Biodiversity AND Conservation flash cards

1. 1.Who coined the term biodiversity?

   Edward Wilson (popularised the term).

   Hint: Famous ecologist / sociobiologist.

2. 2.Define biodiversity.

   The combined diversity at all levels of biological organisation — genetic, species and ecological diversity.

   Hint: Diversity at all levels.

3. 3.What are the three levels of biodiversity described by NCERT?

   Genetic diversity, Species diversity, and Ecological (ecosystem) diversity.

   Hint: Genes < species < ecosystem.

4. 4.What is genetic diversity?

   Diversity shown by a single species at the genetic level over its distributional range.

   Hint: Variation within a species.

5. 5.Give NCERT's example of genetic diversity in Rauwolfia vomitoria.

   The medicinal plant growing in different Himalayan ranges shows genetic variation in potency and concentration of the chemical reserpine it produces.

   Hint: Reserpine concentration varies.

6. 6.How many genetically different varieties of rice does India have (NCERT example of genetic diversity)?

   More than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice, and 1,000 varieties of mango.

   Hint: Rice > 50,000; mango 1,000.

7. 7.What is species diversity?

   The diversity at the level of species — e.g. the Western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.

   Hint: Variety of species in a region.

8. 8.What is ecological (ecosystem) diversity?

   Diversity at the ecosystem level — e.g. India, with deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries and alpine meadows, has greater ecosystem diversity than a Scandinavian country like Norway.

   Hint: Variety of habitats/ecosystems.

9. 9.According to IUCN (2004), how many species have been recorded and described so far?

   Slightly more than 1.5 million species.

   Hint: ~1.5 million described.

10. 10.What is Robert May's global estimate of the total number of species on Earth?

    About 7 million species (his conservative estimate).

    Hint: May's figure.

11. 11.QUESTION: Of all described species, roughly what fraction are animals and what fraction are plants?

    More than 70% of all recorded species are animals; plants (including algae, fungi, bryophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms) make up about 22%.

    Hint: Animals >70%, plants ~22%.

12. 12.Among animals, which group is the most species-rich?

    Insects — they are the most species-rich taxonomic group, making up more than 70% of the total (about 70% of all animals).

    Hint: Insects dominate.

13. 13.NCERT: 'If you were to count all insects... how would they compare to all other animals combined?'

    Out of every 10 animals on this planet, 7 are insects.

    Hint: 7 out of 10 animals.

14. 14.How does the number of described fungi species compare to all vertebrates?

    The number of fungi species is more than the combined total of the species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

    Hint: Fungi > all vertebrates.

15. 15.Why are these global species estimates likely underestimates?

    Because prokaryotes (bacteria) are hard to culture and identify in the lab, and many species — especially in tropical regions — remain undiscovered; their true diversity may run into millions.

    Hint: Prokaryotes are undercounted.

16. 16.How many of the described species are from India (approx.), and what % of global species does India have?

    India has about 45,000 species of plants and twice as many (~90,000) of animals; India has about 8.1% of global species diversity.

    Hint: ~8.1% of world species.

17. 17.What fraction of the earth's land area does India occupy, and why is India called megadiverse?

    India has only 2.4% of the world's land area but harbours 8.1% of global species diversity, making it one of the 12 mega-diversity countries of the world.

    Hint: 2.4% land, 8.1% species.

18. 18.Applying Robert May's estimates, how many species may India actually have?

    There may be more than 1,00,000 plant species and more than 3,00,000 animal species yet to be discovered and described in India.

    Hint: >1 lakh plants, >3 lakh animals.

19. 19.What is the most well-known latitudinal gradient in diversity?

    Species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the poles — the tropics harbour more species than temperate or polar areas.

    Hint: Tropics richest, poles poorest.

20. 20.State the latitudinal range within which most species are concentrated.

    Most species are concentrated in tropical latitudes — between 23.5°N (Tropic of Cancer) and 23.5°S (Tropic of Capricorn).

    Hint: Between the two tropics.

21. 21.Give NCERT's example of high tropical plant diversity in the Amazon.

    The tropical Amazonian rain forest in South America has the greatest biodiversity on Earth — >40,000 plant species, 3,000 fishes, 1,300 birds, 427 mammals, 427 amphibians, 378 reptiles and >1,25,000 invertebrates.

    Hint: Amazon rainforest richness.

22. 22.QUESTION: State three hypotheses ecologists give for why tropics show greater biodiversity.

    (1) Tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years (long evolutionary time), unlike temperate regions subjected to glaciations. (2) Tropical environments are less seasonal, more constant and predictable, promoting niche specialisation. (3) There is more solar energy available in the tropics, contributing to higher productivity and diversity.

    Hint: Time, constancy, more energy.

23. 23.Why does long undisturbed evolutionary time favour tropical diversity?

    Temperate regions were subjected to frequent glaciations in the past, whereas tropical regions remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years, giving species a long evolutionary time for diversification.

    Hint: Tropics = long undisturbed time.

24. 24.How does constant environment promote diversity in tropics?

    A more or less constant, less seasonal environment promotes niche specialisation and leads to greater species diversity.

    Hint: Constancy → niche specialisation.

25. 25.What is the species-area relationship and who discovered it?

    Alexander von Humboldt observed that within a region species richness increases with increasing explored area, but only up to a limit.

    Hint: Humboldt; richness rises with area.

26. 26.What is the shape of the species-area relationship graph?

    For a wide variety of taxa (angiosperm plants, birds, bats, freshwater fishes) it is a rectangular hyperbola.

    Hint: Rectangular hyperbola.

27. 27.Write the species-area relationship equation (logarithmic form).

    $\log S = \log C + Z\,\log A$, where S = species richness, A = area, Z = slope (regression coefficient), C = Y-intercept.

    Hint: log S = log C + Z log A.

28. 28.On a log-log scale, what does the species-area relationship become?

    A straight line described by $\log S = \log C + Z \log A$.

    Hint: Straight line on log-log plot.

29. 29.What is the value of the slope Z for small areas (within a region / same continent)?

    The slope Z ranges between 0.1 and 0.2, regardless of the taxonomic group or region.

    Hint: Z ≈ 0.1–0.2 for small areas.

30. 30.What is the value of slope Z for very large areas (e.g. entire continents)?

    The slope Z is much steeper, between 0.6 and 1.2.

    Hint: Z ≈ 0.6–1.2 for continents.

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