Q1. Which of the following best defines genetic diversity?
Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development: RAS Prelims MCQs
179 RAS Prelims MCQs on biodiversity, conservation of natural resources and sustainable development cover the levels of biodiversity, hotspots, conservation bodies, wildlife law and climate instruments. Alpha diversity, Norman Myers, the IUCN Red List, the Wildlife Amendment Act 2022, the CBD protocols and carbon market ideas like cap and trade and additionality are asked as facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 179 questions
Q2. The measurement of biodiversity that focuses on the diversity of species within a particular habitat or ecosystem is known as:
Explanation
Alpha diversity represents the species richness within a particular area or specific ecosystem. It measures the number of species found in a localized habitat. This metric helps ecologists understand the internal complexity of a community. It is distinct from beta and gamma diversity, which compare different habitats or cover much larger geographical regions to assess biodiversity on broader scales.
Q3. Read the following statements regarding the levels of biodiversity:
I. Genetic diversity helps a species adapt to changing environmental conditions.
II. Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes.
III. Species diversity is uniformly distributed across the globe from poles to the equator.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
I. Genetic diversity helps a species adapt to changing environmental conditions.
II. Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes.
III. Species diversity is uniformly distributed across the globe from poles to the equator.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Genetic diversity is essential for the adaptation of species to environmental shifts. Ecosystem diversity describes the variety of habitats and ecological processes. However, species diversity is not uniformly distributed across the globe. It generally increases toward the equator and decreases toward the poles. Therefore, only the observations concerning genetics and ecosystems are scientifically accurate in the context of biodiversity levels.
Q4. Which of the following is a classic example of ecosystem diversity in India?
Explanation
India exhibits significant ecosystem diversity due to its varied geographical and climatic conditions. This level of biodiversity is characterized by the presence of distinct ecological systems like deserts, tropical rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs. These ecosystems support diverse communities and ecological processes, representing a much higher level of complexity than species-level or genetic-level variations observed within single biological populations.
Q5. Identify the correct statement regarding biodiversity gradients.
Explanation
Latitudinal gradients show that species diversity is highest in the tropics and gradually declines toward higher latitudes. The equatorial regions provide stable climates and high productivity, supporting a greater variety of life. Conversely, the harsh conditions and shorter growing seasons near the poles lead to a significant decrease in the total number of species found in those specific polar ecosystems.
Q6. Which region of the world is often referred to as the "lungs of the planet" due to its massive species diversity and ecological significance?
Explanation
The Amazon rainforest is frequently described as the lungs of the planet because of its immense capacity for oxygen production and carbon sequestration. Located in South America, it harbors an unparalleled richness of species. This vast tropical ecosystem plays a critical role in regulating global climate patterns and maintaining the atmospheric balance of gases essential for the survival of life.
Q7. Find the odd one out in the context of biodiversity measurement levels.
Explanation
Alpha, beta, and gamma diversity are standard metrics established by ecologists to measure biodiversity at different spatial scales within a landscape. Alpha refers to local diversity, beta to species turnover between areas, and gamma to regional richness. Biome diversity is not a standard taxonomic or ecological measurement level used in this specific comparative framework for assessing biodiversity within regions.
Q8. Match the following terms in List I with their definitions in List II:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A. Alpha diversity | i. Overall diversity within a large region or landscape |
| B. Beta diversity | ii. Diversity within a particular area or ecosystem |
| C. Gamma diversity | iii. Variation of alleles within a population |
| D. Genetic diversity | iv. Change in species composition along an environmental gradient Options: |
Explanation
Alpha diversity identifies the number of species within a specific local area. Beta diversity evaluates the change in species composition along environmental gradients. Gamma diversity reflects the total biodiversity across a large regional landscape. Genetic diversity focuses on the variation of alleles within a population, ensuring that each concept is correctly mapped to its standardized ecological and biological definition.
Q9. Identify the incorrect statement regarding species diversity.
Explanation
Species diversity involves richness, the total number of species, and evenness, the relative abundance of each species. Ecosystem stability generally increases with higher diversity and evenness. A community dominated by only a few species is typically more vulnerable to disturbances. Therefore, claiming that highly uneven species distribution leads to ecosystem stability is ecologically incorrect and contradicts standard biological principles.
Q10. A conservationist notes that two adjacent forest patches have completely different sets of bird species, though the total number of species in each patch is the same. This indicates a high level of:
Explanation
Beta diversity measures the rate of change in species composition between different habitats or ecosystems. When adjacent forest patches contain entirely different sets of bird species, the species turnover is considered very high. This comparison helps scientists determine the uniqueness of individual sites and the degree of differentiation across a broader landscape or environmental gradient within a larger geographical region.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) The variation of genes and alleles within a single species |
| 2 | (a) Alpha diversity |
| 3 | (a) I and II only |
| 4 | (d) The variety of deserts, rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs |
| 5 | (c) Species diversity generally decreases as one moves from the equator towards the poles. |
| 6 | (b) The Amazon rainforest |
| 7 | (d) Biome diversity |
| 8 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 9 | (c) An ecosystem with highly uneven species distribution is stable. |
| 10 | (a) Beta diversity |
Key facts from Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
- Genetic diversity is the variation of genes and alleles within a species; alpha diversity is the diversity of species within a habitat.
- Norman Myers proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots; the Nicobar Islands are part of the Sundaland hotspot.
- The IUCN maintains the Red List of Threatened Species; the Amazon rainforest is called the lungs of the planet.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022 removed the vermin schedule; the Centre can declare vermin by notification.
- The Cartagena Protocol, Nagoya Protocol and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework belong to the CBD; the Kyoto Protocol does not.
- Cap and trade sets an emission limit and allows trade of surplus allowances; one carbon credit equals one tonne of CO₂; additionality means reductions must be real.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development?
This page has 179 practice MCQs on Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development (Health, Environment and Agriculture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots?
The ecologist Norman Myers. A hotspot is a region with a very high number of endemic species that has lost most of its original habitat, such as the Western Ghats and Sundaland.
What is cap and trade?
A mechanism that sets a limit (cap) on total emissions and issues allowances to firms. Firms that emit less than their allowance can sell the surplus to others, which gives a market price to carbon.
What does additionality mean in carbon offsets?
That the emission reductions must be real and would not have happened without the revenue from carbon credits. A project that would have gone ahead anyway does not earn credits.