Biodiversity and conservation are vital subjects for NEET, highlighting the variety of existence on Earth and the importance of keeping ecosystems. Questions may also cover concepts like species richness, environment services, threats to biodiversity, and conservation strategies. Understanding the importance of biodiversity in preserving ecological stability and human nicely-being is critical. Key areas include endangered species, habitat destruction, and the function of covered areas. Mastery of those concepts can extensively beautify performance in the NEET examination.
- Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation
- Download: Biodiversity and Conservation
- Biodiversity and Conservation Hotspots
- Conservation Strategies
- Threats to Biodiversity
- Biodiversity and Conservation Policies and Laws
- Ecological Succession and Its Role in Biodiversity and Conservation
- Biodiversity and Human Welfare
- Sample NEET Questions: Biodiversity and Conservation
- FAQs about Biodiversity and Conservation
Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity and conservation are important subjects in the NEET curriculum, reflecting the tricky net of existence that sustains ecosystems. This segment emphasizes the form of residing organisms, from microscopic bacteria to majestic mammals, and the significance of preserving these species and their habitats. Understanding biodiversity permits college students to understand the interconnectedness of lifestyles forms and the ecological balance critical for a healthful planet. Conservation efforts goal to guard endangered species and repair herbal habitats, highlighting the position of human beings in mitigating environmental threats. By exploring NEET questions about biodiversity and conservation, students gain insights into ecological standards, species interactions, and the impact of human activities, preparing them for a destiny in healthcare and environmental stewardship.
Types of Biodiversity
Biodiversity can be categorized into 3 principal kinds:
- Genetic variety: This refers back to the variant in genetic cloth within a species. It lets in species to conform to changing environmental conditions and increases their resilience.
- Species variety: This is the range of different species within an surroundings. A higher species range often leads to a more strong and resilient atmosphere.
- Ecosystem variety: This refers to the range of different ecosystems inside a area or on a worldwide scale. Ecosystem range is essential for keeping the overall fitness and functioning of the biosphere.
Download: Biodiversity and Conservation
| Title | Download |
|---|---|
| Biodiversity and Conservation NEET Questions with Answer |
Biodiversity and Conservation Hotspots
Biodiversity and Conservation hotspots are areas of the sector that are in particular rich in species diversity and are dealing with big threats to their habitats. These regions are taken into consideration important for global conservation efforts.
Criteria for Biodiversity Hotspots
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a area have to meet strict standards:
- Species richness: It need to contain a completely unique type of flowers, many of which might be endemic (determined nowhere else within the global).
- Threat: It ought to be beneath danger from human sports, along with deforestation, habitat destruction, and overexploitation.
Major Biodiversity Hotspots in India
India is domestic to numerous biodiversity hotspots, every with its very own particular characteristics:
- Himalayas: This place is a international biodiversity hotspot because of its diverse topography, which supports a huge range of ecosystems, from alpine meadows to tropical rainforests.
- Western Ghats: This mountain variety along India’s western coast is some other hotspot, recognized for its excessive stages of endemism, specially among amphibians and reptiles.
- Eastern Himalayas: This location shares the Himalayas hotspot with Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar and is characterized through its various flora and fauna.
- Indo-Burma: This hotspot spans throughout India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and is thought for its rich biodiversity, together with numerous threatened species.
Conservation Challenges in Hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots face numerous conservation demanding situations, such as:
- Habitat loss: Deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization are important drivers of habitat loss in hotspots.
- Overexploitation: Overhunting, overfishing, and unlawful flora and fauna trade threaten many species in hotspots.
- Climate exchange: Global warming is changing ecosystems and affecting species distributions in hotspots.
- Pollution: Pollution from industrial activities and human settlements can degrade habitats and damage biodiversity.
Conservation Strategies
| Strategy | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| In-situ Conservation | Protecting species in their natural habitats | National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves |
| Ex-situ Conservation | Protecting species outside their natural habitats | Zoos, botanical gardens, seed banks, captive breeding programs |
| Role of Protected Areas | Establishing and managing areas to conserve biodiversity | National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, marine protected areas |
Threats to Biodiversity
| Threat | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat Destruction | Loss or degradation of natural habitats | Deforestation, urbanization, agriculture, mining |
| Pollution | Introduction of harmful substances into the environment | Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution |
| Climate Change | Long-term shifts in global weather patterns | Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, ocean acidification |
| Invasive Species | Introduction of non-native species that harm native ecosystems | Kudzu, Burmese python, zebra mussels |
Biodiversity and Conservation Policies and Laws
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the National Biodiversity Action Plan are three substantial portions of law in India that aim to preserve wildlife, protect the environment, and conserve biodiversity.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
This act is considered the cornerstone of wildlife conservation in India. It provides legal protection to a wide range of wild animals, plants, and their habitats. The act establishes national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves to safeguard biodiversity. It also prohibits hunting, poaching, and illegal trade in wildlife. The act has been amended several times to deal with emerging challenges and strengthen conservation efforts.
Environment Protection Act, 1986
This act provides a comprehensive legal framework for environmental protection in India. It empowers the central government to take measures to protect the environment and prevent pollution. The act covers a wide range of environmental issues, including air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and hazardous waste management. It establishes the Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards to monitor and regulate pollution levels. The act has been instrumental in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.
