Tag: biodiversity, classification and conservation

Questions Related to biodiversity, classification and conservation

Which of the following statements regarding the estimates of number of species found on earth is not correct?

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

  1. Total number of species present on earth are considered to be about 7 million as estimated by Robert May.

  2. Plants constitute more than 70% of all the species recorded, whereas animals constitute less than 22% of the total number of species.

  3. Insects constitute more than 70% of all the animal species.

  4. None of these.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Animals constitute more than 70% of all the species recorded whereas plants constitute around 22% of total number of species. 

The diversity of organisms sharing the same habitat or community is termed as

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

  1. alpha diversity

  2. beta diversity

  3. gamma diversity

  4. delta diversity.

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ecological diversity is of three types:
(i) Alpha diversity
(ii) Beta diversity
(iii) Gamma biodiversity.

Species diversity ______ as one moves from high to low altitudes.

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

  1. increases

  2. decreases

  3. first increases then decreases

  4. first decreases then increases

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Biodiversity changes with the change in altitude. It increases as one moves from higher to lower altitudes.

Alpha diversity is biodiversity present 

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

  1. within community

  2. between communities

  3. ranges of communities

  4. none of these.

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ecological diversity is of three types:
(i) Alpha diversity
(ii) Beta diversity
(iii) Gamma biodiversity.

Study the given populations and choose the correct answer in relation to species diversity.

Population Species  Group Individuals
Population  A                I Mammals  3
     II Birds  2
     III Amphibians  2
Population  B      I Mammals  2
     II Mammals  2
    III Amphibians  1
Population  C      I Mammals  3
    II Mammals  2
   III Mammals  1

 

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

  1. Maximum diversity - Population B; 

    Minimum diversity - Population C

  2. Maximum diversity - Population A; 

    Minimum diversity - Population C

  3. Maximum diversity - Population A; 

    Minimum diversity - Population B

  4. Maximum diversity - Population B; 

    Minimum diversity - Population A

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Species diversity is the number of different species present in a given population i. e. 'Species diversity relates to the number of different species.'
In population A, there are 3 different classes present. These are mammals, birds, and amphibians. Hence, it will have vast species diversity.
In population B, only 2 classes are present, namely mammals and amphibians. Hence, species diversity will be less compared to that of population A.
In population C, all the species belongs only to class mammals. Hence, it will show the least species diversity.

So the correct answer is option B.

On a logarithmic scale, the species area relationship is a straight line described by the equation log S = log C + Z log A.
What does S, C, Z and A represent in the given equation? Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
Species richness = 1
Slope of the line  = 2
Y- intercept          = 3 
Area                    = 4

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

  1. 1 - C; 2 - S; 3 - Z; 4 - A

  2. 1 - S; 2 - Z; 3 - C; 4 - A

  3. 1 - Z; 2 - S; 3 - C; 4 - A

  4. 1 - A; 2 - C; 3 - S; 4 - Z

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The relationshipbetween species richness and area is rectangular hyperbola for a wide variety of taxa whether they are birds, bats, freshwater fishes or flowering plants and the equation can be given as S = $CA^z$.

Niche overlap indicates 

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

  1. mutualiism between two species

  2. active cooperation between two species

  3. two different parasites on the same host

  4. sharing of one more resources between the two species

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Ecological niche means the total interaction of a species with its environment or its functions position on status in an ecosystem. Ecological niche depends on the species structural adaptions, physical responses and behavior Niche overlap means that one or more resources are shared beteen two species .

Which of the following ways is most likely to decrease the genetic diversity in a population?

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

  1. Gene mutation

  2. Genetic recombination

  3. Stabilising natural selection

  4. Immigration of individuals

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
  • Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. For example, The genetic diversity shown by the medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria growing in different Himalayan ranges might be in terms of the potency and concentration of the active chemical (reserpine) that the plant produces. 
  • Genetic variation is an important force in evolution as it allows natural selection to increase or decrease the frequency of alleles already in the population.
  • Stabilizing natural selection is most likely to decrease the genetic diversity in a population because the frequency of alleles remains constant in stabilized natural selection.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Stabilising natural selection'.

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

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

  1. Alpha diversity Number of species in a given habitat

  2. Genetic diversity Variation of genes within species

  3. Beta-diversity - Diversity of habitat in the whole region

  4. Species diversity - The product of species richness and evenness

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary. Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are suited for the environment. Those individuals are more likely to survive to produce offspring bearing that allele. The population will continue for more generations because of the success of these individuals. The academic field of population genetics includes several hypotheses and theories regarding genetic diversity. The neutral theory of evolution proposes that diversity is the result of the accumulation of neutral substitutions. Diversifying selection is the hypothesis that two subpopulations of a species live in different environments that select for different alleles at a particular locus. This may occur, for instance, if a species has a large range relative to the mobility of individuals within it. Frequency-dependent selection is the hypothesis that as alleles become more common, they become more vulnerable. This occurs in host–pathogen interactions, where a high frequency of a defensive allele among the host means that it is more likely that a pathogen will spread if it is able to overcome that allele.
So the correct option is 'genetic diversity- variation of genes within species'.

The term $\alpha$ - diversity refers to

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

  1. Genetic diversity

  2. Community and ecosystem diversity

  3. Diversity among the plants

  4. Species diversity

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The local species pool is known as alpha diversity. It is also the diversity present within the community. The term was introduced by R. H. Whittaker. Example of such diversity includes high tree diversity throughout the Amazon Rainforests of Ecuador. Generally, gamma diversity = alpha diversity x beta diversity.

So, the correct answer is 'Species diversity'.