirzapur, a district of U.P, lac is collected on a large scale for trade such that India exports as much as over 2 crore kg of lac annually. The commercial significance of Lac lies in its use in the manufacture of shell lac, varnish, Polish, buttons, bangles, sealing wax, gramophone records, toys as well as in the manufacture of various electrical items. Similarly, a very popular dye is being prepared from the dead and dried bodies of the female lac insect. This dye is religiously used by the women folk of India for Alta or mahavar. Noted that the lac is secreted from the epidermal or cutaneous glands that are spread all over the body of the female insect. There are 2-crops per year called as Rajni and Kusumi (named after the Hindi names of the plants).
(Note): A myth is that the Kauravas built a palace of lac to kill Pandavas and came to be known as Lakshagrah!
Another beneficial insect that is also a type of scale insect, but unlike lac insect, is a bug called as Cochineal bug. It feeds upon cacti. The dried and dead bodies of this bug are also used for manufacturing another popular dye called as Cochineal (locally as Lahi). This dye is again used by our rural women folk for Alta or mahavar. Simultaneously, Cochineal is also used to color wine and certain drugs. Medically, cochineal is being used for the treatment of whooping cough and neuralgia. In the world, this bug is cultured on a commercial scale especially, in the countries like Mexico, Spain, and Peru & Algiers etc.
At last, but not the least, an insect popularly called as Blister beetle that is abundantly found in countries like France and Spain. A drug called as Cantheridin is prepared from the blood of this insect that is being used for ensuring the healthy growth of the hair….
The second largest group of organisms after the Arthropods in the animal kingdom. Not surprisingly, Mollusca include the marine fauna that is characterized not only for being the largest of invertebrates in the sea, but also one of the most intelligent of the invertebrate fauna. Giant Squid may be quoted as example in this regard. The economic significance of Mollusca may be cited as below:
A class of Mollusca called commonly as Bivalves have been a source of the highly precious Oysters popularly called as Pearl oysters. Oysters are chemically nothing but calcium carbonate. The famous Indian pearl oyster is called as Pinctada vulgaris. The pearl is basically secreted by the shell glands present in the mantle. The pearl cultivation to derive the pearls of commerce first of all originated in Japan and hence, it is also the oldest industry of Japan.
Shanks that are sourced from conch shells and is a pride of every Hindu temple of India is also a Molluscan product that is commonly blown in Hindu religious ceremonies as well as rituals. Similarly, another product of some commercial significance called as Cowries are also derived from the Molluscans that in Indian Hindu marriages usually constitute a part of newly getting married bride. Nevertheless, the commercial significance of molluscans has been recognized to the extent that today, it has led to the formation of a new offshoot of Biology called as Malacology. Sometimes, it is also called as Conchology to refer to the study of Molluscs and their shells...
Fishes: The economic significance of fishes has given birth to a technique what we call as Pisciculture that simply refers to rearing of fishes at commercial level. The economic significance of fishes may be considered from the following view points:
All said and done, the other chordates that are to known to have some economic significance may be referred to as the birds (Aves) and Mammals respectively. While we all know that the economic significance of birds lies in their being used as a source of meat as well as eggs. This has thus resulted into another revolution called as silver revolution that led to the commercial production of eggs on a large scale. The state of Andhra Pradesh in India became the epicenter of this revolution. In essence, today the economic significance of birds (Aves) is exploited in the form of a cottage industry called as Poultry Farming. Most popular poultry bird in India is called as White Leghorn. Hen’s eggs contain about 20% protein, 11% fat, 75% water and rest 2% vitamins& mi nerals. Without surprise, India is world’s 5th.largest egg producer whereas, 18th.largest producer of broilers.
Mammals as the nature’s fauna have their economic significance in their being the constituent of livestock population of any nation of the world from which man has been deriving the products and services ever since the dawn of human civilization. Although was the first and the earliest mammalian fauna to be domesticated by man and even today finds its great economic significance for being used for tracing criminals as sniffer dogs or acting as a watch dog or sentinel of the houses. Huskies are the dogs that are used by the Eskimos to draw their sledges on snow in the Scandinavian countries.
Among the live stocks, the cattle and buffaloes have always remained a mainstay of our rural economy especially of a country like India whose majority of the population resides in villages. As such, the live stock besides being a source of milk and milk products. Bullocks are used for ploughing, harrowing, transportation, harvesting or threshing etc.Similarly; their hides are used for commercial leather production as well the body parts like horns, hoofs and bones etc are used for preparing cattle feeds. Their dung is used for making dung cakes, a source of fuel including for the production of clean bio-gas. In India, the economic exploitation of live stock has led to the birth of White revolution. Dr. Verghese Kuriene is regarded as the father of India’s white revolution.
Other mammals being of economic significance are the Sheep and Goats that are reared both for their meat as well as for wool so much so that the Goats are generally referred to as the Poor man’s Cows. The highly desired and costliest wool called as Pashmina wool is derived from a Kashmiri goat species. Similarly, the Angora wool is obtained from Rabbit and Lohi wool or Carpet wool is obtained from a sheep. Not to mention more, Shahtoosh, the costliest and the finest wool of all is obtained from Chiru, an antelope of Tibet….
By: Pritam Sharma ProfileResourcesReport error
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