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REVISION QUESTIONS
BIODIVERSITY & CONSERVATION
1. Biodiversity: Refers to the variety and variability of organisms or species
richness on earth or in a given area.
2. Genetic diversity: Variation at the level of individual genes
3. Species diversity: Refers to the variety of different species in a given
geographical area.
4. Ecological diversity: diversity at the ecological level.
5. Country which has the highest biodiversity in the world: Brazil
6. Name the different levels of biodiversity: Ecological diversity, Species diversity &
Genetic diversity.
7. The active chemical drug Reserpine is obtained from: Dried roots of Rauwolfia
serpentina.
8. Co-extinction: Refers to the simultaneous extinction of multiple species where,
one is dependent on other species. (Symbiosis)Eg Moth Pronuba and Yucca plant
9. Extinction: is the disappearance of a species or a taxonomic group.
10. Give reason:
a) When we move from the equator to the pole the biological diversity
decreases. or
b) The tropical region harbours more species than do the temperate or
polar region
• Ans: This is because the tropical regions have favourable conditions for
the growth throughout the year.
• Seasonal variations and natural disturbances are minimum so that the
species flourish and evolve undisturbed for millions of years.
• More solar energy is available that contributes to higher productivity.
• Whereas the polar regions have a severe climate with a short growing
period for plants.
c) Biodiversity is lower or decreases as we move to higher altitudes:
Ans: This is due to decrease in temperature and greater seasonal variability
at higher altitudes.
11. Mention the reason for the loss of biodiversity. Or Explain the ways in
which humans are responsible for large scale loss of biodiversity.
i. Over-exploitation of natural resources
ii. Urbanisation
iii. Over population
iv. Deforestation
Others reasons:
v. Habitat destruction and fragmentation
vi. Alien invasion
vii. Coextinction

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12. Impacts of loss of biodiversity

i. Decline in the plant production
ii. Lower resistance to environmental perturbations such as drought
iii. Increased variability in certain ecosystem processes like plant productivity,
water use, pest & disease cycles.

13. Alien Species invasion: Any species that is introduced into a geographical
area or in an ecosystem accidentally or deliberately from outside is called alien
species.
MCQ:Examples: Nile perch (fish), Lantana camara(weed), Water hyacinth/
Eichhornia(aquatic weed, terror of Bengal), African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus),
Periplaneta americana (cockroach)

14. MCQ: Examples for recent extinction: Dodo, Quagga, Thylacine, Steller’s Sea
Cow and three Tiger species Bali, Javan & Caspian.

15. a. Explain Humboldt’s Species-Area relationship with the help of a

graphical representation: or

b. Study the graph given below (fig:A)and answer the following questions:
i. Identify the ecological relationship shown by the graph.
ii. Write the equation of the curve a and b and explain.

Fig: A
Ans: a

• Alexander von Humboldt observed that within a region, species richness

increases with the increasing explored area but only up to a limit.
• The relationship between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa
gives a rectangular hyperbola.
• On a logarithmic scale, the relationship is a straight line described by the
equation: log S =log C +Z log A
Where, S = Species richness
A = Area
C = Y-intercept

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Z = Slope of the line (regression co-efficient)

• The value of Z lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 if the area is small.
• If the area become large then the slope of the line b becomes steeper with
the Z value in the range of 0.6 to 1.2

Ans: b.
i. The ecological relationship shown by the graph is Species-Area
Relationship.
ii. Equation of curve a is S = CAZ
Equation of curve b is log S = log C + Z log A

Where, S = Species richness

A = Area
C = Y-intercept
Z = Slope of the line (regression co-efficient)

16. Explain the Rivet Popper hypothesis: (Value points) (3marks)

• Stanford Ecologist Paul Ehrlich proposed the Rivet Popper hypothesis
• It explains the importance of biodiversity and the effect of decrease in
biodiversity or species richness on the ecosystem
• In an aeroplane (ecosystem), all parts are joined together by thousands of
rivets (species).
• If every passenger travelling (human activities) in the plane starts popping
the rivets to take home ( ie causing a species to become extinct), it may not
affect the safety ( proper functioning of the ecosystem) initially, but as
more and more rivets are removed, the plane become dangerously weak
over a period of time.
• Furthermore, loss of rivets on the wings ( key species that drive major
ecosystem function) cause more serious threat to the flight than the loss of
a few rivets from the seats and the flight may collapse( ecosystem
destruction)
• In an ecosystem, various species act as rivets and role of each species is
important for the stability of the ecosystem

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17. Describe the three main reasons for conserving biodiversity? 3 marks or
Why should we conserve biodiversity?
i. Narrow Utilitarian Reasons:
• Human derive economic benefits from nature such as food, fire-woods,
fibre, timber, construction materials, industrial products (tannins,
resins dyes, perfumes etc) and medicines.

ii. Broad Utilitarian Reasons:

• Biodiversity has many ecosystem services like
• Amazon forest produce 20% of total O2 in the earth’s atmosphere by
the process of photosynthesis.
• Forest and oceans regulate climates
• Pollination services takes place through bees, bumble bees, birds and
bats
• Biological pest control by natural predators
• Soil microbes enhance nutrient cycle
• We derive aesthetic pleasure such as walking through thick woods,
watching spring flowers in full bloom, bird watching etc (Ecotourism)

iii. Ethical Reasons:

• Every species has an intrinsic value.
• We have a moral duty to care for their well being
• To pass the rich biodiversity legacy to future generations
• To maintain balance between all ecological processes and life
supporting systems in various ecosystems.

