31 Years NEET Previous Year Questions: Biodiversity & Conservation - NEET MCQ

To match the correct individual with their contribution or hypothesis, let's review each person listed along with the contributions mentioned:
Robert May is best known for his pioneering work in theoretical ecology, particularly in the areas of population dynamics and stability in ecological communities. However, none of the choices directly mention these specific contributions. Among the options, the closest (though indirect) could be his theoretical work that touch upon aspects like species diversity estimations.
Alexander von Humboldt, known for his extensive work in biogeography, made critical observations on the geographic distributions of species. His work best correlates with the "Species-Area relationship," which describes how the number of species increases with the area surveyed.
Paul Ehrlich is famous for his work on population studies and environmental issues facing humanity. His statement about the planet's carrying capacity and potential biodiversity loss is widely known. The "Global species diversity at about 7 million" might closely relate to his biodiversity and population studies, though it's not his primary known work.
David Tilman is well-acclaimed for his experimental work on biodiversity and ecosystem productivity. The "Long term ecosystem experiment using outdoor plots" directly correlates with his experimental approach to studying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning using field experiments.

Given these associations:
A (Robert May) might best fit with "Global species diversity at about 7 million" (III) though it's a rough fit.
B (Alexander von Humboldt) correlating with "Species-Area relationship" (I) is a much clearer connection.
C (Paul Ehrlich) and the "Global species diversity at about 7 million" (II) matches if we consider his general scope in biodiversity and population dynamics.
D (David Tilman) with "Long term ecosystem experiment using out door plots" (II) is an exact match for his field of work.

Looking at the options provided,
Option B: A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
This option aligns correctly as per the reasoning.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

Topic in NCERT: The section name from which the line is given is:

importance of species diversity to the ecosystem

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The major causes of biodiversity loss primarily involve the negative impacts human activities have on ecosystems, with some of the most critical factors being:
Overexploitation: This refers to the unsustainable use of wildlife and plant species for food, medicine, or other human needs which leads to the reduction in numbers of these species to dangerously low levels.
Co-extinction: This occurs when the extinction of one species leads to the extinction of another species that depend on it for survival, such as a predator and its prey or a plant and its pollinator.
Habitat loss and fragmentation: This is the process whereby a large, continuous area of habitat is both reduced in area and divided into smaller, more isolated fragments due to activities like logging, agriculture, and urban development. This disrupts ecosystems and decreases the viability of populations.

Regarding the listed options:

• Mutation: While mutations (genetic changes) are not generally a direct cause of biodiversity loss, they can influence the adaptability and survival of species. However, they are not typically regarded as a major driver of biodiversity loss.
• Migration: Normal species migrations are natural phenomena and not a direct cause of biodiversity loss. Instead, barriers to migration created by human activities can contribute to biodiversity loss by preventing species from reaching essential habitats for their survival and reproduction.

Therefore, the correct option that lists recognized major causes of biodiversity loss is: Option D: A, B, and D only (Overexploitation, Co-extinction, and Habitat loss and fragmentation).

Topic in NCERT: Causes of biodiversity losses

Line in NCERT: "causes of biodiversity losses: the accelerated rates of species extinctions that the world is facing now are largely due to human activities. there are four major causes (*the evil quartet' is the sobriquet used to describe them). (i) habitat loss and fragmentation: this is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction. ... (ii) over-exploitation: humans have always depended on nature for food and shelter, but when ‘need' turns to ‘greed', it leads to over-exploitation of natural resources."

The type of conservation in which threatened species are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care is called ex-situ conservation which is a type of biodiversity conservation.

Topic in NCERT: Ex situ conservation

Line in NCERT: "ex situ conservation- in this approach, threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care."

The list of endangered species is officially released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is specified as Option D.
The IUCN is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. They are renowned for their comprehensive "Red List of Threatened Species," which assesses the conservation status of plant and animal species worldwide. This Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world's biodiversity and provides information on the range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that can help inform necessary conservation decisions.
Other options listed such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), WWF (World Wildlife Fund), and FOAM are not primarily responsible for releasing lists of endangered species globally, although WWF does work extensively in wildlife conservation and might publish reports or statements regarding endangered species based on IUCN's Red List data.

