Biodiversity and Conservation MCQ Quiz in मल्याळम - Objective Question with Answer for Biodiversity and Conservation - സൗജന്യ PDF ഡൗൺലോഡ് ചെയ്യുക

The correct answer is A - iii, B - i, C - iv, D - ii

Explanation:

Some examples of recent extinctions include the dodo (Mauritius), quagga (Africa), thylacine (Australia), Steller’s Sea Cow (Russia) and three subspecies (Bali, Javan, Caspian) of tiger.

• Dodo: The dodo was a flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
• Quagga: The quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra, which was native to South Africa. It is now extinct.
• Thylacine: The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, was a carnivorous marsupial native to Australia, particularly Tasmania.
• Stellar's sea cow: The Stellar's sea cow was a large marine mammal that lived in the Bering Sea, particularly around the Commander Islands, near Russia.

The correct answer is Statement I is false but Statement II is true.

Explanation:

Statement I. Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two closely related species competing for different resources cannot exist indefinitely.

• This statement is false because Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist indefinitely. If the resources they are competing for are different, they can coexist.

Statement II: According to Gause's principle, during competition, the inferior will be eliminated. This may be true if resources are limiting.

• This statement is correct because when resources are limited the competitively superior species will eventually eliminate the other species, but evidence for such competitive exclusion occurring in nature is not always conclusive.
• The Abingdon tortoise in Galapagos Islands became extinct within a decade after goats were introduced on the island, apparently due to the greater browsing efficiency of the goats.

Concept:​

• ​The distribution of plants and animals is uneven throughout the world.
• The latitudinal gradient in diversity explains how the species diversity varies from the equator to the poles.
• Species diversity decreases from the equator towards the poles.
• More species of plants and animals are found in the tropics as compared to temperate or polar areas.
• Reasons for more species in the tropics as compared to temperate areas:

1. Speciation -
   • Tropical latitudes have remained undisturbed for millions of years which have facilitated speciation.
   • Temperate areas on the other hand have been subjected to several drastic climatic changes like glaciations.
   • This, in turn, has affected speciation.
2. Niche Specialization -
   • Tropical areas are less seasonal, which is relatively more constant and predictable as compared to temperate areas.
   • This in turn promotes niche specialization leading to greater species diversity.
3. Productivity -
   • Tropics receive more sunlight as compared to temperate areas.
   • This contributes to higher productivity leading to greater species diversity.

Important Points

• Assertion - FALSE
  • Tropical areas have a greater biological diversity as compared to temperate regions.
  • This is due to several factors such as the availability of greater sunlight, less, constant and predictable seasons. 
  • All these factors contribute to greater species diversity.
• Reason - TRUE
  • A tropical environment is characterized by less seasonal, which is relatively more constant as compared to temperate areas.
  • These factors contribute to speciation giving rise to new species of both plants and animals. 
  • As a result which tropics have a greater biological diversity as compared to temperate regions.
• Thus we can conclude that Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is true.

So the correct answer is option 4.

Concept:

• Loss of biodiversity can be caused due to a number of factors but has been accelerated by several human activities.
• Several species have become extinct in just the last century.
• We are currently in the phase of the 'Sixth extinction', which is happening at a much faster rate than the previous mass extinctions.
• The previous extinctions happened in pre-human era, thus proving that human activities are responsible for the higher rate of extinction.
• The major causes for loss of biodiversity is referred to as the 'Evil Quartet'.

Important Points

• Passenger pigeon is an extinct species of pigeon that was native to North America.
• It was a migratory bird that nested in large flocks, which made them more vulnerable.
• It was once considered to be the most abundant bird in the entire world.
• They were hunted for their meat and their overexploitation made them extinct.

