Tag: biodiversity on earth and in india

Questions Related to biodiversity on earth and in india

The diversity of an ecosystem of total geographical area is called 

  1. Ecological integrity

  2. $\alpha$-diversity

  3. $\beta$- diversity

  4. $\gamma$- diversity


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Alpha diversity : species diversity within a community or habitat, comprises two components, i.e., species richness and evenness. Sometimes dominant of one vegetation stratum may affect the diversity of the other strata. 

Beta diversity : diversity is the inter community diversity expressing the rate of species turnover per unit change in habitat. 
Gamma diversity : gamma diversity is the overall diversity at landscape level includes both and  diversities. 

Number of plant species reported in India are

  1. 45,000

  2. 410

  3. 1,250

  4. 4,780


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The flora of India is one of the richest of the world due to a wide range of climate, topology and environments in the country. It is thought there are over 17,500 species of flowering plants in India. India covers more than 45,000 species of flora, out of which there are several species that are not found anywhere else. Since ancient times, use of plants as a source of medicines has been the inherent part of life in India. There are more than 3000 officially documented plants in India that holds great medicinal potential. India comprises seven percent of world's flora.

Cheetah populations in Africa have been increasing for the past several decades from numbers in the hundreds to numbers in the thousands.
A study was conducted in which skin tissue samples were obtained from five wild cheetahs and grafted onto five other cheetahs. An immune response regarding non-self tissue rejection was absent in the cheetahs that received the skin grafts.
Recently, a small wild population of cheetahs has become infected with a new type of infectious cancer. Scientists are concerned about the extinction of the entire species because

  1. Wild cheetah populations have lost their genetic diversity and are now equally susceptible to diseases.

  2. The immune systems of the wild cheetahs have become suppressed by stressors in their environments.

  3. Wild cheetah populations are still so small that transmission of infectious diseases will occur rapidly.

  4. Skin cancer tends to metastasize faster and be more malignant than many other forms of cancer.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

In case the species population were large, it would not face extinction in case of the rapid spread of the infectious disease, until the remedies are put in place by the scientist  to control the disease. Small population and rapid spread are the major concerns with respect to the extinction of the species

So, the correct answer is 'Wild cheetah populations are still so small that transmission of infectious diseases will occur rapidly'

Greatest genetic diversity of plants is found in

  1. Central America

  2. Homelands

  3. South America

  4. India


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Sexual reproduction is critical for maintaining genetic diversity within a species because it combines the parents genetic material, resulting in offspring with unique genetic blueprints different from either parent. Genetic diversity is important for two reasons. First of all, when a population of an organism contains a large gene poolthat is, if the genetic blueprints of individuals in the population vary significantly the group has a greater chance of surviving and flourishing than a population with limited genetic variability. Second, genetic diversity also reduces the incidence of unfavorable inherited traits. The home lands of our food crops are vital geographic regions where the greatest genetic diversity for each species can be found. Because in homelands there are more chances of sexual reproduction with in the species which is critical for maintaining genetic diversity. Thus, option B is correct. Greatest genetic diversity of plants is not found in Central America, India and South America. Thus, other options are wrong.

Study statements (a - d) and select the two correct statements. 
(a) A lion eating a deer and a sparrow feeding on grain are consumers.

(b) Predator starfish and Pisaster help in maintaining species diversity of some invertebrates.
(c) Predators ultimately lead to the extinction of prey species.
(d) Plant chemicals like nicotine and strychnine are produced due to metabolic disorders. 

  1. c and d

  2. a and d

  3. a and b

  4. b and c


Correct Option: C

The species diversity of plants on Earth will be

  1. 2.4%

  2. 22%

  3. 8.1%

  4. 85%

  5. 70%


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Species diversity is the number of different species, that are represented in a given community. 

Species diversity consists of two components: species richness and species evenness. Species richness is a simple count of species, whereas species evenness quantifies how equal the abundances of the species are. More than 70% of species recorded are animals and 22% are plant species.

Discovery of new species has recently picked up due to project _________.

  1. Species 2000

  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility

  3. Agenda 21

  4. Both A and B


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A) Species 2000 is an autonomous federation of taxonomic database custodians which involves taxonomists in the whole world. 

B) The Global Biodiversity Information Facility is an international organization which basically focusses on making scientific data on biodiversity available on the internet.
C) Agenda 21 is an action idea of the United Nations which addresses sustainable development. 
Discovery of new species has recently picked up due to project Species and 2000 and Global Diversity Information Facility.
So, the correct answer is 'Both A and B'.

A continental population of insects has blue, red, green, and black variations. The color is controlled by the interaction of two genes, one with two alleles, the other with three alleles.
A piece of driftwood carrying two green insects and five red insects floats in the ocean for several days and washes up on a small island where the insect species did not previously live. The seven insects establish a new population on the island that increases in number significantly over several generations.
Which of the following statements correctly compares the island population with the original mainland population?

  1. Red is dominantly inherited in the island population, while on the mainland green is dominant.

  2. The island population has lower genetic diversity than the mainland population.

  3. The island population is more likely to experience competition with other insect species than the mainland population.

  4. The island population size is increasing, while the mainland population is decreasing.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

It is given that out of blue, red, green and black variations of insects, only red and green insects established a new population on the new island. Since, these four colors are controlled by two genes, new population could have either of colour of insects. It is an example of founder effect. The island population will have lower genetic diversity than the mainland population because small populations usually have less genetic diversity than large population.

Thus, the correct answer is 'The island population has lower genetic diversity than the mainland population.'