Question

Biodiversity can be defined as the variety and variability amongst life forms_______.

• A. at all levels of biological organisation
• B. only at species level
• C. only at genetic level
• D. only at ecosystem level

Answer 1

The correct option is A at all levels of biological organisation

Earth is a unique planet not just because it supports life but also because of the vast diversity amongst the organisms that exist on it.

Biodiversity is defined as the variety and variability amongst life forms at all levels of biological organisation (ranging from macromolecules within cells to biomes).

Edward Wilson, a sociobiologist, popularised the term biodiversity to describe the combined diversity at all the levels of biological organisation.

The types of biodiversity observed at three different levels are -

• Genetic diversity - This refers to the genetic variations observed between the organisms of the same species, e.g., 50000 varieties of the species Oryza sativa (rice) exist in India due to genetic differences amongst the varieties.
• Species diversity - This refers to the variety in the types of species present in a particular region, e.g., Western Ghats are said to have greater amphibian species diversity compared to that of the Eastern Ghats.
• Ecological diversity - This refers to the variety in the different types of ecosystems that exist on this planet, e.g., India has diverse ecosystems which include deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries, alpine meadows etc and is said to be a highly ecologically diverse nation.