BIODIVERSITY
AND ITS CONSERVATION
1. Into
how many types can we divide natural resources?
Ans : We can divide
natural resources into two types. They are : Exhaustible and Inexhaustible
resources.
2. Into
how many types can we divide exhaustible resources?
Ans : We can divide
exhaustible resources into two types. They are: renewable and non-renewable resource.
3. What are the main aims of soil conservation?
Ans : The main aims of soil conservation are :
(i) To
protect the soil from erosion.
(ii) To
maintain the productivity of the soil.
4. Mention
some uses of natural vegetation?
Ans : Vegetation
cover prevents soil erosion, retains soil water, reduces the impact of blood
and helps in maintaining natural balance between biotic and abiotic components
of the biosphere and preserves species of plant in their natural habitats.
5. Define
soil erosion.
Ans : Soil erosion is
natural process by which soil is removed from rocks.
6. What
is afforestation and reforestation?
Ans : Afforestation
means growing forests at fallow lands and reforestation means replanting of
forests at places where they have been destroyed by excessive felling, looping
or by forest fires.
7.
What is the full form of NGO?
Ans:
Non-Governmental Organisation.
8.
Define Wildlife.
Ans : The term
wildlife is referred to represent the, non-domesticated animals living in a
natural habitat. But in its widest sense 'wildlife' refers to all flora and
fauna of the natural habitat
9. How
many wildlife sanctuaries are there in India today?
Ans : There are 421
wildlife sanctuaries in India today.
10. Name
two wildlife sanctuaries of Assam.
Ans
: Pobitara and Manas.
11.
How many national parks and biosphere reserves ' are there in India?
Ans: In India there
are 75 national parks and 14 biosphere reserves.
12. Name
two National Parks.
Ans : Gir National
Park and Kaziranga National Park.
13. Name
two biosphere reserves.
Ans : Nokrek-Tura
Range and kaziranga and Manas biosphere reserves in Assam.
14. How
many Rhinoceroses are there in Kaziranga according to 1999 census?
Ans : There are about
1552 Rhinoceros in Kaziranga according to 1999 census.
15. Which
wildlife sanctuary is known as Rhino sanctuary?
Ans : Kaziranga
wildlife sanctuary of Assam.
16.
When do we observe wildlife week every year?
Ans : We observe
wildlife week every year from 1st October to 8th October.
*********************
Q. What is bio diversity?
Ans: Biodiversity: Bio -diversity is
considered as the degree of variety in nature and not the nature itself. It
also means the variety and variability of all animals, plants and micro
organism is called bio-diversity.
Q. What is Hot spot of biodiversity?
Ans: Hot spot of biodiversity means the
area which exhibit high species richness as well as high species endemism. Hot
spot biodiversity was introduced in 1988 by Myers. There are 25 such hot spot
of bio diversity on a global level. These hot spot covering 2% of the world
land area. These are the areas of high diversity, endemism and are also
threatened by human activities. Two of these hot spot lie in Inda which are not
only rich of floral wealth and endemic species of plants but also replies,
swallerd, butterflies abd mammals etc.
Q. What are the causes of threats to
biodiversity?
Ans: Following are the
threats to biodiversity.
(i) Due to poverty people destroy
forest resources to fulfill their needs like firewood which is highly
responsible for loss of bio diversity.
(ii) Different types of pollution
caused by mining is responsible for loss of bio diversity.
(iii) Bio diversity is also threatened
to set up industries like plywood industry, firewood industry, timber industry
etc. These industries collects their needed materials from the forest to their
profit which occure deforestation and loss the bio diversity.
(iv) Due to unavailability of food
elephants which caused due to cultivate baddy, sugar cane etc. by the forest
department within the sanctuaries are harms the bio diversity.
Now a days man has begin to misuse the
natural ecosystems. They begin to unsustainable use of natural resources which
turned productive forests and grassland into deserts and wasteland has
increased all over the world. Forests have been cleared for fuel wood, for
farming for increasing need of agricultural land etc. which has led to a
decrease in the habitat essential for the breading of marine fish. Much of the
mega extinction spasm is related to human population growth, industrialization
and changes in land use patterns. A major part of these occur in bio rich
areas. Tropical forests wetland and coral reefs etc are the major parts of
these extinctions. Due to rapid growth of population and short term economic development
cause the loss of habitants of the wild lives. All these are the cause of bio
diversity which also considered as the threats to bio diversity.
