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 selection and evolution extinction extinctions environmental science

Fear of extinction of species from tropical forests is

  1. 2-5 species/hr

  2. 2-5 species/day

  3. 2-5 species/week

  4. 2-5 species/month
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A 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, and position at a higher trophic level favour extinction. Fear of extinction of species from tropical forests is at the rate of 2-5 species/hr.

So, the correct answer is '2-5 species/hr'.

Multiple choice biology water absorption and ascent of sap in plants transport of water across plants habit of plants plant classifications

When a species becomes extinct, the plant and animal species associated with it in an obligatory way also become extinct. This phenomenon is referred to as 

  1. fragmentation

  2. alien species invasion

  3. over-exploitation

  4. co-extinction.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Extinction of one species automatically causes extinction of the other species in certain obligatory mutualistic relationship.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity and conservation hotspots and methods of conservation biodiversity: conservation conservation of biodiversity basis of classification in animals basis of the classification of animals criteria for animal classification

Where are Hotspots of biodiversity in India?

  1. Western ghats, Eastern ghats, Indo Burma

  2. Indo Burma, Eastern ghats and Sri Lanka Himalayas

  3. Western ghats & Sri Lanka, Indo Burma and Himalaya

  4. Eastern ghats & Sri Lanka, Indo Burma
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is both a significant reservoir of biodiversity and is threatened with destruction.
  • The term biodiversity hotspot specifically refers to biologically rich areas around the world that have lost at least 70 per cent of their original habitat.
  • There are 34 biodiversity hot spots across the globe, among which three occur in India such as the Western Ghats & Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma (North East India) and the Himalayas.
  • Hence Western ghats & Sri Lanka, Indo Burma and Himalaya are Hot Spots of biodiversity in India.ervo
  • So, the correct answer is 'The Western Ghats & Sri Lanka, Indo Burma and Himalaya'.
Multiple choice zoology biodiversity and conservation hotspots and methods of conservation biodiversity: conservation conservation of biodiversity basis of classification in animals basis of the classification of animals criteria for animal classification

Ecological hot spots present in India are

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Three

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

Ecological hot spots are large areas of Earth's land surface which have high concentrations of plant endemism and also experience high rates of habitat loss. In India, 4 ecological hot spots are presently identified. The Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region and the Sundaland constitute the 4 biodiversity hot spots in our country. One of the major features of these places is the presence of numerous endemic species.

So, the correct answer is 'Three'.

Multiple choice commercial studies forests: our lifeline afforestation deforestation and its effect deforestation

What would happen if forest disappears?

  1. Flood

  2. Global warming

  3. Extinction of animal

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

Answer is option D i.e. "All of the above"
Deforestation(disappearance of the forest) is when humans remove or clear large areas of forest lands and related ecosystems for non-forest use.

  • Without trees, rain runs off soil into rivers and streams i.e soil erosion, raising the water level which leads to floods.
  • When deforestation takes place it results in an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere which results in global warming.
  • If forests are destroyed, animals and other creatures of the forests will come out to human settlements searching for a place to stay. They will be killed more, thus leading to their extinction.

Multiple choice zoology diversity in living world botanical gardens, zoological parks and zoological museums museums and zoos tools of taxonomy

Which of the following is not a cause for loss of biodiversity?

  1. Destruction of habitat

  2. Invasion by alien species

  3. Keeping animals in zoological parks

  4. Over-exploitation of natural resources
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Keeping of animals in zoological parks is a method to provide protection to the organisms in some other area instead of its natural habitat. The animals transferred  from their  natural habitat to a safer area either due to an injury or other physical ailment or a change in environmental conditions that is no longer sustainable

So, the correct option is 'Keeping animals in zoological parks'

Multiple choice geography water bodies study of water pollution threats to water resource pollution and environment major hazards in india and prevention

Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?

  1. Agricultural expansion

  2. Large scale development projects

  3. Grazing and fuel-wood collection

  4. Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Human activities have been the major causes for the depletion of flora and fauna. Various such activities are –

1. Agricultural expansion

2. Shifting cultivation (Jhum), a type of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.

3. Large scale development projects.

4. Mining activities.

5. Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, over-exploitation of forest products, environmental degradation, forest-fire are some other factors which have led to the decline of India’s biodiversity.

6. Environmental destruction due to unequal access, inequitable consumption of resources and differential sharing of responsibilities for environmental well-being are also responsible for the depletion of flora and fauna.

Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

If the decomposers become extinct, the most severely affected would be

  1. Non-cycling of minerals

  2. Damage to nitrogen fixation

  3. Biomagnification

  4. Carnivores will be starved
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Decomposers are microorganisms which decomposes organic matter. These include bacteria and fungi. They break down the organic matter of dead animals and plants and releases essential minerals back to the environment. If the decomposers become extinct, the most severely affected would be noncycling of minerals. Due to this, the essential minerals would not be released back in the environment and could not be used by plants for next cycle.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Noncycling of minerals.'

Multiple choice zoology human population population ecology population size population and how it changes

The best way to reduce the population of undesirable species is

  1. Reduce the carrying capacity of the environment for that species

  2. Elimination of females

  3. Elimination of the young generation

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

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an ecosystem can support indefinitely. When carrying capacity is reached, a population can survive on the resources available without depleting the overall availability of the resources. When a population is below the carrying capacity, the individuals have access to more than enough resources to survive. When a population grows and begins to reach the carrying capacity, the population begins using resources at an equal rate to which the resources are created. This often creates competition between individuals for the available resources. As a result, some individuals will die when they cannot get enough resources and others will not reproduce because they do not have the resources to support offspring. Environmental resistance leads to the establishment of a carrying capacity.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

If all decomposers are removed from an ecosystem, what will happen?

  1. All consumer will die

  2. Energy cycle will be inverted

  3. Balance of biogeochemical cycle will be disturbed

  4. Only herbivores will die
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Decomposers are saprotrophs, which decompose the organic remains by secreting extracellular digestive enzymes. Due to degradation of organic remains, decomposers are also called as reducers. They are also known as mineralisers as they release minerals trapped in organic remains. Detrivores are decomposers as well as scavengers, e.g., earthworm. Decomposition of organic wastes and dead and decaying plants and animals returns the minerals locked in living systems back to the environment. Thus, decomposition is very important for the biogeochemical cycles, or nutrient cycling.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

If wild animals are killed, what difficulty would we face?

  1. Imbalance in nature

  2. Decrease in fog rain

  3. Decrease in population

  4. Increase in rain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Killing wild animals disrupts food chains and food webs, causing ecological imbalance. Predators control prey populations, and their removal can lead to overpopulation of certain species and collapse of ecosystem dynamics.