Question

What is common to Lantana, Eichhornia, and African catfish?

• A. All are keystone species
• B. All the endangered species of India
• C. All the species are neither threatened nor indigenous species of India
• D. All mammals found in India

Answer 1

The correct option is C

All the species are neither threatened nor indigenous species of India

The correct option is C.

Explanation of the correct option:

1. All three organisms, namely, Lantana, Eichhornia, and African catfish species are neither threatened nor indigenous species of India.
2. All these species are exotic species that are invasive and have destabilizing impacts leading to the extinction of indigenous species.
3. Lantana camara is a native of the American tropics that is an invasive species of flowering plants in India.
4. It has resulted in the scarcity of native forage plants for wild herbivores.
5. Eichhornia crassipes is an invasive species of water hyacinth that is also termed the ‘terror of Bengal’ since it invades and takes over entire water bodies depriving the local inhabitants of the aquatic ecosystem of resources and nutrients.
6. The African catfish or Clarias gariepinus is an invasive fish that deprives the local fishes of their nutrients and resources.

Explanation of the incorrect option:

Option A:

1. A keystone species helps define an entire ecosystem.
2. None of the mentioned species is a keystone to their respective ecosystems.

Option B:

1. An endangered species is one whose reproductive rate is low due to various reasons and hence their population is endangered.
2. The species mentioned are invasive and have an alarmingly high rate of reproduction.

Option D:

1. None of the mentioned species is a mammal. Lantana camara and Eichhornia crassipes are vascular plants while Clarias gariepinus belongs to the class Pieces of Phylum Chordata.

Final answer: All the species are neither threatened nor indigenous species of India is common to Lantana, Eichhornia, and African catfish.