Test: Biodiversity & Conservation (NCERT) - NEET MCQ

We should conserve biodiversity. The reason for this can be broadly divided into three categories.
(i) Narrowly utilltarian (Humans derive a major part of their requirement from organisms).
(ii) Broadly utilitarian (Biodiversity is fundamental to ecosystem services of nature).
(iii) Ethical (Every living species has an intrinsic value, it is our moral duty not to destory them).

Bioprospecting or exploring molecular, genetic and species level-diversity for gaining the products of economic importance. It comes under narrowly utilitarian category. 

National park is a reserved area used for conservation purposes. It is maintained by government. Cultivation, grazing, forestry and habitat manipulation are not allowed. Protection is provided to the entire ecosystem.

Total number of hotspots indentified by ecologists is 34 covering an area less than 2% of land surface with about 44% of species.

India now has 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries. Biosphere reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are all examples of in-situ conservation. 

Sacred forests (= sacred groves) are forest patches around places of worship which are held in high esteem by tribal communities. They are the most undisturbed forest patches (island of pristine forests) which are often surrounded by highly degraded landscapes. They are found in several parts of India, e.g., Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, etc. Many endemic species which are of have become extinct elsewhere can be seen to flourish here.

Endangered species are those whose population has been reduced to a critical level and are at high risk of extinction in the wild. Brown spider monkeys, Bengal tigers, Ganga river dolphins, Indian Rhinos, Blackbuck, and other endangered species are examples.

Exotic species tend to cause a threat to biodiversity. They are not found in hotspots which are regions of high biodiversity. In India, 3 hotspots are found, i.e., Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma (N-E India) and Himalayas.

Narrowly utilitarian arguments for biodiversity conservation include direct benefits from organisms. Industrual products, firewood, fibre, construction  material and medicinal products are all included under narrowly utilitarian category.

Ex situ (off site) conservation is conservation of selected rare plants/animals in places outside their natural homes. It is a desirable approach to save threatened or endangered plant or animal species from extinction. Ex situ conservation includes offsite collections, gene banks, in vitro fertilisation, cryopreservation techniques and tissue calture.

In situ (on site) conservation is conservation and protection of the whole ecosystem and its biodiversity at all levels in order to protect the treatened species. Two methods are being used to save biodiversity, hotspots and protected areas. Protected areas include national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and sacred forests. Zoological parks serve the purpose of ex-situ conservation.

In situ, conservation protects species in their natural habitats, such as national parks and biosphere reserves, while botanical gardens provide an artificial environment for plant species.

The various commitments of Convertion on Biological Diversity (CBD) at Rio de Janeiro (1992), Brazil were (i) Adoption of ways and means to conserve biodiversity (ii) Managing biodiversity for sustainable use (iii) Ensuring equitable sharing of benefits from biological diversity including utilisation of genetic resources.

Earth summit at Rio de Jenerio (1992), Brazil promoted Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which was signed by 152 nations. Its recommendations came into effect on 29th Dec. 1993. India became a party to this Convention on Biological Diversity in May, 1994.

aul Ehrlich, a Stanford ecologist gave the ‘Rivet popper hypothesis’. In this hypothesis, he considered species as a rivet. This hypothesis provides a perspective on what might happen if a few species of the planet are extinct.

The symbol of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a giant panda.

A −  Core area
B − Buffer zone
C − Transition zone

Cryopreservation is preservation at −196^∘C (liquid nitrogen). It can maintain tissue culture, embryos, animal cells/ tissues, spermatozoa indefinitely. The cryopreserved material is revived through special technique when required.

National parks are meant for protection of entire ecosystem (both flora and fauna). Wildlife sanctuaries are ecosystem tracts of land where wild animals (fauna) can take refuge without being hunted. Activities such as collection of forest products, harvesting of timber, private ownership of land, etc. are not allowed in national parks.

The bidiversity Act provids support for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources. The Biological Act of ndia was passed in 2002. This act of pailiament received the assent of President of India on the 5^th February 2003.