Test: Biodiversity & Conservation - 3 - NEET MCQ

• Resistant to invasions by alien species is a feature of a stable community.
• It is a group of people who share the same place or live within the same area.
• A group of populations is known as a community.

• George David Tilman is an American ecologist.
• He performed long-term ecosystem experiments using outdoor plots.
• Through his plots, he provided some tentative answers such as increased diversity contributed to higher productivity.

The materials or substances occurring in nature that exist without the actions of humankind are known as natural resources. The conservation of natural resources is important for the preservation of natural, biological diversity.

 

The materials or substances occurring in nature that exist without the actions of humankind are known as natural resources. These resources can be conserved by using them wisely.

Both domesticated crops and agricultural weeds have arisen from wild plants, but domesticated crops are different, as they are mostly human inventions selected for certain traits through thousands of years. We will first describe the crop domestication process and the evolution of agricultural weeds in general, contrasting “domestication” with “weediness” traits acquired during the dedomestication or ferality process, including a review of their genetic basis. Then for a select group of crop plants we will examine the degree of inferred domestication (ratio of domestic acquired to retained weediness traits).

Brazil has the highest biodiversity because it is located near equator.

Introduction of Nile perch (an exotic predatory fish) into lake Victoria (South Africa) threatened the entire ecosystem of the lake by eliminating several native species of the small Cichlid fish species that were endemic to this fresh water ecosystem. 

The last twenty years alone have witnessed the disappearance of 27 species. Careful analysis of records shows that extinctions across taxa are not random; some groups like amphibians appear to be more vulnerable to extinction. Adding to the grim scenario of extinctions is the fact that more than 15,500 species world-wide are facing the threat of extinction.

Gymnosperms are among the most threatened living organisms on the planet, with 40% of their species at high risk of extinction, which is about twice as many as the most recent estimates for all plants.

Those species whose number of individuals is greatly reduced recently and is decreasing continuously and are at a high risk of endangerment in the wild are known as vulnerable species. Some examples of vulnerable species are Barasingha, Nilgiri Langur, Yak, Olive Ridley Turtle, Sloth bear, etc.

In graphical forms, steeper slopes means slopes which are closer to vertical axis, or in other words they make larger angle with horizontal axis.

In case of species area relationship given by Alexander von Humboldt, steeper slopes (Z values in the range of 0.6 to 1.2) are obtained when species relationships are plotted among very large areas like the entire continents. Steeper slopes signifies that number of species found increases faster than the area explored in very large areas like the entire continents.

Rivet-Popper hypothesis was given by famous ecologist Paul Ehrlich. In this hypotheisis -Paul has thrown light on the importance of various components(like different species) of ecosystem  by comparing ecosystem with an aero plane and its components with the airplane rivets. Rivets are nothing but the various bolts which complete the design of plane & help it in flying. If passengers , travelling in the plane found those rivets useful for any of their personnel purpose and take away them then it will result in the unsafe flight and  can lead to plane crash. In the same way,  different components of ecosystem play an important role in maintaining its balance. So, humans should not disturb/use them  for their own benefits as it it ultimately result in the loss of  ecological balance.

Total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world to 34. Three of these hotspots – Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya – cover our country’s exceptionally high biodiversity regions.

There are 34 areas around the world which are qualified as Biodiversity hotspots. These hotspots represent only 2.3% of the total Earth's land surface. These hotspots are important because Biodiversity underpins all life on Earth. Without species, there would be no air to breathe, no food to eat, no water to drink. There would be no human society at all. And as the places on Earth, where the most biodiversity is under the most threat, hotspots are critical to human survival.

Those species called whose members are few and live in a small geographical area and are very uncommon, scarce, or infrequently encountered are known as rare species. Some examples of rare species are Malabar Giant Squirrel, Gee’s Golden Langur, Dugong, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, etc.

The species called whose members are in danger of extinction but the reason is unknown, no enough information is available to decide their true nature are called indeterminate species. Some examples of intermediate species are Short-eared rabbit of Sumatra, Three-banded armadillo of Brazil, Rhinoceros, etc.

• Biodiversity is the variety and variability of all the levels of biological organization (plant and animal life) on Earth.
• Throughout the world, the diversity of plants and animals is not a uniform that is uneven distribution is observed.
• For ecosystem health, rich biodiversity is essential.

