Question

Assertion :Biodiversity hotspots are the regions which possess high levels of species richness, high degree of endemism and no loss to habitats. Reason: Total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world is 32 with two of these hotspots found in India.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

A biodiversity hotspot is an area with unusual concentration of species, many of which are endemic. It is marked by serious threat to its biodiversity. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

Endemism: it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5 percent of vascular plants (> 0.5 percent of the world’s total) as endemics, and;

Loss of Habitat: it has to have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat.

Accordingly, 34 biodiversity hotspots have been so far identified. Collectively, the Biodiversity hotspots support 60% of world’s plant and animal species with a high share of endemics and cover around 2.5% of Earth’s land surface.

India shares its territories into three biodiversity hotspots viz. Eastern Himalaya, Western Ghats and Indo-Burma. Out of them, Eastern Himalaya and Western Ghats and Indo-Burma. Out of them, Eastern Himalaya and Western Ghats are mostly located within India’s territory. In the Indo-Burma Biodiversity, India shares only a small part in north East India.

So the correct option is 'both assertion and reason are incorrect'.