Topic in NCERT: How many species are there on earth and how many in india?

Line in NCERT: "according to the international union for conservation of nature and natural resources (iucn) (2004), the total number of plant and animal species described so far is slightly more than 1.5 million, but we have no clear idea of how many species are yet to be discovered and described."

The correct answer is: Option A: A, C, D and E only
A. Tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years, hence more time was available for species diversification. This is a major factor contributing to species richness in the tropics. The absence of major geological events like glaciation has allowed for continuous evolution and diversification.
C. More solar energy is available in tropics. This leads to higher productivity, supporting a greater number of species.
D. Constant environments promote niche specialization. Stable conditions allow species to specialize and adapt to specific niches, leading to greater diversity.
E. Tropical environments are constant and predictable. This allows species to evolve specific adaptations to their environment, leading to further specialization and diversification.
Statement B is incorrect: Tropical environments are less seasonal, not more seasonal.

Topic in NCERT: Tropical biodiversity and its explanations

Line in NCERT: "some important ones are (a) speciation is generally a function of time, unlike temperate regions subjected to frequent glaciations in the past, tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years and thus, had a long evolutionary time for species diversification, (b) tropical environments, unlike temperate ones, are less seasonal, relatively more constant and predictable. such constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to a greater species diversity and (c) there is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher productivity; this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity."

The Earth Summit, formally known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was indeed held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. This meeting marked a significant step forward in global conservation efforts, leading to the establishment of the Convention on Biological Diversity, among other important agreements.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity conservation

Line in NCERT: "the historic convention on biological diversity (the earth summit') held in rio de janeiro in 1992, called upon all nations to take appropriate measures for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilisation of its benefits."

Option A : Habitat loss and fragmentation is considered the most important cause driving extinction of species among 'The Evil Quartet'.
The 'Evil Quartet' refers to the four major causes of biodiversity loss: habitat destruction and fragmentation, over-exploitation, pollution, and invasive species. Of these, habitat loss and fragmentation is generally considered the most significant cause, as it directly affects the availability of the resources and space that organisms need to survive. It can be caused by a variety of human activities, including deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture. This loss of habitat leads to smaller, more isolated populations, which are more vulnerable to other threats and have a higher risk of extinction.

Topic in NCERT: Causes of biodiversity losses

Line in NCERT: "habitat loss and fragmentation: this is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction."

When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is protected. This is in-situ or on site conservation strategy.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity conservation

Line in NCERT: "in in situ conservation, the endangered species are protected in their natural habitat so that the entire ecosystem is protected."

Habitat loss and fragmentation, over exploitation, alien species invasion and co-extinction are causes for biodiversity loss.

Topic in NCERT: Causes of biodiversity losses

Line in NCERT: "causes of biodiversity losses: the accelerated rates of species extinctions that the world is facing now are largely due to human activities. the causes of high extinction rates at present include habitat (particularly forests) loss and fragmentation, over-exploitation, biological invasions and co-extinctions."

• In-situ conservation means on site conservation i.e. when we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is protected.
• National parks are type of in-situ conservation.
• Whereas, micropropagation, cryopreservation and in-vitro fertilization are methods of ex-situ conservation.

Topic in NCERT: Ex situ conservation

Line in NCERT: "ex situ conservation methods include protective maintenance of threatened species in zoological parks and botanical gardens, in vitro fertilisation, tissue culture propagation and cryopreservation of gametes."

• Khasi Hills in Meghalaya are sacred groves. Zoological park is an ex-situ conservation strategy.
• Nile perch is an alien species.
• Amazon forest releases large quantity of O₂.

Topic in NCERT: The section name from which the line is given is:

**patterns of biodiversity**

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In the World Summit on sustainable development held in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, 190 countries pledged their commitment to achieve by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and local levels.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity conservation

Line in NCERT: "in a follow-up, the world summit on sustainable development held in 2002 in johannesburg, south africa, 190 countries pledged their commitment to achieve by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and local levels."

Frugivorous birds are fruit eating birds found in large number in tropical forest mainly because of availability of fruits throughout the year.