Q. Write the differences between the
following: Ex-situ and in-situ conservation
Ans: Ex-situ and in situ conservation:
Ex-situ and in situ are two basic approaches to conservation of biodiversity. The
ex-situ implies the conservation of the species outside its habitat. It
includes the use of botanical gardens and arboreta on the one hand and gene
bank on the other. It also includes in situ conservation methods which include
national parks and sanctuaries which is important for the conservation of crop
varieties and wild genetic resources.
On the other hand the
in situ approach implies the conservation of species at its own habitant is
applied mainly to wild species related to crop plant, to forest and pasture
species. It includes conservation of plants and animals in their, native ecosystems
or even in man-made ecosystems. This type of conservation applies only to wild
fauna and flora not to the domesticated animals and plants, because
conservation is achieved by protection of population in nature. It induces a
system of protected areas.e.g. National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves
etc.
Q. What is an aquatic ecosystem?
Ans: An aquatic ecosystem: An aquatic
ecosystem is called the ecosystem that closely connected with the water. There
are two type of ecosystem:
(i) Fresh water ecosystem which divided
into pond ecosystem, river ecosystem, lake ecosystem and estuary ecosystem etc.
and
(ii) Marine ecosystem.
Q. Why the North Eastern region of
India is considered as the bio diversity hot spot region?
Ans: Hot spot of bio diversity is an
area which exhibit high species richness as well as high species endemtsm. The
high hot spot is introduced by Myers. There are twenty-five hot spot bio
diversity on a global level. There are two such bio diversity in India. They
are Eastern Himalaya and Western Ghat. In north Eastern region of India there are
varieties of plants such as food plants, fibre plants timber plants, beverage
plants, drug plants, oil yielding plants, rubber, sugar etc. There are also
varieties of animals in north eastern region of India. These includes species
are Tortoises chameleon, Snakes, Cobra, Python, Eagle, Purple Heron, Cuckos,
Spotted
Dear, Koel, Myna, Weaver birds, Jungle
crow, Goose etc.
Q. Write about the necessary to
conserve bio-diversity.
Ans: Necessary to conserve
bio-diversity: Bio- diversity is very important for all the living beings in
the world and it is the degree of variety in nature and not nature itself.
Following are the necessity to conserve
bio-diversity:
(i) Most of the drugs and medicine
extracted from plants and almost 75% of population of word depends upon drugs and
medicine. Thus to produce drugs and medicine for preservation of life of people
conservation of bio-diversity is very necessary.
(ii) To develop new hardy strains, to
use of existing wild species of plants and to consume a large number of wild
plants and animals as food by human beings conservation of biodiversity is
necessary.
(iii) Biodiversity provides benefits
without any reference to conservation such as education recreation conservation
of biodiversity is very necessary. Because bio dversity has great impact on
social values.
(iv) Bio diversity is always ful with
wild green resources if we conserve t and we can able to product various
things. These produces are collected and sold in national and international
market.
Q. What is meant by energy flow in
ecosystem? Explain it with an example.
Ans: The energy from the sunlight is
converted by the plants themselves into growing new plants materials. Leaves of
trees, flowers-fruits, trunks brunches, roots etc of plants are die plants
materials which formed through sunlight. Because die energy cycle is based on
die flow of energy through the ecosystem. Plants are known as producer in the
ecosystem because plants can grow by converting the sun's energy into their
tissues directly. Different plants and animals are linked to one another through
food chain. Each plants or animals can be linked to several plants or animals.
Those interlinked chains can be depicted as food web.
In the ecosystem the energy can be
depicted in the form of an energy pyramid. It is also known as food pyramid
which has a large base of producer or plants. These are two types of consumers.
One is first order consumers and the second one is second order consumers. The pyramid
has a narrower middle section that depicts the number and biomass of
herbivorous animals are first order consumers and the apex depicts the small
biomass of carnivorous animals are the second order consumers.
The materials are returned to the soil when
plants and animals are dying. Plants can absorb the nutrients through their
roots.
Q. What are the causes, of ecological
succession and its basic types?
Ans: A progressive organization of a
biological community as a new plants and animals species come into an area, and
alter the environmental conditions is called ecological succession.
Ecological succession is of two types.
These are as follows.
