Question 1

Which of the following countries has the highest biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Climate of countries tropical latitude like Brazil climate remain relatively undisturbed, constant and predictable giving tune for diversification, which favours rich biodiversity.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a cause for loss of biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

(c) Keeping animals in zoological parks is not a cause for loss of biodiversity. Some of the major causes of biodiversity loss are-(i)   Destruction of natural habitat (primary cause).(ii)   Introduction of exotic (alien species) with indigenous species.(iii)  Over exploitation of natural resources.(iv)  Co-extinction of species.

Question 3

Which of the following is not an invasive alien species in the Indian context?

Accepted Answer

Cynodon (doob grass) is not an invasive alien species. The other three Parthenium (congress or carrot grass), Eichhornia (water hyacinth) and Lantana are alien species which pose threat to native species.

Question 4

Where among the following will you find pitcher plant?

Accepted Answer

Pitcher plant (Nepenthes) an insectivorous plant is found in rain forest of North-East India. These type of plants generally grow in nitrogen deficient soil.Sunderbans are rich in fauna and flora. Mangroove plants are the characteristic of Sunderbans.Western ghats are rich in biodiversity. Xerophytes are more common in Thar deserts.

Question 5

Which one of the following is not a feature of biodiversity hotspots?

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity hotspots are characterised by large number of flora and fauna, abundance of endemic species and also large number of alien or exotic species. They are mostly found in tropical and temperate regions. There are no biodiversity hotspots in polar regions.

Question 6

Match the following columns.Choose the correct match form the following

Accepted Answer

Dodo – MauritiusQuagga – Africa Thylacine – Australia Stellar’s sea cow – RussiaRest of the given set of extinct animals matched with the provided countries are not true.

Question 7

What is common to the following plants Nepenthes, Psilotum, Rauwolfia and Aconitum?

Accepted Answer

All of the above plants are prone to over exploitation due to their respective properties. Nepenthes (pitcher plant) is an insectivorous plant. Psilotum is a pteridophyte and Aconitum is a medicinal plant.

Question 8

The one-horned rhinoceros is specific to which of the following sanctuary?

Accepted Answer

Kaziranga National Park is situated in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of (Asom). One horned rhinocerosis specific to this park.While Corbett National Park is situated in district Nainital (Uttarakhand) and is specific for tiger. It is the first National Park of India, which is famous for tigers.Bandipur National Park (Mysore) too is specific for tigers. Bhitar Kanika National Park is located in odisha and is specific for salt water crocodile.

Question 9

Amongst the animal groups given below, which one has the highest percentage of endangered species?

Accepted Answer

Amphibians have the highest percentage presently, 32% of all amphibian species in the world face the threat of extinction. Other than these, 23% of all mammal species and 12% of all bird species also facing the risk.

Question 10

Which one of the following is an endangered plant species of India?

Accepted Answer

All of the above mentioned plants are endangered plant species of India. Rauwolfia serpentina (sarpgandha), Santalum album (sandal wood) and Cycas beddonei are facing the threat of extinction due their medicinal and commercial importance.

Question 11

What is common to Lantana, Eichhornia and African catfish?

Accepted Answer

All the three above mentioned species are neither threatned nor indigenous species of India. Lantana, Eichhornia (water hyacinth) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) all are alien (exotic species) which are invasive and have an harmful impact resulting in extinction of the indigenous species.

Question 12

The extinction of passenger pigeon was due to

Accepted Answer

(b) Extinction of passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was due to over exploitation by human beings. Factors like increase in number of predatory birds, non-availability of food and bird flu virus infection did not contribute to the extinction of passenger pigeon.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

Stellar’s sea cow (from Russia) is a recently extinct animal.Parthenium (carrot grass) is an exotic weed, which grows rapidly and adversely affects the native species.African catfish is also an alien species which adversely affects the growth of indigenous Clarias batrachus - our local species.Lantana camara, another alien species, is also strongly competing with native species.

Question 14

Among the ecosystem mentioned below, where can one find maximum biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are the most productive ecosystem (2000 - 6000 kcal/m2/y) and form the most diverse part of costal region providing a home to fish molluscs, crustaceans sponges, cnidarians, etc. Mangroves, found in coastal regions usually have plants growing in swampy and saline water, deserts have mostly xerophytic species and Alpine meadows are related to high altitudes and do not show much tree growth.

Question 15

Which of the following forests is known as the ‘Lungs of the planet Earth’?

Accepted Answer

Amazon is a rain forest that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America and territory including nine nations. It represents over half of the planet’s rain forests and exhibits the largest and the most diversified tropical rainforest.It is home to more than 40000 species of plants, 3000 of fishes, 1300 of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and more than 125000 invertebrates. Amazon rainforest is popularly called the ‘lungs of the planet earth’ because its vegetation continuously recycles carbon dioxide into oxygen.Taiga forest, present in broad belt of Northern hemisphere, represents the largest terrestrial biome.Tundra forest is a biome where tree growth is hindered by low temperature and short growing season. Rain forests of North-East India are tropical forests with a natural reservoir of genetic diversity.

Question 16

The active chemical drug reserpine is obtained form

Accepted Answer

Rauwolfia vomitoria is the source of active chemical drug reserpine, which is prescribed in hypertension and act as tranquilliser. Datura is a plant with hallucinogenic properties. Drug belladonna is obtained from Atropa belladonna and drug. Opium is obtained from Papaver somniferum.

Question 17

Which of the following group exhibit more species diversity?

Accepted Answer

Fungi are group of eukaryotic heteromorphic organisms with diverse forms, sizes, physiology and mode of reproduction. They exhibits more specific diversity. This is followed by algae, bryophytes and then ferns.

Question 18

Which of the below mentioned regions exhibit less seasonal variations?

Accepted Answer

Maximum biodiversity is observed in tropics as the tropical region exhibit less seasonal variations, i.e., remain undisturbed.The temperate region are more seasonal, less constant and exhibit less species diversity. Also, alpines with low temperature and high altitudes show less diversity.

Question 19

The historic convention on biological diversity held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 is known as

Accepted Answer

The historic convention on biological diversity held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1992 is known as Earth Summit (Ist). The explanation for other options is CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna) has helped in restricting poaching and loss of rare species.MAB stands for Man and Biosphere Programme which undertakes establishment and maintenance of biosphere reserves.

Question 20

What is common to the techniques(i) in vitro fertilisation            (ii) cryopreservation(iii) tissue culture?

Accepted Answer

All the three above mentioned techniques are ex-situ conservation methods. At present gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable conditions for longer duration by cryopreservation method (at very low temperature-196°C).Fertilisation can be achieved in laboratory-in vitro, and species can be improved or propagated by tissue culture method, a plant breeding principle.

Chapter 15 : Biodiversity and Conservation