Environmental Studies ยท Biology

Biodiversity and Conservation

2,266 Questions

Biodiversity and conservation questions address threats to ecosystems, climate change impacts, and habitat loss. These topics are essential for environmental science sections in major competitive exams. Practicing these questions clarifies concepts regarding species extinction and ecological management.

Habitat loss consequencesClimate change impactsEcosystem degradation causesDesert biodiversity threatsForest diversity threatsResource extraction effects

Biodiversity and Conservation Questions

Multiple choice

The concept of 'effective mesh size' is associated with:

  1. Habitat Fragmentation

  2. Metapopulation Dynamics

  3. Landscape Genetics

  4. Conservation Corridors
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Effective mesh size is a concept in metapopulation dynamics that measures the average size of habitat patches that are connected by dispersal.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a benefit of functional diversity?

  1. Increased ecosystem stability

  2. Increased ecosystem productivity

  3. Increased ecosystem resistance to invasion

  4. Increased ecosystem resilience to disturbance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Functional diversity is not directly related to ecosystem resistance to invasion, but it can contribute to ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience to disturbance.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a factor that can influence functional diversity?

  1. Environmental conditions

  2. Species interactions

  3. Evolutionary history

  4. Climate change
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Climate change is not a direct factor that influences functional diversity, but it can indirectly affect functional diversity by altering environmental conditions and species interactions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a consequence of functional diversity loss?

  1. Decreased ecosystem stability

  2. Decreased ecosystem productivity

  3. Increased ecosystem resistance to invasion

  4. Decreased ecosystem resilience to disturbance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Functional diversity loss can lead to decreased ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience to disturbance, but it does not directly affect ecosystem resistance to invasion.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a benefit of functional redundancy?

  1. Increased ecosystem stability

  2. Increased ecosystem productivity

  3. Increased ecosystem resistance to invasion

  4. Increased ecosystem resilience to disturbance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Functional redundancy is not directly related to ecosystem resistance to invasion, but it can contribute to ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience to disturbance.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a consequence of functional diversity loss?

  1. Decreased ecosystem stability

  2. Decreased ecosystem productivity

  3. Increased ecosystem resistance to invasion

  4. Decreased ecosystem resilience to disturbance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Functional diversity loss can lead to decreased ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience to disturbance, but it does not directly affect ecosystem resistance to invasion.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a benefit of functional redundancy?

  1. Increased ecosystem stability

  2. Increased ecosystem productivity

  3. Increased ecosystem resistance to invasion

  4. Increased ecosystem resilience to disturbance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Functional redundancy is not directly related to ecosystem resistance to invasion, but it can contribute to ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience to disturbance.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a consequence of functional diversity loss?

  1. Decreased ecosystem stability

  2. Decreased ecosystem productivity

  3. Increased ecosystem resistance to invasion

  4. Decreased ecosystem resilience to disturbance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Functional diversity loss can lead to decreased ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience to disturbance, but it does not directly affect ecosystem resistance to invasion.

Multiple choice

What are the main threats to genetic diversity?

  1. Habitat loss and fragmentation

  2. Pollution

  3. Climate change

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The main threats to genetic diversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, and climate change.

Multiple choice

What are some of the consequences of reduced genetic diversity in soil ecosystems?

  1. Reduced resistance to pests and diseases

  2. Decreased soil fertility

  3. Increased erosion

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Reduced genetic diversity in soil ecosystems can lead to reduced resistance to pests and diseases, decreased soil fertility, and increased erosion.

Multiple choice

What are some of the threats to cultural services?

  1. Climate change

  2. Land use change

  3. Pollution

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Climate change, land use change, and pollution are all threats to cultural services.

Multiple choice

What were some of the long-term consequences of the environmental damage caused by World War I?

  1. The spread of disease

  2. The loss of biodiversity

  3. The decline of agricultural productivity

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The environmental damage caused by World War I had a number of long-term consequences, including the spread of disease, the loss of biodiversity, and the decline of agricultural productivity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following geographical features can act as a barrier to species dispersal?

  1. Mountains

  2. Rivers

  3. Oceans

  4. Deserts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

Mountains, rivers, oceans, and deserts can all act as barriers to species dispersal, preventing them from reaching new areas and colonizing new habitats.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a major threat to species diversity?

  1. Habitat loss and fragmentation

  2. Invasive species

  3. Climate change

  4. Overpopulation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

While overpopulation can have various negative impacts on the environment, it is not directly considered a major threat to species diversity in the same way as habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can contribute to the extinction of a species?

  1. Habitat loss

  2. Climate change

  3. Overpopulation

  4. Natural selection
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Natural selection is a process that drives evolution and adaptation within species, and while it can lead to the extinction of certain populations, it is not typically considered a direct cause of species extinction in the context of conservation biology.