(i) Primary succession: When plants and
animals colonize a previously desolate area then primary succession takes
place, such as sand dune, new volcanic island, bare rock, or recently glaciated
ground. Everything including the soil bacteria, insects, plants, and animals
must come from nearby habitats in these situations.
(ii) Secondary Succession: In areas
where communities have become established before an event then secondary
succession occurs, such as fire, landslide, flood, hurricane, field-clearing
disturbs them.
Q. What are the conservational strategies
for protection of wild life in North East India?
Ans: There are two types of
conservational strategies of protection of wild life in North East India. These
two are: (i) In situ conservation and (ii) Ex situ conservation. These two are
discussed as follows.
The ex-situ implies the conservation of
the species outside its habitat. It includes the use of botanical gardens and
arboreta on the one hand and gene bank on the other. Zene banks, Sea banks, Zoos,
Botanical gardens, culture collection etc. are established for ex situ
conservation.
On the other hand the
in situ approach implies the conservation of species at its own habitant is
applied mainly to wild species related to crop plant, to forest and pasture
species. These species should be preserved maintaining the genetic integrity of
their natural state. Biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries reserves
forest etc., There are some important national parks and sanctuaries of North
East India. Some of them are Kaziranga in Assam important for one horned Rihno,
Gibon in Assam for Gibon (Hollow), Manas in Assam for tiger, Dipor Beel in
Assam for Birds, Namber in Assam for Elephant etc. Apart from this Nokrek in
Meghalaya, manas in Assam, Joidihmg in Assam are the declared biosphere
reserves in at present India.
Q. Write on the uses of solar energy in
day to day life.
Ans : Following are the uses of solar
energy in day to day life:
a.
Solar energy is used to solar collector pump
as a heat absorbing medium.
b.
Solar energy is used to produce electricity
enough to run street light, irrigation, water pump etc.
c.
To make the usable things germ free
everybody try to solar energy.
d.
To preserve food grains after harvesting
solar energy is used.
e.
Solar energy is used to dry clothes another
household
f.
Solar energy is used to creating heat for
solar cooker
g.
Solar energy is used to drive solar heater
etc.
Q.
Distinguished between:
(a) Weather and climate
Ans: Weather means the elements which
occurs at a particular point of time like humidity, temperature, rainfall etc. It
refers to short period of time and it determined particularly by the movement
of air.
On the other hand climate means the
overall condition of weather of a particular area for determined by the
geographical position of the area.
(b) Smoke and Smog
Ans : Smoke is one kind of polluted
gases. This polluted gases comitted by the factories, vehicles etc. Smoke is
responsible for the release of particles in the air which causes the growth of
global warming. When fog mingled with smoke is called smog. Smog is more
harmful for human life. It creates a cover in the lower sky. It hinders the
process of releasing heat from the earth's surface; and therefore it
responsible for green house effect.
(c) Bio-degradable and non biodegradable
substance.
Ans: The substances are divided into
two which are released by the human activities. The two type of substance are
biodegradable and non biodegradable.
Bio-degradable substance means the
substance which assimilates with the nature in course of time. Urinal
discharge, food residuals etc are bio degradable substance.
On the other hand non-biodegradable
substances are those which do not assimilate with nature in course of time.
(d) Sanctuary and national Park.
Ans : The forest which
the government declared as reserved to protect certain flora and fauna os known
as sanctuary. Here hunting, killing and capturing of animals are banned. In
such forest only for research and study capturing animal is allowed.
On the other hand national park means
the forest which is reserved by law to maintain its originality, its flora,
fauna and geographical location. Here falling tree, collecting firewood,
fodder, operating farming works, building residence are not allowed. Here
killing and capturing animals is also banned.
14. Write short note on:
(a) Green house effect:
Greenhouse is used for plant-growing in cold countries. During winter season in
the cold countries the insulation is not sufficient for plant growth. The
Greenhouse, made up of glassy allows visible sunlight to enter into it but
prevents the infrared rays to go out. Thus a gradual warming up occurs inside
it favouring the growth of the plants. The Green house effect means a
progressive warming up of the earth's surface due to blanketing effect of
manmade carbon dioxide and some other gases in the atmosphere.
As the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere is increasing day by Jay, Scientists say that the global temperature
will increase gradually. If the temperature rises gradually, the glaciers will
start melting, the level of the water bodies like Sea and Ocean, will rise and
many low lying areas will be submerged. The marine ecosystem will be damaged.
