Environmental Studies · Biology

Biodiversity and Conservation

2,388 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 zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Which of these actions does not cause decrease in biodiversity?

  1. Pollution

  2. Forest fire

  3. Overgrazing

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

Decrease or loss of biodiversity can be brought by pollution in environment and habitat, forest fires and loss of habitat and overgrazing. While afforestation or planting of forest trees cause conservation of natural habitat thus saving the biodiversity.

So, the correct answer is 'Afforestation'.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

What factors lead to decline in biodiversity? 

  1. Acid rain

  2. Pollution

  3. Population

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

The major causes of biodiversity decline are land use changes, pollution, changes in atmospheric CO$ _2$ concentrations, changes in the nitrogen cycle and acid rain, climate alterations and the introduction of exotic species, all coincident to human population growth. The geometric rise in human population levels during the twentieth century is the fundamental cause of the loss of biodiversity. It exacerbates every other factor having an impact on rainforests. It has led to an unceasing search for more arable land for food production and livestock grazing, and for wood for fuel, construction, and energy. 

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Which of the following is/are factors that pose a great threat to biodiversity?

  1. Habitat destruction

  2. Disturbance and introduction of alien species

  3. Man's interference with nature

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

Biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms in an ecosystem. However, the biodiversity of an ecosystem is lost when there is fragmentation of the habitat or invasion by any alien species. The interference of the man with the nature and exploitation of its resources can result in the loss of the biodiversity. 

Thus, the correct answer is option D. 

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

What is the major cause of diminishing wildlife number?

  1. Cannibalism

  2. Habitat destruction

  3. Falling of trees

  4. Paucity of drinking water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Habitat loss and fragmentation (habitat destruction) are the most important causes for driving animals and plants to extinction. 

The most dramatic examples of habitat loss come from tropical rainforests. Once covering more than 14 percent of the Earth's land surface, these rainforests now cover no more than 6 percent. They are being destroyed fast. Besides the total loss, the degradation of many habitats by pollution also threatens the survival of many species. When large habitats are broken up into small fragments due to various human activities, mammals and birds requiring large territories and certain animals with migratory habits are badly affected, leading to population declines.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

What is mainly responsible for extinction of wildlife?

  1. Hunting for flesh

  2. Destruction of habitats

  3. Pollution of air and water

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

Hunting for flesh & skin, destruction of habitats by deforestation & polluted air & water leads to extinction of wildlife.

So, the correct answer is 'All the above'

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Wildlife is destroyed most when

  1. There is lack of proper care

  2. Mass scale hunting for foreign trade

  3. Its natural habitat is destroyed

  4. Natural calamity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world, the species is said to be extinct. Extinction is also known as the process of dying out. The process is a completely natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual. Factors such as large body size, small population, massive habitat loss and position at a higher trophic level favor extinction

So, the correct answer is 'Its natural habitat is destroyed'

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

One of the chief reasons among the following for the depletion in the number of species making it endangered is

  1. Greenhouse effect

  2. Habitat destruction

  3. Overhunting and poaching

  4. Competition and predation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Jarod Diamond in 1984 listed four chief mechanisms for the loss of biodiversity. It was known as the 'Evil quartet'. It was also known as ‘four horsemen of the ecological apocalypse. The four mechanisms were:-
a) overhunting (or overexploitation),
b) introduced species,
c) habitat destruction and
d) chains of linked extinctions (trophic cascades, or co-extinctions).
So, the correct answer is 'Habitat destruction'.
Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Number of wild life is continuously decreasing.What is the main reason of this : -

  1. Predation

  2. Cutting down of forest

  3. Destruction of habitat

  4. Hunting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Wildlife refers to all living organisms (terrestrial, aquatic and aerial) living in all possible natural habitats of their own, other than the cultivated plants and domesticated animals. Thus 'wildlife' does not exist only in jungles and are hunted down but wildlife includes even the migrating birds, turtles, coral reefs, microorganisms, insects, fishes, etc. Several hundred organisms are endangered or on the verge of extinction. The reasons are deforestation, pollution, killing, overexploitation etc. The most important among them is deforestation or destruction of their natural habitat because it will affect the species (flora and fauna) of the complete area and not only a few organisms. The natural habitat may be destroyed by man for his settlements, grazing grounds, agriculture, mining, industries, dam building, etc. As a consequence of this, the species must adapt to the changes, move elsewhere or may succumb to predation, starvation or disease, and eventually dies.

So, the correct answer is 'Destruction of habitat'.
Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Wildlife population are decreasing due to _________

  1. Afforestation

  2. Loss of minerals

  3. Poaching

  4. Loss of sunlight
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Poaching has been defined as illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights. 
  • According to Encyclopædia Britannica, poaching was performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and a supplement for meagre diets.
  •  Hence, Wildlife population are decreasing due to Poaching.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Poaching'.
Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

The extinction and disappearance of some species is because of the _____

  1. Destruction of habitats

  2. Planting of trees

  3. Preservation of forest

  4. Prevention of overgrazing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The extinction and disappearance of some species from planet take place due to the destruction of their natural habitat, poaching and killing habits. Whereas, planting of more trees (afforestation), preservation of forests and prevention of overgrazing causes conservation of natural habitat thereby saving the species from extinction.

So, the correct answer is 'Destruction of habitats'.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

The main reason for extinction of species is

  1. Hunting

  2. Destruction of habitat

  3. Pollution

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Habitat destruction is the process in which the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction is the greatest contributor to the extinction of many species. This destruction is ongoing in both terrestrial and aquatic biomes, with approximately 80% of all extinctions being attributed to human caused habitat destruction. Terrestrially the destruction includes forests, deserts and grasslands, but the latter may account for the greatest losses due to the agricultural and urban conversion.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Which one of the following may be the reason for extinction of plant species due to human activities?

  1. Earthquakes

  2. Pollution

  3. Diseases

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

Extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms, normally a species. Humans cause extinction of a species through over harvesting, pollution, habitat destruction, invasion of invasive species, over hunting and other influences. Although, earthquakes and diseases are the results of human activities but it does not cause any extinction of plant species. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Which of the following is the main reason for extinction of animals?

  1. Predation

  2. Pollution

  3. Destruction of habitat

  4. Felling of trees
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Destruction of habitat is the process in which natural habitat is rendered unable to support the species that lived in it. Increasing urbanization and industrialization has resulted in encroachment of forest areas leading to destruction of habitat. As a result, the natural flora and fauna have been endangered and some have become extinct. Thus the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Polar bears are just one species whose biodiversity has been affected by human activities Which of these is the greatest threat to the polar bears? 

  1. Melting ice due to global warming

  2. Organic pollutants

  3. Habitat destruction

  4. Human encroachment

  5. Habitat fragmentation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Polar bears are found in arctic region where the ice caps are present and temperature is quite low. Hence, melting ice due to global warming is the greatest threat to the biodiversity of polar bears.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Anthropogenic extinction means the extinction of species from surface of Earth, that is due to

  1. Change in season

  2. Effects of meteors

  3. Human activities

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Anthropogenic extinction means the extinction of species from surface of Earth, that is due to human activities.
The Holocene extinction, otherwise referred to as the Sixth extinction or Anthropocene extinction, is a name for the ongoing extinction event of species during the present Holocene epoch (since around 10,000 BCE) mainly due to human activity.