Additional Information

Evil Quartet - 

• Habitat Loss & Fragmentation -
  • Loss of habitat may be caused by human activities which require more land area.
  • Forest areas are cleared for urbanisation and infrastructural developments.
  • This is the reason tropical forests have reduced to 6% from 14% of total land surface.
  • For example, Amazon rainforests are increasingly being cleared for cultivation of soya beans and conversion to grasslands for raising beef cattle.
  • Some of the habitat loss is also caused due to increasing levels of pollution.
  • Fragmentation refers to the breaking up of a large area into smaller fragments of habitats.
  • For example, if a road is built across a forest, the forest gets divided into at least 2 different fragments of habitat.
  • This also increases the perimeter area, which reduces the habitat area even further.
• Overexploitation -
  • This refers to the overuse and overexploitation of living organisms for human needs.
  • Example - Passenger pigeon, Stellar's sea cow.
  • Marine fishes are highly over-harvested for consumption as well as for obtaining other products like fish oils, etc.
• Alien Species Invasion -
  • When any species from a different habitat (alien species) is introduced into another habitat, it tends to grow exponentially in absence of its natural predator.
  • This reduces the resources available for the native species of that habitat.
  • The native species present in the habitat are not equipped to compete with these alien species and hence, face a threat of extinction.
  • For example, introduction of Nile perch in Lake Victoria in east Africa led to the extinction of more than 200 species of cichlid fishes there.
  • Illegal introduction of African catfish Clarias gariepinus for aquaculture has posed a threat to the indigenous catfishes in Indian rivers.
• Co-extinction -
  • When two species live in obligatory associations, extinction of one species leads to the extinction of another.
  • Example - Host fishes and their parasites, co-evolved plant-pollinator mutualistic species.

The correct answer is A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II

Explanation:

A. Robert May → III. Global species diversity at about 7 million

• Robert May made significant contributions to our understanding of population dynamics and global species diversity. He estimated global species diversity to be around 7 million.

B. Alexander von Humboldt → I. Species-Area relationship

• Alexander von Humboldt discovered the species-area relationship, which describes how the number of species increases with the area surveyed.

C. Paul Ehrlich → IV. Rivet popper hypothesis

• Paul Ehrlich is known for the Rivet popper hypothesis, which compares ecosystem stability to the rivets in an airplane hull, suggesting that losing too many species (rivets) can lead to ecosystem collapse.

D. David Tilman → II. Long term ecosystem experiment using outdoor plots

• David Tilman is known for conducting long term ecosystem experiments using outdoor plots to study biodiversity and ecosystem function.

The correct answer is IUCN

Explanation:

• The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is responsible for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) (2004), the total number of plant and animal species described so far is slightly more than 1.5 million but we have no clear idea of how many species are yet to be discovered and described.
• The IUCN Red List (2004) documents the extinction of 784 species (including 338 vertebrates, 359 invertebrates and 87 plants) in the last 500 years.
• Some examples of recent extinctions include the dodo (Mauritius), quagga (Africa), thylacine (Australia), Steller’s Sea Cow (Russia) and three subspecies (Bali, Javan, Caspian) of tiger.

Other options:

• GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee): This is a body in India focused on the regulation of genetic engineering and its products.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund): While WWF is involved in conservation efforts and can release reports on species, it is not the primary organization responsible for the global list of endangered species.
• FOAM (Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements): This organization is concerned with organic farming and agriculture, not specifically with endangered species lists.

The correct answer is Alien species invasion & Co - extinctions 

Explanation-

Alien species invasion: The introduction of invasive alien species into ecosystems can have detrimental effects on native biodiversity. These invasive species often outcompete native species for resources, disrupt ecosystem functions, and may lead to the decline or extinction of native species.

Co-extinctions: Co-extinction occurs when a species becomes extinct as a result of the extinction of another species with which it has a dependent relationship. For example, many flowering plants rely on specific pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, or birds, for pollination. If the pollinator species becomes extinct due to factors like habitat loss, pesticide use, or climate change, the plant species may also face extinction because they are unable to reproduce without their pollinators.

Both of these factors contribute significantly to biodiversity losses worldwide. Invasive alien species and co-extinctions are recognized as major drivers of species extinctions and the decline of biodiversity in ecosystems.

Conclusion:-Therefore, "Both 1 and 2," is the correct answer.

The Chipko movement, or Chipko Andolan, is a renowned environmental movement that originated in India during the 1970s. "Chipko" translates to "embrace" or "hug" in Hindi, symbolizing the villagers' act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. The movement primarily aimed to address deforestation, conserve forests, and empower local communities.