So, global warming is
mainly due to increasing Co2 level in the atmosphere,
Industrialization, deforestation and increasing number of fossil-fueled
vehicles on the roads are the principal sources of Co2 increase.
Steps should be taken to minimize the emission of Co2.
(b) Red Data Book: Red
data book is a record book of the list of endangered speceis of plants and
animals published by International Union for conservation of Natural Resources. The species which are endangered
and if not protected are likely to become extinct in near future, that type of species are recorded in Red Data Book.
Pigeon, Dodu, Great Indian Bustard, Black Rhinoceros, Dugong Spotted Owl, Tortoise, Red Panda, Tiger, Snow Leopard,
Turtle etc. are important endangered and extinct animals in India which are
recorded in Red Data Book.
(c) Cyclone:
Cyclones are the type of wind. There are commonly called lows and anticyclone
highs. It has often been more loosely applied to a storm and disturbance
attending pressure systems. Cyclone occurs when in an area of low atmospheric
pressure surrounded by a wind system blowing in an anticlockwise direction.
Q. What are the objectives of the
biosphere reserve programme?
Ans : The following are the objectives
of the biosphere reserve programme :
·
Conserve biotic diversity for ecological
evidence.
·
Safeguard genetic diversity for the process
of evolution to act upon.
·
Provide natural areas for basic and applied
research in ecology and environmental biology.
·
Provide opportunity for environmental
education and training.
·
Promote international co-operation.
·
Promote appropriate sustainable management
of the available biotic resources.
·
Disseminate the experience so as to promote
sustainable development elsewhere.
Q. Why it is necessary to conserve natural
resources?
Ans : The natural
resources have been depleted and the shortage of natural resources is a matter
of international concern. With the advancement of human civilization there has
been an increasing conflict between man and nature. The rapid population
increase, increased role of industrialization, urbanization and increased
number of vehicles have resulted in modification of the ecosystem to a great
extent and have brought undesirable changes in the natural habitat. Besides
polluting the environment these factors contributed to the depletion of natural
resources. So, the world wide concern is that progress cannot be achieved at the
cost of biological systems that renew all the resources essential to sustain
life on the earth. Therefore it is the need of hour to conserve our natural
resources.
Q. Explain the strategies to be adopted for
conservation of natural resources.
Ans : The word
conservation is derived from the Latin words 'Con' meaning together and
'servare' meaning to keep or guard.
For conservation of natural resources
the following strategies are to be adopted:
Limited use of exhaustible renewable
resources can conserve these for longer use. However, even the degraded or
depleted resources of this type can be replenished with proper planning and
management.
Exhaustible, non-renewable resources
cannot be regenerated once they are exhausted. Therefore the limited use and
making the use of alternative renewable sources are the only solution to this
problem. Conservation of forest or green cover helps to conserve soil, water
and wildlife. Vegetation cover prevents soil erosion, retains soil water,
reduces the impact of flood and helps maintaining natural balance between
biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere and preserves species of plants
in their natural habitats.
A common integrated strategy will only
help conserving our natural resources.
Q. Discuss some of the important ways
of conservation of soil.
Ans : Some of the important ways of
conservation of soil are given below :
a.
Afforestation and Reforestation :
Afforestation means growing forests at fallow lands and reforestation means
replanting of forests at places where they have been destroyed by excessive
felling, lopping or by forest fires. Planting of quick growing suitable plants
is the easiest way for preventing soil erosion.
b.
Contour Planting: Plowing at right angles to
the gentle slopes of hills checks the flow of water straight down the hills and
soil erosion is, therefore, prevented.
c.
Strip Cropping: Strip cropping is done on
stiff slopes where strips of land are ploughed at right angles to the direction
of the slopes and different crops are raised in adjacent strips.
d. Terrace
cropping: The slope is divided into series of small flat fields by means of
ridges, which are placed in such a manner that the run of rain water is
considerably reduced and water is soaked in.
e.
Dams : Big dams constructed on the bank of
rivers causing heavy floods control the flood and protects soil from erosion.
f.
Checking of Overgrazing: A system of restricted
and rotational grazing may be helpful in reducing soil erosion to some
extent.
g.