Topic in NCERT: Availability of fruits throughout the year

Line in NCERT: "availability of fruits throughout the year"

Robert May was a theoretical ecologist the established, who field of theoretical ecology and population biology. According to him the global species diversity is about 7 million.

Topic in NCERT: How many species are there on earth and how many in india?

Line in NCERT: "sound estimate made by robert may places the global species diversity at about 7 million."

Botanical garden comes under ex-situ method of conservation of biodiversity.

Topic in NCERT: Ex situ conservation

Line in NCERT: "ex situ conservation methods include protective maintenance of threatened species in zoological parks and botanical gardens."

Sacred groves come under in-situ conservation and represent the pristine forest patches around places of worship which are held in high esteem by tribal communities. Cutting of trees and branches is prohibited due to religious reasons. Wildlife safari parks, botanical gardens and seed blinks come under ex-situ conservation.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity conservation

Line in NCERT: "in situ conservation, the endangered species are protected in their natural habitat so that the entire ecosystem is protected."

Alexander von Humboldt described species-area relationship for the first time. He observed that within a region, species richness increases with increasing explored area, but only upto a limit.

Topic in NCERT: Species-area relationships

Line in NCERT: "during his pioneering and extensive explorations in the wilderness of south american jungles, the great german naturalist and geographer alexander von humboldt observed that within a region species richness increased with increasing explored area, but only up to a limit."

Biodiversity hotspots are a method to identify- those regions of the world where attention is needed to address biodiversity loss and to guide investments in conservation. The idea was first developed by Norman Myers in 1988 to identify tropical forests hotspots characterised both by exceptional levels of plant endemism and serious habitat loss which he then expanded to a more global scope. Currently, 34 biodiversity hotspots have been identified most of which occur in tropical forests.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity and conservation

Line in NCERT: "initially 25 biodiversity hotspots were identified but subsequently nine more have been added to the list, bringing the total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world to 34."

It is estimated that we have 5.1 million species of Fungi on Earth. Fungi are important for the survival of so many other group of organisms on which they form associations.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity and conservation

Line in NCERT: "the group fungi has more species than all the vertebrate species combined."

Hots are the geographical area where biodiversity is maximum. Two hotspots in India are Western Ghats and North eastern himlayan region.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity hotspots

Line in NCERT: "three of these hotspots western ghats and sri lanka, indo-burma and himalaya - cover our country's exceptionally high biodiversity regions."

Biodiversity is the number of variety of organism found within a specified geographic region.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity

Line in NCERT: "biodiversity refers to the sum total of diversity that exists at all levels of biological organisation."

In India maximum genetic diversity is seen in rice. Total of 23 variety of irrigated ecology and 8 varieties of rainfed ecology has been invented in India. 

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity and conservation

Line in NCERT: "india has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice, and 1,000 varieties of mango."

Ex-situ conservation is the conservation of selected organism in places outside their natural homes. They include off site collection and gene banks.
In situ conservation, on the other hand, is the conservation of endangered species in their natural habitat. Biosphere reserves, National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and sacred groves all are examples of In situ conservation.

Topic in NCERT: Ex situ conservation

Line in NCERT: "ex situ conservation- in this approach, threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care."

India is one of the twelve megadiversity regions of the world with 7.7 percent of genetic resources of the world. 
Western Ghats have wild relatives of a number of cultivated plants like banana, citrus, mango, pepper etc. 
Common mango (Mangifera indica) originated as alloploid and its native home was suggested as Eastern India, Assam to Burma or possibly further in the Malay region (Popenoe, 1920). 
Vavilov (1926) also suggested Indo-Burma region as the centre of origin of mango. Hence, mango shows maximum genetic diversity in India.

Topic in NCERT: Genetic diversity in agriculture

Line in NCERT: "india has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice, and 1,000 varieties of mango."

Hot spot are those areas which were rich in biodiversity but now under threat due to direct or indirect interference of human activites. These regions are on the edge to get some of their species extinct due to humans. Western Ghats in India are under threat due to continuous developmental activities and Doon valley is under threat due to continuous mining activities.

Topic in NCERT: Biodiversity and conservation

Line in NCERT: "three of these hotspots western ghats and sri lanka, indo-burma and himalaya - cover our country's exceptionally high biodiversity regions."