The humans derive countless direct economic benefits from nature is stated by the narrowly utilitarian argument. All the world commercial things provided to us by forests are included in this. It usually deals with the benefit of humans.

Narrow utility of biodiversity:
The narrow utility of biodiversity refers to specific benefits or uses that can be derived from biodiversity. Among the given options, both fiber production and taxol production are examples of narrow utility of biodiversity. Here is a detailed explanation:
1. Fiber production:
- Biodiversity plays a crucial role in fiber production as different plant species provide various types of fibers such as cotton, jute, hemp, and flax.
- These fibers are used in the textile industry to produce fabrics, clothing, and other materials.
- The diversity of plant species ensures a wide range of fiber properties, allowing for different uses and applications.
2. Taxol production:
- Taxol is a compound derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia).
- It has anti-cancer properties and is used in chemotherapy treatments.
- The production of taxol relies on the biodiversity of the Pacific yew tree and its ecosystem.
- Protecting the biodiversity of these trees is essential for ensuring a sustainable supply of taxol for medical purposes.
Therefore, both fiber production and taxol production are examples of narrow utility of biodiversity as they represent specific uses and benefits derived from plant species.

Almost 25 percent of plant species are used for the production of the drugs currently sold in the market worldwide. Some plants used for the production of drugs are camphor tree, coca plant, poppy, turmeric, etc.

The biodiversity is important for many ecosystem services that nature provides is stated by the broadly utilitarian argument. It involves the conservation of biodiversity by humans because it is their moral responsibility and they derive many benefits from nature.

The biodiversity hotspot concept highlights the coupledness of biodiversity and humanity. The concept, first suggested in 1988 by Norman Myers, arose from growing concern among ecologists and environmentalists about the rapid loss of habitat in areas of high biodiversity and endemism. 

Exploring molecular, genetic, and species-level diversity or the search for plant and animal species for products of economic importance such as medicinal drugs and other commercially valuable compounds is known as bioprospecting. The compounds explored are used in various fields such as academic, agriculture, bioremediation, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology, industrial purposes, etc.

The India has only 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area, its share of the global species diversity is an impressive 8.1 per cent. That is what makes our country one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the world. Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as many of animals have been recorded from India.

Biodiversity is the variety and variability of all the levels of biological organization (plant and animal life) on Earth. Throughout the world, the diversity of plants and animals is not a uniform that is uneven distribution is observed.

The latitudinal gradient has the most well-known pattern in diversity having many groups of animals and plants. A decrease in diversity of species is observed while moving from the equator towards the poles.

The diversity observed at the species level is known as the species diversity. It is the number and abundance of each species in a particular area. A decrease in the diversity of species is observed while moving from the equator towards the poles.

Colombia that is located near the equator harbors 1,400 species of birds. Columbia is a country located in South Carolina, USA. It is the second most mega-diverse country in the world, ranking first in bird species.

Explanation:
The biodiversity of a given region is influenced by various factors, and the options provided in the question - climate and topography, possibility for dispersal, and evolutionary history - are all important contributors to the outcome of biodiversity in a region. Here's a detailed explanation of each factor:
1. Climate & topography:
- Climate refers to the long-term weather patterns in a region, including temperature, rainfall, and seasonality.
- Different climates support different types of organisms, as they have specific adaptations to survive in specific environmental conditions.
- Topography refers to the physical features of the land, such as mountains, valleys, and rivers. It affects the distribution of habitats and the movement of organisms.
2. Possibility for dispersal:
- Dispersal refers to the movement of organisms from one place to another.
- The ability of organisms to disperse to different areas is crucial for the establishment of diverse populations and the colonization of new habitats.
- Factors that affect dispersal include the presence of barriers (such as mountains or oceans), availability of suitable habitats, and the ability of organisms to travel long distances.
3. Evolutionary history:
- Evolutionary history refers to the cumulative changes in organisms over time.
- The biodiversity of a region can be influenced by its historical connection to other regions and the movement of species over evolutionary timescales.
- Regions with longer evolutionary histories may have higher levels of biodiversity due to the accumulation of diverse lineages and adaptations.
Conclusion:
All of the factors mentioned - climate and topography, possibility for dispersal, and evolutionary history - interact and contribute to the biodiversity of a given region. Therefore, the correct answer is option D: All of the above.

New York is present in the United States and is the most populous city in the US. Featuring a humid subtropical climate, it is a home for 150 species of birds. American Woodcock is the native bird of New York.