Question

India has 50000 different varieties of rice. This is an example of:

• A. species diversity
• B. genetic diversity
• C. ecological diversity
• D. species richness

Answer 1

The correct option is B genetic diversity

Asian rice belongs to the species Oryza sativa and 50000 different varieties of this species are found in India. These varieties are developed due to genetic variations between organisms belonging to the same species and are an example of genetic diversity. Genetic diversity refers to the variations observed at the genetic level, i.e. in the genetic composition of organisms belonging to the same species.

Species diversity refers to the variety of species in a region and is determined by its species richness (number of species present per unit area of a region). The huge variety of amphibian species found in the Western Ghats indicates high species diversity in this region.

Ecological diversity is seen at the ecosystem level. A country like India which has a vast array of ecosystems such as rain forests, alpine meadows, deserts, etc. is said to be ecologically highly diverse.

Species richness refers to the total number of species present per unit area of a region.