18. International efforts for conserving biodiversity:

• The Earth Summit: held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Three main objectives:
(i) Conservation of biodiversity
(ii) Sustainable use of biodiversity
(iii) Utilization and sharing of benefits derived from the use of various
genetic resources fairly and equitably.

• The World Summit on Sustainable Development: held in 2002 at

Johannesburg South Africa
• Main objective
190 countries attended the Summit and pledged to significantly reduce the
current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and local levels by 2010.

19. Name the two strategies for conserving biodiversity:

In-situ conservation
Ex-situ conservation

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20. Differentiate between in-situ and ex-situ conservation:

In-situ Conservation
Conservation of biodiversity and
protection of endangered species in its endangered organisms/ species by
natural habitat. (onsite)
This approach emphasises on the
protection and restoration of total
natural habitat.
It includes protected areas like
National parks, Sanctuaries,
Biosphere reserves, Sacred grooves,
and Hot spots.
Ex-situ Conservation
Conservation or protection of
removing them from the threatened
habitat and placing them under the
care of humans. (offsite)
It emphasises the protection of genetic
resources at population and species
level
It includes live collection of animals
and plants in Zoo, Botanical gardens,
Seed banks, Gene banks, Wildlife
Safari, Tissue Culture, and
Cryopreservation

21. Define the following:

1. National Parks:
• National Park is an area strictly reserved for betterment of wildlife.
• Here human activities like forestry, gazing, cultivation etc are
prohibited.
• Private ownership right is not allowed in National Parks

2. Wild-life Sanctuaries:
• Sanctuaries are areas where protection is given to animals.
• Certain limited human activities like harvesting timber, collecting
fire-woods and forest products are permitted.
• Private ownership rights are allowed.

3. Biosphere Reserves:
• These are multipurpose protected areas to preserve the genetic
diversity of a particular area.
• It includes a forest area, where wild life is protected and conserved.
• Human activities are allowed under regulated frame work.
• Biosphere reserves are used for ecological and environmental
researches, education and training.

4. Sacred Grooves:
• They are sacred forest tracts which are held in high esteem around
the places of worship.
• These areas are protected by local communities through social
traditions and taboos that have spiritual and ecological values.

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• The sacred grooves are last refuges for a large number of threatened
and rare plants as these are the most undisturbed forest without
any human impact.
• Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Aravalli Hills, Western Ghats of Karnataka
& Maharastra.

5. Hot Spots:
• Hot spots are the richest reservoirs of wildlife that are under threat
and need immediate attention for their conservation.
• Hot spots are identified based on two features:
(1) Species richness of the area (total no: of flora and fauna)
(2) Degree of threat to wildlife in terms of habitat loss.
• Egs: 3 Hot Spots in India:
Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Himalayas

6. Zoological parks:
• Zoos are place where living animals are kept within enclosures,
displayed to public and may be used for studies.
• Zoos have resources for captive breeding which help to restore
critically endangered species of animals.
• For rearing and breeding endangered aquatic animals, large aquaria
are established.

7. Botanical Garden:
• Botanical gardens are establishment where plants are grown for
scientific study and display to the public.
• Botanical gardens are equipped with seed bank, gene bank, tissue
culture labs, herbariums, and museums.
• They are meant for conserving endangered plant varieties,
educational and research purposes.

8. Seed and Gene Banks:

• These are organisations that store valuable plant materials in the
form of viable seeds, pollen, ovules, tissue culture and frozen
germplasm (ova and sperm)
• It also contains gene libraries which store specific gene sequences in
the form of recombinant DNA.
• These are helpful in restoring the species of both flora and fauna
which are critically endangered.

9. Tissue Culture:
• It is a technique to develop cells, tissues and organs invitro on a n
artificial medium under controlled aseptic laboratory conditions.

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• The technique is useful for conserving the whole range of germplasm

of all types of plants.

10. Cryopreservation: is an ex-situ conservation technique in which

tissues, organs, embryos, seeds etc are stored at very low temperature of
-1960C. The preserved material can be revived by special technique when
required.

11. Red Data Book: Record of the threatened species of plants and
animals maintained by IUCN is called Red Data book

12. Ramsar Sites: Wetland sites which are identified and included in
Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance are called Ramsar
Sites. Egs : Vembanad Lake, Chilika Lake, Loktak Lake, Ashtamudi
wetland, Sasthamkotta Lake.

22. What are the threats faced by the Wetlands?

i. Loss of vegetation
ii. Salination
iii. Water pollution
iv. Invasive species
v. Excessive development and road constructions
23. List any four techniques where the principle of ex-situ conservation of
biodiversity has been employed?
i. Cryopreservation
ii. In vitro fertilization
iii. Tissue culture
iv. Seed bank
v. Gene bank

24. Discuss the various in situ conservation methods

25. Explain the methods of ex- situ conservation methods
(Refer notes)

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