An Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation MCQs with Solutions
Biodiversity is composed of all living organisms, wherein each of them plays a significant role in their habitat. Also, all components of biodiversity are interdependent and must coordinate for sustainable living.
Notably, the chapter highlights the major concerns of biodiversity and emphasises the importance of conserving it. Now, there are a lot of concepts related to biodiversity and its conservation that you need to be familiar with.
While you need to go through these chapters for a detailed understanding, it is also imperative that you practice relevant questions. This can help you immensely in preparing for your exams since you will have a thorough understanding of question patterns and their relevant answering techniques. Furthermore, it also helps with self-assessment.
Take a cue from these MCQs on biodiversity and find out how well-equipped you are about the different topics!
Important Biodiversity Questions Multiple Choice
These are some important MCQs based on biodiversity and its conservation.
1. Which of These Has the Most Genetic Diversity In India?
a. Teak
b. Tea
c. Mango
d. Potato
2. ___________ is now an Extinct Animal.
a. Quoll
b. Tasmanian devil
c. Tasmanian tiger
d. Pademelon
3. Which of These Can Control Global Warming?
a. Burning of human-generated waste.
b. Reducing solid waste.
c. Limiting wastage of water.
d. Reducing consumption of fossil fuel.
4. When the last individual in a particular species dies, it is known as __________.
a. Speciation
b. Extinction
c. Phylogenetic diversity
d. Adaptation
5. Which of these is a suitable example of ex-situ conservation?
a. National park
b. Wildlife sanctuary
c. Sacred groves
d. Seed bank
6. Which is a common Non-Renewable Source
a. Silica
b. Uranium
c. Hot spring
d. Crude oil
7. ___________ is the Least Porous Soil.
a. Loam
b. Peat soil
c. Clayey soil
d. None of these
8. Nandan-Kanan Zoo is Popular for Its____________.
a. Nilgiri Tahr
b. Whale
c. White tiger
d. Hippo
9. Where can one find the greatest Biodiversity on Earth?
a. Nile delta, Egypt
b. African grasslands
c. Amazonian rain forest, South America
d. Western Ghat, India
10. Which of these is the most effective means of Conserving Biodiversity?
a. Preserve habitats.
b. Get rid of predators.
c. Census species during the breeding season.
d. Vaccinate species against diseases.
11. Lime is added to ________ soil.
a. Acidic
b. Dry
c. Salty
d. Alkaline
12. An ecological state wherein a species is introduced to a location where they are unique.
a. Ecosystem
b. Exotic species
c. Endemic species
d. None of these
13. __________ is the hotspot of Biodiversity in India.
a. Gangetic plain
b. Sunderbans
c. Eastern ghats
d. Western ghats
14. Which of these is an exhaustible natural resource?
a. Wildlife
b. Minerals
c. Soil fertility
d. Aquatic animals
15. Sacred Groups are useful in _________________.
a. Preventing soil erosion.
b. Conserving endangered and rare species.
c. Spreading environmental awareness.
d. Ensuring the sustainable flow of water in rivers.
16. How Much Forest Cover Is To Be Maintained As Per The National Forest Policy of 1988?
a. 11% for plains and 37% for hills.
b. 33% for plains and 67% for hills.
c. 23% for plains and 17% for hills.
d. None of these.
17. Which of the following national parks of India is listed in the Natural World Heritage sites of UNESCO?
a. Namdapha National Park
b. Dachigam National Park
c. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
d. Bandipur National Park
18. Threatened animals and plants are placed in a separate care unit for protection. It is called _____
a. Ex-situ conservation
b. In situ conservation
c. Wildlife sanctuary
d. National park
19. Chipko Movement was strengthened under the leadership of
a. Amrita Devi Bishnoi
b. Medha Patkar
c. A. K. Banerjee
d. Sunder Lal Bahuguna
20. Take a look at the following statements about Gaur (Indian Bison)-
1. It is categorized as endangered in the IUCN Red List.
2. It is a South and Southeast Asian native.
3. Gorumara National Park is well-known for its Gaur Population.
Select the correct statements:
a. 1 and 2
b. 2 and 3
c. 1 and 3
d. All of the above
21. A category of threatened species include:
a. Only vulnerable species.