Soil Fertility: Good vegetation checks
faster run off and rapid soil erosion. Soil fertility can be retained by practicing
rotation of crops.
Q.
How can water be conserved for various human activities?
Ans : We can conserve the water
resources by adopting the following ways :
a.
We should try to reduce the runoff and
evaporation losses.
b.
We should adopt the method of recycling of
water which is essential to economic use of water.
c.
Floods should be controlled by damming the
rivers and the surplus water should be stored in the reservoirs.
d.
The water intensive crops should not be sown
in dry regions.
e.
We should control the over irrigation. Thus
we minimize the misuse of water as well as we save the soil from becoming salty.
f.
Pollution of water bodies should be
controlled by checking the affluents from settlements and industries as they
form major pollutants of the water-bodies.
Q. What measures would you suggest for
conservation of the forests?
Ans : Measures for conservation of
forests :
a.
The felling of trees should be matched with
planting ol more trees. Intensive programme of afforestation and reforestation
must be adopted.
b.
The use of Wooden fuel and wood charcoal
must be discouraged.
c.
Modern silvicultural practices should be
done.
d.
The social forestry programme should be
encouraged.
e.
The agro-forestry programme, i.e. use of the
same plot of land for farming, forestry and animal husbandry should be
encouraged.
f.
True planting in urban and industrial areas
should be undertaken for aesthetic purposes, purification of polluted air and
control of noise pollution.
g. Threatened
species should be conserved in their natural habitation as well as under
controlled conditions.
Q. What is the
importance of wildlife on our socio-economic life?
Ans : Wildlife is considered as
renewable resources from ecological point of view. The wildlife helps us in
maintaining the balance of nature. If this equilibrium is disturbed at one
point, it leads to many problems in the ecosystem. The wildlife can be used
commercially to earn more and more money. Wildlife provides the natural
environment to the naturalists and the biologists to study the different
aspects of life. It has an immense value as 'gene banks' for breeding new
disease resistant and improved varieties in agriculture, fishery and animal
husbandry. Many new varieties of wildlife have been used for human benefit. The
wildlife of India is our cultural asset which is intimately connected with
India's art, sculpture, literature and religion.
Q. Discuss the fundamental approaches to be
adopted in conserving the wildlife.
Ans : The fundamental approaches to be
adopted in conserving the wildlife are :
a.
Protection of Natural Habitats: The natural
habitats of wildlife should be protected by enacting laws.
b.
Protection by laws: Wildlife should be
protected by enacting laws and besides protecting the wildlife we should
safeguard genetic diversity and their continuing evolution.
c.
Establishment of Sanctuaries, Natural Parks
and Biosphere Reserves : These are protected areas which are managed with
different objectives for protecting the wildlife/3
d.
Every effort should be made to preserve the
endangered species. Such species should be preserved in their natural habitats
and in 200s and national parks.
e.
Non-government organizations should also
participate in wildlife conservation programme to educate the people on conservation
of wildlife.
Q. Explain the terms: Endangered,
Vulnerable, Rare and Threatened.
Ans :
·
Endangered : A species is said to be
endangered when its number has been reduced to a critical level or whose
habitats have been drastically reduced and if such a species is not protected
and conserved, it is in immediate danger of extinction e.g. Rhinoceros, the
great Indian Bustard.
·
Vulnerable: A species is said to be in
vulnerable category if its population is facing continuous decline due to
overexploitation or habitat destruction. Such a species is still abundant, but
under a serious threat of becoming endangered if causal factors are not
checked.
·
Rare : There are species or taxa with small
population in the world that are at present not endangered or vulnerable but
are at risk. Such species are usually localised within restricted geographical
areas or habitats or are thinly scattered over a more extensive range. Example
Pigmi Hog, Asiatic Pheasent.
·
Threatened : The word threatened is used in
the conservation concept for species which fall in one of the three categories,
viz-endangered, vulnerable and rare.
Q. What are the differences between a
Wildlife Sanctuary, a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve?
Ans : A Wildlife Sanctuary : A wildlife
sanctuary is an area with natural environment having optimum living conditions
and protection for wildlife. In fact, in a sanctuary wild indigenous animals
are kept for protection. Some coerations such as harvesting of timber,
collection of minor forest products and private ownership rights are permitted
so long as they do not interfere with the well being of animals. Boundaries are
not limited. No scientific principles are involved in management.
