The term Biodiversity was coined first by E.O Wilson. It can be defined as the variability and variety of living entities and the ecological complexes in which they exist. It can be used to refer to the occurrence of many ecosystems, different entities, species, range of variants accustomed to different climatic conditions, environments, interactions and processes. Hence biodiversity encompasses genetic diversity and variability of life forms such as plants, animals, microbes, etc. spread across a range of ecosystems.
1. The most important reason for biodiversity loss in today’s age is
(a) over-exploitation
(b) co-extinctions
(c) alien species invasions
(d) fragmentation and habitat loss
Answer: (d)
2. Biodiversity loss can lead to everything except this
(a) increased resistance to the environmental perturbance
(b) a decline in plant production
(c) increased variability in water use
(d) increased variability in pest and disease cycle
Answer: (a)
3. Which of these is not a reason accounting for greater biodiversity of tropics?
(a) more niche specialization
(b) availability of more solar energy
(c) more time for species diversification
(d) large seasonal variations in environmental factors
Answer: (d)
4. The main difference between the ‘Sixth extinction’ and the previous five extinctions is that, the sixth extinction
(a) mainly affects plants
(b) mainly occurs on islands
(c) occurs at a faster rate
(d) is exclusive of human activities
Answer: (c)
5. The hot spots of biodiversity are characterized by:
(a) low endemicity and low threat of extinction
(b) low endemicity and high threat of extinction
(c) high endemicity and low threat of extinction
(d) high endemicity and high threat of extinction
Answer: (d)
6. Presence of plants organised into well defined vertical layers based on their heights can be best observed in
(a) grassland
(b) tropical savannah
(c) tropical rain forest
(d) temperate forest
Answer: (c)
7. Which of these is related to Ex-situ conservation of threatened plants and animals?
(a) Biodiversity hotspots
(b) Wildlife safari parks
(c) Amazon rainforest
(d) Himalayan region
Answer: (b)
8. The region of biosphere reserve that is protected legally, where no human activity takes place is known as
(a) transition zone
(b) buffer zone
(c) core zone
(d) restoration zone
Answer: (c)
9. Pick the correct match
(a) Stratification – Population
(b) Aerenchyma – Opuntia
(c) Age Pyramid – Biome
(d) Parthenium hysterophorus – a threat to biodiversity
Answer: (d)
10. The National aquatic animal of India is
(a) Sea horse
(b) River Dolphin
(c) Blue whale
(d) Gangetic shark
Answer: (b)
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