All questions of Environmental Impact Assessment for BPSC (Bihar) Exam

• It is concerned with the variation in genes within a particular species.
• Genetic diversity allows species to adapt to changing environments.
• This diversity aims to ensure that some species survive drastic changes and thus carry on desirable genes.
• The survival of individuals ensures the survival of the population.
• The genetic diversity gives us beautiful butterflies, roses, parakeets, or coral in myriad hues, shapes, and sizes.
• Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms on Earth. It includes the diversity within species, between species, and ecosystems. 

India represents Five Biomes only.

Explanation:
India is a vast country with diverse geographical features, which results in the presence of multiple biomes. A biome refers to a large-scale ecosystem characterized by distinct climatic conditions, vegetation, and animal life. India's varied topography and climate support the existence of different biomes across the country.

1. Tropical Rainforest Biome:
The Western Ghats and the northeastern states of India are home to the tropical rainforest biome. These regions receive heavy rainfall throughout the year and have dense vegetation, including species like teak, bamboo, and orchids. The Western Ghats are considered one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.

2. Desert Biome:
The Thar Desert in western India represents the desert biome. It is characterized by extreme aridity, minimal rainfall, and sparse vegetation. The dominant plants in this biome are cacti, thorny shrubs, and hardy grasses.

3. Grassland Biome:
The Deccan Plateau, parts of central India, and some regions in the northwestern states exhibit the grassland biome. These areas receive moderate rainfall and support grasses and herbaceous plants. The grasslands of India are known for their rich biodiversity, including species like the Indian rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger.

4. Deciduous Forest Biome:
The central and eastern regions of India are characterized by deciduous forests, representing another biome. These forests experience seasonal changes, with trees shedding leaves during dry periods. The dominant tree species include sal, teak, and bamboo.

5. Alpine Tundra Biome:
The high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, including the alpine meadows and snow-covered peaks, represent the alpine tundra biome. This biome is characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, and a short growing season. Vegetation in this biome includes mosses, lichens, and hardy shrubs.

Each of these biomes in India supports unique ecosystems and a wide variety of flora and fauna. The conservation and protection of these biomes are essential for preserving India's biodiversity and ensuring the sustainability of its ecosystems.

Beta Diversity

Beta diversity is a measure of diversity between ecosystems. It is used to compare the differences in the species composition of different ecosystems. Beta diversity is a combination of two components: species turnover and nestedness.

1. Species Turnover

Species turnover refers to the change in species composition between two ecosystems. It measures the difference in species diversity between two sites. Species turnover is usually measured using dissimilarity indices, such as Jaccard or Sørensen indices.

2. Nestedness

Nestedness refers to the extent to which the species of one ecosystem are a subset of the species of another ecosystem. It measures the overlap in species diversity between two sites. Nestedness is usually measured using the NODF (Nestedness metric based on Overlap and Decreasing Fill) index.

Measurement of Beta Diversity

Beta diversity is usually measured as the change in the number of species between the ecosystems. This is typically done using dissimilarity indices, such as the Jaccard or Sørensen indices. These indices compare the number of species shared between two ecosystems and the number of species unique to each ecosystem.

Beta diversity can also be measured using multivariate analyses, such as principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) or non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). These methods visualize the similarity or dissimilarity of species composition between ecosystems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both statements about beta diversity are correct. Beta diversity is a comparison of diversity between ecosystems, and it is usually measured as the change in the number of species between the ecosystems. Beta diversity is an important measure of biodiversity that can help us understand and conserve ecosystems.