A National Park: A
National Park is an area which is strictly preserved for the betterment of the
wildlife and where activities such as forestry, growing or cultivation are not
permitted. No private ownership right is allowed. Any sort of habit
manipulation is a taboo in a national park. Boundaries are limited by legislation.
No scientific principles are involved in management.
Biosphere Reserve: In
a biosphere reserve multiple land use is permitted by designating various
zones. These are the core zone where no human activity is permitted, the buffer
zone where a large number of human activities is allowed and the manipulation
zone where a large number of human activities would go on. In a biosphere
reserve wild populations as well as the traditional life styles of tribals and
many domesticated plant and genetic resources are protected. Scientific
principles are involved in the management and boundary is limited by
legislation.
Q.
Define biodiversity. Explain genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem
diversity.
Ans: The huge variety and variability
among all groups of living organisms on earth is called biodiversity. In the convention
of bio logical diversity (1992) biodiversity has been defined as the
variability among living organisms from all sources including interalia,
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes
of which they are a part
Genetic diversity:
Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within the species. This
covers distinct populations of the same species for example - traditional rice
varieties of India or genetic variation within population which is high among
Indian! one homed rhino (Rhinoceros Unicornis) and very low among cheetahs. Genetic
diversity is the combination of different genes found within a population of a
single species and the pattern of variation; found within different populations
of the same species. Coastal populations. Genetic adaptations to local climatic
conditions such as the seasonal zones in time and space in the two regions
result in genetic differences between the two populations of the same species.
Species diversity:
Species diversity is the variety and abundance of different types of individual
organisms, which inhabit an area. It represents broadly the species richness
and their abundance in a community. There are two popular indices of measuring
species diversity known as - Shannon-wiener index and Simpson index of species
diversity. A 10 sq. mile area of a given zone contains different species than
does a similar sized area elsewhere. The species diversity can be called as
species richness.
Ecosystem diversity:
Ecosystem diversity encompasses the variety of habitats that occur within a
region, or the mosaic of patches found within a landscape. A familiar example
is the variety of habitats and environmental parameters that constitute the Bay
of Bengal, Godavari Delta ecosystem: Grasslands, wetlands, rivers estuaries,
fresh and salt water and mangrove ecosystems. Ecosystem diversity is tougher to
measure than species or genetic diversity because boundaries of communities
-associations of species and ecosystems show ecotones identification of which
needs detailed field analysis.
Q. What do you mean by alpha, beta and
gamma diversity?
Ans: The biodiversity can be classified
as -
(a) Alpha
diversity: The species diversity within a community habit, representing a
balance between the actions of local biotic and abiotic factors, and
immigration from other places, comprises two components i.e. species diversity
or richness and evenness and can be measured by a variety of indices.
(b) Beta
diversity: The intercommunity or differentiation diversity expressing, the rate
of species turnover per unit change in habitat It can be measured by a variety
of indices.
(c) Gamma diversity: The overall diversity at
landscape level, including both alpha and beta diversities can be measured following
Schlutter and Ricklefs.
Q.
Mention four important examples of contributions of biodiversity to human
health.
Ans
: The following are the examples of contribution of biodiversity to human
health-
(i) Out of 118 prescribing drugs, 74 %
are based on plants 18 % on fungi, 6 % on bacteria and 3 % on vertebrates.
(ii) 80 % of the world's population
relies on traditional plant medicine.
(iii) Compounds from Ginko leaves are
used by 80% Europeans older than 45 years to prevent senile dementia.
(iv) Losing one tree species a day
means losing 3-4 potentially valuable drugs every year.
Q. Biodiversity is considered as a
nation's wealth." Justify.
Ans : Biodiversity has an intrinsic
value that is worth] protecting along with its value to humans. This argument
focuses on the conservation of all species, economically valuable or otherwise
ever if that are ecologically equivalent species.
Biodiversity has the following
importance—
(i)
Economic importance: Different forms of animals and plants are beneficial to
mankind such as -
·Plants
produce food for other organisms also.
·Plants
purify the air.
·Plants decorate our landscapes and provide
pleasing greenery
·Animals
provide carbon-di-oxide to the plants.
·Some
animals act as scavengers etc.
(ii) Ecological importance:
Biodiversity plays key role in balancing the ecological equilibrium.
(iii) Scientific value: Animals and
plants are used for biological and medical research.
