Biological diversity (biodiversity in short) is an entity, which encircles different types of animal, bird, fish, mammal, reptile, insect, plant, fungi, etc. in its domains. The genetic compositions of which they are made up of as well as the ecosystem in which they dwell & survive form a part of it. Nature has made everything in this world to thrive and sustain itself without the threshold limit being crossed. But the over-exploitation of available resources by human being for various commercial reasons has created an imbalance in the biodiversity.

The State of Goa is the smallest of all the States in the country yet, it shows an astonishing diversity of endemic species, habitats and ecosystems. Goa is under the influence of two global biomes - the marine biome of the Arabian Sea and the terrestrial forest biome of the Western Ghats. Within this geographical canvas are a wide range of ecosystems and habitats e.g. forests, Ghats, alluvial plains, coasts, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, wetlands, etc. The eco-physiology of the habitats is governed by complex ecological and meteorological conditions. There are normal habitats and extreme habitats (like the rock pools and the salt pans). There are microhabitats which are equally important - e.g. the termite mounds which play a significant role in the decomposition of plant litter. The status of biodiversity in each of these habitats varies, depending naturally on a variety of genetic and environmental factors.

Goa's Biodiversity at a Glance
Taxa	Catalogued No	Remarks
FLORA
I. Microbes
a. Virus	30
b. Yeasts	150
c. Bacteria	150
d. Fungi
- Terrestrial	NA
- Aquatic	NA
- Marine	NA
II Algae
- Terrestrial	NA
- Fresh water	156
- Marine	50
III. Bryophytes	NA
IV. Pteridophytes	NA
V. Angiosperms	1750	Includes domesticated varieties
VI. Gymnosperms	1
FAUNA
I. Invertebrata
- Protozoa	NA
- Porifera	NA
- Coelenterata	NA
- Platyhelminthes	NA
- Aschelminthes	NA
- Nematoda	10
- Annelida	NA
- Arthropoda	112
- Arachnida	30
- Crustacea	82
- Mollusca
Bivalvia	28
Gastropoda	63
Cephalopoda	02
- Echinodermata	NA
II. Protochordata
- Hermichordata	NA
III. Vertebrata or Chordata
- Pisces	205
- Reptilia	49
- Aves	357
- Mammalia	45

Source: NBSAPS Report
Website: http://www.goacom.com/goafoundation/biodiversity/

FLORA

BIRDS

BUTTERFLIES

SAND DUNE VEGETATION

MEDICINAL PLANTS

MARINE TURTLE