 Key Points

• Beginning in the state of Uttarakhand (formerly part of the state of Uttar Pradesh), the Chipko movement gained prominence under the leadership of environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna.
• The local communities, mainly consisting of villagers, particularly women, protested against the indiscriminate logging carried out by commercial enterprises.
• Sunderlal Bahuguna was an influential environmentalist and social activist in India, best known for his leadership in the Chipko movement.
• Sunderlal Bahuguna advocated for sustainable forestry practices and emphasized the importance of preserving the Himalayan ecosystem. His approach involved raising awareness about the ecological significance of trees and forests, and he played a key role in popularizing the concept of "ecology is permanent economy."

Therefore the right answer is Sunderlal Bahuguna.  

Explanation:

• Endemic species are those species of plants and animals which are found exclusively in a particular area or specific habitat.
• They are not naturally found anywhere else. A particular type of animal or plant may be endemic to a zone, a state or a country.
• The destruction of their habitat, increasing population and introduction of new species may affect the natural habitat of endemic species and endanger their existence.
• Examples - Sal and wild mango are endemic flora of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve while Bison, Indian giant squirrel and flying squirrel are endemic fauna of this area.
• Thereby, from the above points, it is clear that the only true statement about the endemic species among the given options is ''They are found exclusively in specific habitat''.

Additional Information 

Some of the important Endemic species of India are:

• Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest.
• Nilgiri Tahr in Nilgiri Hills.
• Sangai Deer in Loktak Lake.
• Purple Frog in the Western Ghats.
• Kashmir Stag in Kashmir Valley.
• Lion Tailed Macaque in the Western Ghats.
• Pygmy Hog in Assam.
• Malabar Civet in the Western Ghats.

Concept:

• Loss of biodiversity can be caused due to a number of factors but has been accelerated by several human activities.
• Several species have become extinct in just the last century.
• We are currently in the phase of the 'Sixth extinction', which is happening at a much faster rate than the previous mass extinctions.
• The previous extinctions happened in pre-human era, thus proving that human activities are responsible for the higher rate of extinction.
• The major causes for loss of biodiversity is referred to as the 'Evil Quartet'.

Important PointsEvil Quartet - 

1. Habitat Loss & Fragmentation -
   • Loss of habitat may be caused by human activities which require more land area.
   • Forest areas are cleared for urbanization and infrastructural developments.
   • This is the reason tropical forests have reduced to 6% from 14% of total land surface.
   • For example, Amazon rainforests are increasingly being cleared for cultivation of soya beans and conversion to grasslands for raising beef cattle.
   • Some of the habitat loss is also caused due to increasing levels of pollution.
   • Fragmentation refers to the breaking up of a large area into smaller fragments of habitats.
   • For example, if a road is built across a forest, the forest gets divided into at least 2 different fragments of habitat.
   • This also increases the perimeter area, which reduces the habitat area even further.
2. Overexploitation -
   • This refers to the overuse and overexploitation of living organisms for human needs.
   • Example - Stellar's sea cow, passenger pigeon.
   • Marine fishes are highly over-harvested for consumption as well as for obtaining other products like fish oils, etc.
3. Alien Species Invasion -
   • When any species from a different habitat (alien species) is introduced into another habitat, it tends to grow exponentially in absence of its natural predator.
   • This reduces the resources available for the native species of that habitat.
   • The native species present in the habitat are not equipped to compete with these alien species and hence, face a threat of extinction.
   • For example, introduction of Nile perch in Lake Victoria in east Africa led to the extinction of more than 200 species of cichlid fishes there.
   • Illegal introduction of African catfish Clarias gariepinus for aquaculture has posed a threat to the indigenous catfishes in Indian rivers.
4. Co-extinction -
   • When two species live in obligatory associations, extinction of one species leads to the extinction of another.
   • Example - Host fishes and their parasites, co-evolved plant-pollinator mutualistic species.

Explanation:

• Endemism is the phenomenon of confinement of a species to a small area beyond which their existence is not found.
• Thus, endemic species need to be protected by conservation strategies as they are more vulnerable to extinction.
• But this is NOT a cause for biodiversity loss.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3.