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Biogeography
Geography
Useful for: UPSC Civil Services, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSSC Geography, OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB TGT Arts
Overview
Biodiversity spans genetic, species and ecosystem variety; India is a megadiverse country with parts of four global hotspots.
Key points
- India is one of 17 megadiverse countries and includes parts of four of the 36 global hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka and Sundaland (Nicobar).
- The Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at Rio in 1992.
- Cartagena Protocol (2000) deals with biosafety of living modified organisms; Nagoya Protocol (2010) with access and benefit-sharing.
- India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002) set up the National Biodiversity Authority at Chennai.
- The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) includes the "30x30" target of protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030.
- IUCN Red List categories include Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable.
Explanation
- In-situ conservation: national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves; ex-situ: zoos, seed banks, botanical gardens.
- Main threats: habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution, climate change (HIPPO).
- Endemic species occur naturally only in one region.
- People’s Biodiversity Registers document local knowledge.
- Sacred groves are community-protected forests.
Step by step
- Identify the concept, law or fact asked.
- Recall the definition, formula, example or year.
- Apply it and eliminate mismatched options.
Examples
- Statement: "The Nagoya Protocol deals with access and benefit-sharing." → Correct.
- Statement: "India includes parts of three biodiversity hotspots." → Incorrect (four).
- Statement: "Seed banks are an in-situ method." → Incorrect (ex-situ).
Traps and advanced points
- Trap: Mixing Cartagena and Nagoya.
- Trap: Counting three hotspots.
- Trap: Calling zoos in-situ.
Quick revision
- 4 hotspots; 17 megadiverse.
- CBD 1992; Cartagena 2000; Nagoya 2010.
- BD Act 2002, NBA Chennai; 30x30.
Practice MCQs
From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Biodiversity is correct?
- Biodiversity is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.
- Biodiversity has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
- Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
- A species-rich ecosystem must necessarily have a high proportion of endemic species.
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Answer: (c) Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.. Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
Consider the following statements on Biodiversity, focusing on definition and scope: 1. Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. 2. A species-rich ecosystem must necessarily have a high proportion of endemic species. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct; Statement 2 is a common misconception.
With reference to Biodiversity (definition and scope), consider the following statements: 1. Conservation requires both protected areas and wider landscape/seascape approaches. 2. Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both statements are correct.
From the perspective of institutional design, which one of the following statements about Biodiversity is correct?
- India uses multiple protected-area categories under different legal and management frameworks.
- Attribution distinguishes long-term anthropogenic forcing from natural variability using multiple lines of evidence.
- Mangroves are salt-tolerant coastal ecosystems that can reduce wave energy and support fisheries.
- Endemism and species richness are distinct concepts.
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Answer: (d) Endemism and species richness are distinct concepts.. Endemism and species richness are distinct concepts.
Consider the following statements on Biodiversity and Protected Areas, focusing on practical application: 1. A species-rich ecosystem must necessarily have a high proportion of endemic species. 2. Every biosphere reserve is identical in legal status and boundary to a National Park. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. Neither statement is correct; both are common misconceptions.
With reference to Biodiversity (institutional design), consider the following statements: 1. A species-rich ecosystem must necessarily have a high proportion of endemic species. 2. Endemism and species richness are distinct concepts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (b) 2 only. Only statement 2 is correct.
From the perspective of working mechanism, which one of the following statements about Biodiversity is correct?
- Waste hierarchy prioritizes prevention and reduction before lower-order disposal options.
- Cumulative impacts may not be captured by project-by-project analysis alone.
- Habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change can drive biodiversity loss.
- Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide differ in sources, atmospheric lifetime and warming influence.
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Answer: (c) Habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change can drive biodiversity loss.. Habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change can drive biodiversity loss.
With reference to Biodiversity (practical application), consider the following statements: 1. A species-rich ecosystem must necessarily have a high proportion of endemic species. 2. Habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change can drive biodiversity loss. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (b) 2 only. Only statement 2 is correct, so the answer is (B) 2 only. Statement 1 is incorrect — it is an overstated or wrong claim. Correct position: Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Statement 2 is correct.
With reference to Biodiversity (working mechanism), consider the following statements: 1. Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. 2. A species-rich ecosystem must necessarily have a high proportion of endemic species. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only. Only statement 1 is correct, so the answer is (A) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — it is an overstated or wrong claim.
Consider the following statements on Biodiversity, focusing on working mechanism: 1. Habitat loss, fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change can drive biodiversity loss. 2. Biodiversity includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. All the given statements are correct, so the answer is (C) Both 1 and 2. Both statements are correct.
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