Question 1: Name the three important components of biodiversity. Answer 1: Biodiversity is the variety of living forms present in various ecosystems. It includes variability among life forms from all sources including land, air, and water. Three important components of biodiversity are: Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecosystem diversity Question 2: How do ecologists estimate the total number of species present in the world? Answer 2: The diversity of living organisms present on the Earth is very vast. According to an estimate by researchers, it is about seven millions. The total number of species present in the world is calculated by ecologists by statistical comparison between a species richness of a well-studied group of insects of temperate and tropical regions. Then, these ratios are extrapolated with other groups of plants and animals to calculate the total species richness present on the Earth. Question 3: Give three hypotheses for explaining why tropics show greatest levels of species richness. Answer 3: There are three different hypotheses proposed by scientists for explaining species richness in the tropics. Tropical latitudes receive more solar energy than temperate regions, which leads to high productivity and high species diversity. Tropical regions have less seasonal variations and have a more or less constant environment. This promotes the niche specialization and thus, high species richness. Temperate regions were subjected to glaciations during the ice age, while tropical regions remained undisturbed which led to an increase in the species diversity in this region. Question 4: What is the significance of the slope of regression in a species − area relationship? Answer 4: The slope of regression (z) has a great significance in order to find a species-area relationship. It has been found that in smaller areas (where the species-area relationship is analysed), the value of slopes of regression is similar regardless of the taxonomic group or the region. However, when a similar analysis is done in larger areas, then the slope of regression is much steeper. Question 5: What are the major causes of species losses in a geographical region? Answer 5: Biodiversity is the variety of living forms present in various ecosystems. It includes variability among life forms from all sources including land, air, and water. Biodiversity around the world is declining at a very fast pace. The following are the major causes for the loss of biodiversity around the world. Habitat loss and fragmentation: Habitats of various organisms are altered or destroyed by uncontrolled and unsustainable human activities such as deforestation, slash and burn agriculture, mining, and urbanization. This results in the breaking up of the habitat into small pieces, which effects the movement of migratory animals and also, decreases the genetic exchange between populations leading to a declination of species. Over-exploitation: Due to over-hunting and over-exploitation of various plants and animals by humans, many species have become endangered or extinct (such as the tiger and the passenger pigeon). Alien species Invasions: Accidental or intentional introduction of non- native species into a habitat has also led to the declination or extinction of indigenous species. For example, the Nile perch introduced in Lake Victoria in Kenya led to the extinction of more than two hundred species of native fish in the lake. Co−extinction: In a native habitat, one species is connected to the other in an intricate network. The extinction of one species causes the extinction of other species, which is associated with it in an obligatory way. For example, the extinction of the host will cause the extinction of its parasites. Question 6: How is biodiversity important for ecosystem functioning? Answer 6: An ecosystem with high species diversity is much more stable than an ecosystem with low species diversity. Also, high biodiversity makes the ecosystem more stable in productivity and more resistant towards disturbances such as alien species invasions and floods. If an ecosystem is rich in biodiversity, then the ecological balance would not get affected. As we all know, various trophic levels are connected through food chains. If any one organism or all organisms of any one trophic level is killed, then it will disrupt the entire food chain. For example, in a food chain, if all plants are killed, then all deer’s will die due to the lack of food. If all deer’s are dead, soon the tigers will also die. Therefore, it can be concluded that if an ecosystem is rich in species, then there will be other food alternatives at each trophic level which would not allow any organism to die due to the absence of their food resource. Hence, biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the health and ecological balance of an ecosystem. Question 7: What are sacred groves? What is their role in conservation? Answer 7: Sacred groves are tracts of forest which are regenerated around places of worship. Sacred groves are found in Rajasthan, Western Ghats of Karnataka and Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh. Sacred groves help in the protection of many rare, threatened, and endemic species of plants and animals found in an area. The process of deforestation is strictly prohibited in this region by tribals. Hence, the sacred grove biodiversity is a rich area. Question 8: Among the ecosystem services are control of floods and soil erosion. How is this achieved by the biotic components of the ecosystem? Answer 8: The biotic components of an ecosystem include the living organisms such as plants and animals. Plants play a very important role in controlling floods and soil erosion. The roots of plants hold the soil particles together, thereby preventing the top layer of the soil to get eroded by wind or running water. The roots also make the soil porous, thereby allowing ground water infiltration and preventing floods. Hence, plants are able to prevent soil erosion and natural calamities such as floods and droughts. They also increase the fertility of soil and biodiversity. Question 9: What measures, as an individual, you would take to reduce environmental pollution? Answer 9: The following initiatives can be taken to prevent environmental pollution: Measures for preventing Air pollution Planting more trees Use of clean and renewable energy sources such as CNG and bio-fuels Reducing the use of fossil fuels Use of catalytic converters in automobiles Measures for preventing water pollution Optimizing the use of water Using kitchen waste water in gardening and other household purposes Measures for controlling Noise pollution Avoid burning crackers on Diwali Plantation of more trees Measures for decreasing solid waste generation Segregation of waste Recycling and reuse of plastic and paper Composting of biodegradable kitchen waste Reducing the use of plastics Question 10: Can you think of a situation where we deliberately want to make a species extinct? How would you justify it? Answer 10: Yes, there are various kinds of parasites and disease-causing microbes that we deliberately want to eradicate from the Earth. Since these micro-organisms are harmful to human beings, scientists are working hard to fight against them. Scientists have been able to eliminate small pox virus from the world through the use of vaccinations. This shows that humans deliberately want to make these species extinct. Several other eradication programmes such as polio and Hepatitis B vaccinations are aimed to eliminate these disease-causing microbes.
