Question:
What is biodiversity?
Answer:
- Biodiversity is made up of two words – bio (life) and diversity (variety). Therefore, in simple words, we can say that the diversity of different types of organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) is called biodiversity.
- Biodiversity also refers to the variety of plants, animals, microorganisms, genes, and ecosystems in a particular geographical area.
Biodiversity also refers to the variability among living organisms on Earth, including:
- Variability within the same species (e.g. there are many types of dog species such as German Shepherd, Pomeranian, Siberian Husky, Bulldog, etc.).
- Variability in different species.
- Variability within the same ecosystem.
- Variability among different ecosystems (eg desert ecosystem, forest ecosystem, plain ecosystem, etc.).
Biodiversity is our living asset and it takes thousands of years to develop. Sunlight and precipitation are two important inputs of biodiversity. Biodiversity is generally maximum where there is heavy precipitation and sufficiently higher sunlight.
For example,
Sunlight and precipitation are generally decreased from the equator to poles and thus biodiversity also decreases from the equator to poles.
The following are major factors for increasing biodiversity:
- Rainfall and Sunlight
- Biological productivity
- Age of ecosystem
- Intermediate disturbance in the ecosystem
- A large number of trophic levels [ producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, etc]
The following are major threats to biodiversity:
- Habitat destruction
- Pollution
- Forest Fire
- Introduction of exotic species
- Overexploitation
- Overpopulation
Answer the following MCQ on biodiversity:
1. Biodiversity means (UPPSC 2014 prelims)
a) diverse kinds of plants and vegetation.
b) diverse kinds of animals.
c) diverse kinds of plants and animals in a particular area.
d) diverse kinds of exotic plants and animals.
Answer. c.
- Biodiversity means diverse kinds of plants and animals in a particular area.
2. Which of the following is not responsible for the increase in the biodiversity of an ecosystem? (UPPSC 2015 prelims)
a) Productivity of the ecosystem
b) Intermediate disturbance
c) Age of ecosystem
d) less number of tropic levels
Answer. d
3. The maximum biodiversity is found in (UPPSC 2016 Prelims)
a) tundra
b) coniferous forests
c) tropical rain forests
d) temperate forests
Answer. c. Tropical rain forest
4. The main reason for the decrease in biodiversity is (UPPSC 2016)
a) Habitat pollution
b) Introduction of exotic species
c) Overexploitation
d) Natural habitat destruction
Answer. d.
Natural habitat destruction.
5. Biodiversity has maximum danger from (UPPSC 2017 prelims)
a) Destruction of natural habitats and vegetation
b) Improper agricultural operations
c) Climate change
d) Water Pollution
Answer. a; Destruction of natural habitats and vegetation.
You may like also:
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon