Biodiversity And Conservation

Question 1

What is the latitudinal gradient in biodiversity?

Answer 1

Species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the poles.

Question 2

Where do most species tend to be found?

Answer 2

Tropics (latitudinal range of 23.5°N to 23.5°S) harbour more species than temperate or polar areas.

Question 3

How many species of birds are found in Colombia?

Answer 3

Colombia has nearly 1,400 species of birds.

Question 4

How many species of birds are found in New York?

Answer 4

New York has 105 species of birds.

Question 5

How many species of birds are found in Greenland?

Answer 5

Greenland has only 56 species of birds.

Question 6

How many species of birds are found in India?

Answer 6

India has more than 1,200 species of birds.

Question 7

How does the species diversity of tropical forests compare to temperate forests?

Answer 7

A tropical forest can have up to 10 times as many species of vascular plants as a temperate forest of equal area.

Question 8

What is the biodiversity of the Amazonian rain forest?

Answer 8

The Amazonian rain forest is home to more than 40,000 species of plants, 3,000 of fishes, 1,300 of birds, 427 of mammals, 427 of amphibians, 378 of reptiles, and over 125,000 invertebrates.

Question 9

What do scientists estimate about insect species in rain forests?

Answer 9

Scientists estimate that there might be at least two million insect species waiting to be discovered and named.

Question 10

What hypothesis explains the greater biological diversity in tropics?

Answer 10

Speciation is generally a function of time; tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years.

Question 11

What promotes greater species diversity in tropical environments?

Answer 11

Tropical environments are less seasonal, more constant, and predictable, which promotes niche specialization.

This leads to greater species diversity.

Question 12

What is the relationship between species richness and area?

Answer 12

Species richness increases with increasing explored area, but only up to a limit. This relationship is a rectangular hyperbola.

The equation is log S = log C + Z log A.

Question 13

What do the variables S, A, Z, and C represent in the species-area relationship equation?

Answer 13

S = Species richness, A = Area, Z = slope of the line (regression coefficient), C = Y-intercept.

Question 14

What is the typical range of Z values for species-area relationships?

Answer 14

The value of Z typically lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 for various taxonomic groups.

This holds true across different regions and taxa.

Question 15

What happens to the slope of the species-area relationship for very large areas?

Answer 15

For very large areas, the slope of the line is much steeper, with Z values ranging from 0.6 to 1.2.

Question 16

What does a steeper slope in the species-area relationship indicate?

Answer 16

A steeper slope indicates a greater increase in species richness with area, as seen in frugivorous birds and mammals in tropical forests, where the slope is 1.15.

Question 17

Does the number of species in a community matter for ecosystem functioning?

Answer 17

Ecologists have not been able to provide a definitive answer, but communities with more species tend to be more stable than those with fewer species.

Question 18

What is the traditional belief about species-rich communities?

Answer 18

For many decades, it was believed that communities with more species are generally more stable.

Question 19

What does the data show about extinctions across taxa?

Answer 19

Extinctions across taxa are not random; some groups, like amphibians, appear to be more vulnerable to extinction.

Question 20

How many species worldwide are facing the threat of extinction?

Answer 20

More than 15,500 species worldwide are facing the threat of extinction.

Question 21

What percentage of bird species face extinction?

Answer 21

12 percent of all bird species face the threat of extinction.

Question 22

What percentage of mammal species face extinction?

Answer 22

23 percent of all mammal species face the threat of extinction.

Question 23

What percentage of amphibian species face extinction?

Answer 23

32 percent of all amphibian species face the threat of extinction.

Question 24

What percentage of gymnosperm species face extinction?

Answer 24

31 percent of all gymnosperm species face the threat of extinction.

Question 25

How many episodes of mass extinction have occurred in the history of life on Earth?

Answer 25

There have been five episodes of mass extinction in the history of life on Earth.

Question 26

How does the current extinction rate compare to pre-human times?

Answer 26

Current species extinction rates are estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times faster than in pre-human times.

Question 27

What might happen if current extinction trends continue?

Answer 27

Nearly half of all species on Earth might be wiped out within the next 100 years.

Question 28

What are the general consequences of loss of biodiversity?

Answer 28

Loss of biodiversity may lead to a decline in plant production, lowered resistance to environmental perturbations, and increased variability in ecosystem processes.

Question 29

What are the four major causes of biodiversity loss?

Answer 29

The four major causes are habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, pollution, and invasive species.

Question 30

What is the most important cause driving species to extinction?

Answer 30

Habitat loss and fragmentation is the most important cause driving species to extinction.

Question 31

What has happened to tropical rain forests in terms of area covered?

Answer 31

Tropical rain forests have decreased from covering more than 14 percent of the Earth's land surface to no more than 6 percent.

Question 32

What is the Amazon rain forest often referred to as?

Answer 32

The Amazon rain forest is referred to as the 'lungs of the planet.'

Question 33

What is a dramatic consequence of habitat fragmentation?

Answer 33

Habitat fragmentation affects mammals and birds requiring large territories and migratory animals, leading to population declines.

Question 34

What happens when 'need' turns to 'greed' in terms of resource use?

Answer 34

When 'need' turns to 'greed,' it leads to overexploitation of natural resources.

Question 35

What is over-exploitation of natural resources?

Answer 35

The excessive use of natural resources leading to species extinctions.

Question 36

Which two species extinctions in the last 500 years were due to overexploitation by humans?

Answer 36

* Steller's sea cow * Passenger pigeon

Question 37

What is the current status of many marine fish populations?

Answer 37

They are over harvested, endangering commercially important species.

Question 38

What happens when alien species are introduced into an ecosystem?

Answer 38

Some become invasive, causing decline or extinction of indigenous species.

