Tag: biodiversity on earth and in india

Questions Related to biodiversity on earth and in india

How many species are believed to exist on Earth at present time?

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. 5,000 to 10,000.

  2. Approximately 100,000.

  3. Approximately 500,000.

  4. Between 5 million and 30 million.

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The total variability of life forms on planet Earth is measured called as global biodiversity which is reported to be between 5 million and 30 million at present scenario.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Different local population of a species is known as 

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. Deme

  2. Sister population

  3. Community

  4. None of the above

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Population is a unit of biotic community made of near group of multi breeding individuals of a species found in a geographical area at a particular time. It is called as deme.
Different populations of a species occupying different geographical areas are called as sister populations. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

How does the genetic diversity of a modern corn field compare to the genetic diversity of a population of the pre-domesticated corn plant?

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. Less diversity

  2. More diversity

  3. More genetic diversity, but less phenotypic variation

  4. The same amount of diversity

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The genetic diversity of a modern corn field is more diverse as it may contain genes transferred from from bacteria, to naturally protect it from pests 

For example, Bt corn
However, a pre domesticated corn plant is the one that is most suitable to be grown in a certain environment, majorly by artificial selection that is cross breeding and deriving a gene pool from an existing one that can provide a better commercial value
Example - sweet corn, a recessive trait, but is abundantly available due to taste preference and comparatively soft kernels

All of these are reasons why biodiversity is important except

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. It allows for adjustment to disturbances .

  2. It cleans water.

  3. It provides food and materials.

  4. It has led to medical discoveries.

  5. It increases extinction rates.

Show answer
Correct Option: E
Explanation:
A. Biodiversity allows for adjustments to various disturbances. For example, trees control the rainfall.
B. As the polluted water flows through the dense areas having plants, it gets cleaned naturally.
C. Biodiversity provides food both for animals and mankind.
D. Biodiversity has to medical discoveries as various medicinal plants have been discovered.
E. Biodiversity reduces the extinction rates.
Hence statement E is incorrect.
So, the correct answer is 'It increases extinction rates'.

All of these are human activities that threaten biodiversity except  

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. The release of excess nitrates from agricultural runoff

  2. Over-harvesting of plants and animals

  3. Overuse of herbicides

  4. Habitat preservation

  5. Excessive ultraviolet radiation from a depleted ozone layers

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:
A. Various fertilizers are used in agriculture which contain nitrogen as a key component. Runoff from agricultural land causes the release of excess nitrates.
B. Over harvesting of plants and animals for profit by the mankind has resulted into extinction of various species.
C. Overuse of herbicides kills the soil microflora and other microorganisms also.
D. Habitat preservation is not a threat to biodiversity as it will save the species.
E. Ozone has depleted due to various human activities like CFCs and due to this, excess ultraviolet rays can reach the earth and cause various problems to biodiversity.
Hence statement C is incorrect.
So, the correct answer is 'Habitat preservation'.

The greatest threat to genetic diversity in agricultural crops is

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. Extensive use of insecticides and pesticides

  2. Extensive mixed cropping

  3. Introduction of high yielding varieties

  4. Extensive use of fertilisers

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Genetic diversity is the diversity in the number and types of genes present in different species and variations in the genes of the same species. The greatest threat to genetic diversity in agricultural crops is introduction of high yielding varieties. High yielding varieties contains the required traits and therefore are always bred purely. This reduces the genetic diversity within a particular species.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Introduction of high yielding varieties.'

Select the incorrect statement.

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. Species diversity increases as we move away from the equator towards the poles.

  2. Stellars sea cow and passenger pigeon got extinct due to over exploitation by man.

  3. Lantana and Eichhornia are invasive weed species in India.

  4. The historic convention on biological diversity was held in 1992.

  5. Among animals, insects are the most species-rich taxonomic group.

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Species diversity is the variety in the number and richness of the species of a region. The number or species per unit area is called as species richness. Number of individuals of different species represent species evenness or species equitability. Communities where species are represented by more or less equal number of individuals exhibit evenness. Where one or more species have more individuals than other show dominance or unevenness. 

Tropical rain forests in the equatorial regions and coral reefs have fragile environment and vulnerable habitats. They also have the maximum biodiversity despite having little seasonal changes in the temperature and moisture. Very harsh conditions e.g., polar regions, results in reduction in biodiversity.

Which one of the following has maximum genetic diversity in India?

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. Teak

  2. Mango

  3. Wheat

  4. Tea

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

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. 

India's share in the global species diversity is about

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. 2 percent

  2. 4 percent

  3. 6 percent

  4. 8 percent

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Species diversity is the diversity at the species level. For example, the western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the eastern Ghats. Although 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.

Ecological diversity includes

zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

  1. Species diversity

  2. Genetic diversity

  3. Ecosystem diversity

  4. All of the above

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

In our biosphere immense diversity (or heterogeneity) exists not only at the species level but at all levels of biological organisation ranging from macromolecules within cells to biomes. Biodiversity is the term popularised by the sociobiologist Edward Wilson to describe the combined diversity at all the levels of biological organisation. 

The most important of them are -
(i) Genetic diversity.
(ii) Species diversity.
(iii) Ecological diversity.