Practice free Biodiversity and its Conservation (Botany) NEET multiple-choice questions online with instant answers and detailed explanations. No login required.
Which of the following describes the general pattern of species diversity from the equator towards the poles?
The NCERT text states: 'In general, species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the poles.' This is the definition of the latitudinal gradient in biodiversity.
Globally, tropics are defined by which latitudinal range?
The NCERT text specifies: 'tropics (latitudinal range of 23.5° N to 23.5° S) harbour more species than temperate or polar areas.'
Which of the following countries is cited as an example of high bird diversity due to its proximity to the equator?
The text states: 'Colombia located near the equator has nearly 1,400 species of birds while New York at 41° N has 105 species and Greenland at 71° N only 56 species.'
Which of the following is NOT given as a hypothesis for the greater species richness in the tropics?
The NCERT text lists three hypotheses: '(a) Tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years and thus had a long evolutionary time for species diversification, (b) Tropical environments, unlike temperate ones, are less seasonal, relatively more constant and predictable. Such constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to a greater species diversity and (c) There is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher productivity; this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity.' Option o3 is contradictory to the given hypotheses, particularly (c).
Constant and predictable tropical environments promote which of the following, leading to greater species diversity?
According to the NCERT text: 'Such constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to a greater species diversity'.
How does more solar energy in the tropics indirectly contribute to greater diversity?
The NCERT text states: 'There is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher productivity; this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity.'
What is the approximate number of bird species found in India, much of which lies in tropical latitudes?
The text mentions: 'India, with much of its land area in the tropical latitudes, has more than 1,200 species of birds.'
Which of the following regions would generally be expected to have the LEAST species diversity?
The general principle of latitudinal gradient states that species diversity decreases from the equator towards the poles. A polar desert represents the highest latitudes, hence the least diversity among the options.
A key reason attributed to the greater species richness in tropical latitudes is that these regions have:
One of the hypotheses given in the text is: 'Tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years and thus had a long evolutionary time for species diversification'.
If a region has a latitudinal range of 41° N, what would be the expected bird species diversity compared to a region at 23.5° N?
According to the latitudinal gradient, diversity decreases away from the equator. 41° N is farther from the equator than 23.5° N, so biodiversity would be expected to be lower. The example of New York (41° N, 105 species) vs. Colombia (near equator, 1400 species) supports this.
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