National Biodiversity Action Plan
This plan is a strategic document that outlines the actions required to conserve and sustainably use India’s biodiversity. It was developed in response to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international treaty aimed at conserving biodiversity. The plan identifies key threats to biodiversity in India, including habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. It sets out specific goals and actions to address these threats and promote biodiversity conservation. The plan includes diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and local communities.
Ecological Succession and Its Role in Biodiversity and Conservation
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Ecological Succession | The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, involving a series of progressive changes in the composition and structure of an ecological community. |
| Primary Succession | Occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed (e.g., lava flows, glaciers). Pioneer species like lichens and mosses colonize first, gradually leading to soil formation and more complex communities. |
| Secondary Succession | Occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but left the soil intact (e.g., after a fire or flood). It generally proceeds faster than primary succession due to the presence of soil and seed banks. |
| Role in Ecosystem Stability | Succession promotes biodiversity, allowing ecosystems to recover from disturbances. Diverse ecosystems are generally more resilient and stable, supporting various species and functions. |
Biodiversity and Human Welfare
Biodiversity, the form of existence on Earth, is important for human nicely-being. It affords us with severa atmosphere services, contributes substantially to the financial system, and holds sizeable cultural significance.
Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems, which provide crucial services to humanity. These services include:
- Provisioning offerings: These contain the manufacturing of goods, which includes food, medicine, gasoline, and raw substances. Biodiversity is vital for the development of latest drug treatments and the genetic range of crops.
- Regulating offerings: These help to maintain the balance of the Earth’s systems, which includes climate regulation, water purification, pollination, and pest manipulate. Biodiversity plays a vital position in mitigating weather trade and making sure food protection.
- Cultural offerings: These contribute to human properly-being thru activity, training, and religious studies. Biodiversity affords opportunities for nature-based totally tourism, proposal for art and literature, and a experience of connection to the herbal world.
- Supporting services: These are the essential methods that underpin all other environment services, along with nutrient biking and soil formation. Biodiversity is vital for the fitness and productivity of ecosystems.
Economic Value of Biodiversity
Biodiversity has a significant monetary cost. It contributes without delay to industries including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. For instance, the pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on biodiversity for the invention of new tablets. Additionally, biodiversity supports the surroundings offerings that underpin economic sports, which includes water purification and weather law.
A study through the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment anticipated that the financial cost of ecosystem services furnished by means of biodiversity is equivalent to sixteen-57% of world GDP. This highlights the large economic significance of biodiversity.
Cultural Importance
Biodiversity is deeply intertwined with human subculture. It has stimulated artwork, literature, music, and faith for hundreds of years. Many cultures have a sturdy connection to the herbal world and accept as true with inside the sacredness of biodiversity.
Biodiversity additionally affords opportunities for recreation and religious reviews. Nature-based totally tourism, which include trekking, tenting, and natural world looking, contributes to each economic development and human properly-being.
Sample NEET Questions: Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity Concepts: MCQs
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Which of the following is the largest level of biodiversity? | Ecosystem | Ecosystems encompass the highest level of biological organization, including all organisms and their interactions within a specific environment. |
| Genetic diversity refers to the variation in: | Genes within a species | Genetic diversity is the variation in the genetic material within a species, leading to differences in traits and adaptations. |
| Biodiversity hotspots are areas with: | High levels of endemic species and high rates of habitat loss | Biodiversity hotspots are characterized by a high concentration of endemic species (species found nowhere else) and significant threats to their habitats. |
| The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to: | Conserve biodiversity, sustainably use biodiversity, and share the benefits of biodiversity | The CBD is an international agreement that seeks to protect biodiversity, promote its sustainable use, and ensure the fair sharing of the benefits arising from its use. |
| Which of the following is not a component of biodiversity? | Abiotic factors | Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem and do not contribute to biodiversity, which refers to the variety of living organisms. |
Case Studies and Scenario-Based Questions
| Scenario | Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A new hydroelectric power plant is proposed to be built in a forested area. The area is known for its high biodiversity, including several endangered species. | What are the potential negative impacts of the hydroelectric power plant on biodiversity? | Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and disruption of ecological processes | The construction of the hydroelectric power plant would likely lead to the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, affecting the survival of endangered species and disrupting the ecological balance of the area. |
| A small island nation is experiencing a decline in fish populations due to overfishing. | What are some sustainable fishing practices that could help to conserve fish populations? | Marine protected areas, catch limits, and reducing bycatch | Implementing marine protected areas to protect fish breeding grounds, setting catch limits to prevent overfishing, and reducing bycatch (unintended capture of non-target species) could help to conserve fish populations and ensure sustainable fishing practices. |
FAQs about Biodiversity and Conservation
1. What is biodiversity?
Ans: Biodiversity refers back to the form of lifestyles on Earth, together with the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic variant inside species.
2. Why is biodiversity crucial?
Ans: Biodiversity is essential for atmosphere balance, providing services which includes pollination, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling, which assist human life and well-being.
3. What are the principle threats to biodiversity?
Ans: Major threats include habitat destruction, pollutants, climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species.
4. What is conservation biology?
Ans: Conservation biology is a field that makes a speciality of the study and upkeep of biodiversity, aiming to guard species, their habitats, and ecosystems.
5. What are protected areas?
Ans: Protected areas are areas set apart for the conservation of nature, in which human interest is restricted to guard biodiversity and environment offerings.