b. Only endangered species
c. Endangered and rare species
d. Endangered, vulnerable and rare species
22. Here are the following protected areas:
1. Bandipur
2. Bhitarkanika
3. Manas
4. Sunderbans
Which of them are declared Tiger Reserves?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1, 3 and 4 only
c. 2, 3 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Solutions for MCQs on Biodiversity
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FAQs on Biodiversity and Conservation MCQs
1. What are the three key levels of biodiversity described in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus?
The three essential levels of biodiversity are:
- Genetic diversity: This refers to the variation in genes within a single species. For example, India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice.
- Species diversity: This is the variety of different species within a specific region. For instance, the Western Ghats have a greater diversity of amphibian species than the Eastern Ghats.
- Ecological diversity: This refers to the variety of ecosystems in a geographical area, such as deserts, rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs in India.
2. What is the main difference between in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies?
The primary difference lies in the location of conservation efforts. In-situ conservation involves protecting endangered species in their natural habitat, such as in National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves. In contrast, ex-situ conservation involves protecting them outside their natural habitat in specialised settings like botanical gardens, zoological parks, and seed banks.
3. From an exam perspective, what are the primary causes for biodiversity loss, known as 'The Evil Quartet'?
The four major causes, often called 'The Evil Quartet', are crucial for exam answers. They are:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: This is the most significant cause, where natural habitats are destroyed or broken into smaller, isolated patches.
- Over-exploitation: This occurs when humans harvest species like fish or trees at a rate faster than they can replenish, leading to their extinction (e.g., Steller's sea cow).
- Alien species invasions: When non-native species are introduced, they can outcompete or prey on native species, disrupting the ecosystem. The Nile perch in Lake Victoria is a classic example.
- Co-extinctions: When one species becomes extinct, other species that were dependent on it (like a parasite on its host) also face extinction.
4. Why are regions like the Western Ghats and Himalayas designated as biodiversity hotspots?
A region is designated as a biodiversity hotspot based on two strict criteria that are important for exams:
- It must have a high level of species richness, meaning it contains a large number of different species.
- It must have a high degree of endemism, meaning it contains many species that are found nowhere else on Earth.
The Western Ghats and Himalayas meet both these criteria, harbouring thousands of unique plant and animal species that are under constant threat from human activities.
5. How does the species-area relationship graph help in explaining biodiversity patterns?
The species-area relationship, studied by Alexander von Humboldt, shows that as the area of exploration increases, the number of species found also increases, but only up to a certain limit. For exams, it's important to know the equation log S = log C + Z log A. The value of the slope 'Z' (regression coefficient) is particularly significant. For smaller areas, Z is typically 0.1-0.2, but for very large areas like entire continents, the slope is much steeper (Z = 0.6-1.2), indicating that a greater loss of habitat leads to a much higher rate of species extinction.
6. Why is a stable ecosystem with high biodiversity considered more productive?
A stable ecosystem with high biodiversity is more productive because a greater variety of species allows for a wider range of ecological niches to be filled. This leads to more efficient capture of sunlight, better nutrient cycling, and greater overall biomass production. David Tilman's long-term ecosystem experiments showed that plots with more species demonstrated less year-to-year variation in total biomass and were more resistant to disturbances like drought, proving the link between stability, productivity, and species richness.
7. What is the difference in conservation approach between a National Park and a Wildlife Sanctuary?
While both are forms of in-situ conservation, their approach differs. A National Park has strictly defined boundaries and offers a higher degree of protection where almost all human activities, including grazing and private land rights, are prohibited. It typically aims to protect the entire ecosystem. A Wildlife Sanctuary is species-oriented (e.g., a bird sanctuary) and allows for certain human activities, like regulated grazing or collection of minor forest produce, as long as they do not harm the wildlife.
8. What was the key outcome of the Earth Summit (1992) in Rio de Janeiro regarding biodiversity?
The historic Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992) resulted in the 'Convention on Biological Diversity' (CBD). Its key objective, crucial for CBSE answers, was to promote the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. This marked a significant global commitment to protecting Earth's biological assets.