Question 39

What was the impact of the Nile perch introduction in Lake Victoria?

Answer 39

It led to the extinction of more than 200 species of cichlid fish.

Question 40

Name three invasive weed species that threaten native species.

Answer 40

* Carrot grass (Parthenium) * Lantana * Water hyacinth (Eicchornia)

Question 41

What is the threat posed by the African catfish Clarias gariepinus?

Answer 41

It threatens indigenous catfishes in rivers.

Question 42

What is co-extinction?

Answer 42

The extinction of a species that leads to the extinction of associated species.

Question 43

Give an example of co-extinction involving fish.

Answer 43

Extinction of a host fish species results in the extinction of its unique parasites.

Question 44

What are the three categories of reasons for conserving biodiversity?

Answer 44

* Narrowly utilitarian * Broadly utilitarian * Ethical

Question 45

What are some direct economic benefits humans derive from nature?

Answer 45

* Food (cereals, pulses, fruits) * Firewood * Fibre * Construction material * Industrial products (tannins, lubricants, dyes, resins, perfumes)

Question 46

What percentage of drugs sold worldwide are derived from plants?

Answer 46

More than 25 percent.

Question 47

How many species of plants contribute to traditional medicines used by native peoples?

Answer 47

25,000 species.

Question 48

What is bioprospecting?

Answer 48

Exploring molecular, genetic, and species-level diversity for economically important products.

Question 49

What is the broadly utilitarian argument for conserving biodiversity?

Answer 49

Biodiversity plays a major role in ecosystem services provided by nature.

Question 50

6

Question 51

dwindling Amazon forest is estimated to produce

Answer 51

through

Question 52

photosymthesis

Answer 52

20 per cent of the total oxygen in the earth's atmosphere.

Question 53

Can we put an economic value on this service by nature? You can get

Question 54

some idea by finding out how much your neighborhood hospital spernds

Question 55

on a cylinder of oxygen. Pollination (without which plants cannot give

Question 56

us fruits or seeds) is another service

Answer 56

ecosystems provide through

Question 57

pollinators layer - bees

Answer 57

bumblebees

Question 58

costs of accomplishing pollination without help from natural

Question 59

pollinators? There are other intangible benefits - that we derive from

Question 60

nature-the aesthetic pleasures of walking through thick woods

Answer 60

watching

Question 61

spring flowers in full bloom or waking up to a bulbul's song in the

Question 62

morning. Can we put a price tag on such things?

Question 63

The ethical argument for conserving biodiversity relates to what we

Question 64

cwe to millions of plant. animal and microbe species with whom we share

Question 65

this planet. Philosophically or spiritually

Answer 65

we need to realise that every

Question 66

species has an intrinsic value

Answer 66

even if it may not be of cuTent or any

Question 67

economic value to us. We have a moral duty to care for their well-being

Question 68

and pass on our biological legacy in good order to future generations.

Question 69

I5.2.2 How do we conserve Biodiversity?

Question 70

When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem

Answer 70

its biodiversity at all

Question 71

levels is protected - we save the entire forest to save the tiger. This approach

Question 72

is called in situ (on site) conservation. However

Answer 72

when there are situations

Question 73

where an animal or plant is endangered or threatened (organisms facing

Question 74

a very high risk.of extinction in the wild in the near future) and needs

Question 75

Lurgent measures to save it from extinction

Answer 75

ex situ (off site) conservation.

Question 76

is the desirable approach.

Question 77

In situ conservation- Faced with the conflict between development and

Question 78

conservation

Answer 78

many nations find it unrealistic and economically not feasible

Question 79

to conserve all their biological wealth. Invariably

Answer 79

the number of species

Question 80

waiting to be saved fromn extinction far exceeds the conservation resources

Question 81

available. On a global basis

Answer 81

this problem has beern addressed by eminent

Question 82

conservationists. They identified for maximum protection certain

Question 83

"biodiversity hotspots' regions with very high levels of species richness and high degree of endemism (that is, species confined to that region and not found anywhere else). Initially 25 biodiversity hotspots were identified but subsequently nine more have been added to the list. bringing the«total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world to 34. These hotspots are also regions of accelerated habitat loss. Three of these hotspots - Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya - cover our country's exceptionally high biodiversity regions. Although all the biodiversity hotspots put together cover less than 2 per cent of the earth's land area. the number of species they collectively

Question 84

What is the impact of strict protection on biodiversity hotspots?

Answer 84

Strict protection of biodiversity hotspots could reduce ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30 percent.

Question 85

How many biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries does India have?

Answer 85

India has 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks, and 448 wildlife sanctuaries.

Question 86

What cultural traditions in India emphasize nature protection?

Answer 86

India has a history of religious and cultural traditions that emphasize the protection of nature, including sacred groves.

Question 87

Where can sacred groves be found in India?

Answer 87

Sacred groves are found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan, Western Ghats of Karnataka and Maharashtra, and Sarguja, Chanda, and Bastar areas of Madhya Pradesh.

Question 88

What is ex situ conservation?

Answer 88

Ex situ conservation involves taking threatened animals and plants out of their natural habitat to protect them in special settings.

Question 89

What facilities serve the purpose of ex situ conservation?

Answer 89

Zoological parks, botanical gardens, and wildlife safari parks serve the purpose of ex situ conservation.

Question 90

What advancements have been made in ex situ conservation?

Answer 90

Advancements include preserving gametes using cryopreservation, fertilizing eggs in vitro, and propagating plants using tissue culture methods.

Question 91

What is the significance of the Convention on Biological Diversity?

Answer 91

The Convention on Biological Diversity, held in 1992, called upon nations to take measures for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization.

Question 92

What commitment was made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002?

Answer 92

At the 2002 World Summit, 190 countries pledged to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.