(iv) Aesthetic value: Green forests,
beautiful flowers, graceful beasts, song birds, colourful fishes, birds and
butterflies provide grandeur to the biosphere. A world without these would be a
dull place.
(v) Cultural importance: Wild life is a
cultural asset of a country or a nation, without biodiversity, our literature and
religion would be poorer.
(vi) Sports and Recreation: Animals
provide a good sport in their habitat to the hunters, and a good deal of fun
and recreation to public in circus shows, zoological parks and aquaria.
Biodiversity performs numbers of
ecological services for humankind and hence considered as a nation's wealth.
Q. What do you mean by consumptive use
value of -biodiversity? Explain in brief with examples.
Ans : The direct use values of
biodiversity where the biodiversity products can be harvested and consumed are as
follows-
(a) Food: A large number of wild plants are
consumed by human beings as food. About 80,000 edible plant species have been
reported from wild nature. About 90 percent of present day food crops have been
domesticated from wild tropical plants. A large number of wild animals are also
our sources of food.
(b) Drugs
and medicines: About 75% of the world's population depends upon plants or plant
extracts for medicines. The wonder drugs penicillin, an antibiotic is derived
from penicillium fungus, likewise, tetracycline, is got from a bacterium,
Quinine, an anti-malarial drug obtained from bark of Cinchona. Recently
vinblastin and vincristine, two anti-cancer drugs, have been obtained from
periwinkle plant.
(c) Fuel:
Our forests have been used since ages for fuel wood. The fossil fuels, coal,
petroleum and natural gas are also products of fossilized biodiversity.
Firewood is directly consumed by tribals and local villagers, hence falls under
consumptive use.
Q. Write briefly about the social value of
biodiversity.
Ans: Biodiversity
is associated with the social life, customs, religion and psycho-spiritual
aspects of the people. Many of the plants are considered as holy and sacred in
our country like - Tulsi, Peepal, Lotus, Bel (wood apple), Ashok etc. The
leaves, fruits or flowers of these plants are used ihn worship or the plant
itself is worshipped. Again some animals like cow (only Hindus), snake,
elephant, bull, peacock, rat, owl, vulture etc. have significant place in our
social customs. The tribal people like, Bodo, Kachari, Missing etc. worship
sizi tree.
Biodiversity inspires poets and artists
to compose poems and songs, and to make paintings and sculptures. Nature also
inspires photography. Animals have contributed to many idioms like— crocodile tears, busy as a bee,
bee line, flag a dead horse, dead as dodo etc. Thus biodiversity has distinct
social value, attached with different societies.
Q. Describe the factors which cause threat to
the biodiversity.
Ans : Biodiversity is
threatened by a number of activities in many ways which are discussed below:
(i) Habitual loss :
Destruction of natural habitats causes the most serious threat to the wild
life. Habitats are destroyed by many human activities—
a.
Development works: Human settlement, harbours,
dams, reservoirs, roads, railway lines, croplands, pastures, plantations,
industries, mines, etc. have reduced the natural habitats of wild life.
b.
Deforestation: Deforestation deprives the
wild life of cover and food. This leads to decrease in populations of species.
It also reduces the area of free movement of wild animals, and this may cover
their reproductive capacity.
c.
Pollution: Environmental pollution has
degraded many important habitats, resulting in decrease in life.
d.
Cleanliness: Strangely enough, human
cleanliness destroys the habitats of scavengers such as vultures, kites and
crows.
(ii) Poaching:
Man started hunting wild animals for food and safety, trade and fun ever since
his appearance. Hunting are of subsistence hunting, commercial hunting or sport
hunting. Now large scale killing of wild animals has started for trade in
animal products such as hides, skins, fur, feather, leather, horn, ivory, meat
etc. Use animal and plants products in drugs, perfumes, cosmetics etc is also
taking a heavy toll of wild life. Raphus cuculatus a unique bird of Mauritious,
Acinomyx jubatus, the fastest mammal of India have recently disappeared mainly
due to excessive hunting. America's passenger pegion became extinct in 1914 due
to hunting for food. Overfishing for food in industry is depleting the marine
and fresh water living resources. Many species of molluses, fish, sea turtle,
birds, sea cows and whales are facing extinction.
(iii) Man-Wild life conflicts:
Man-wild life conflicts are also the threat to the biodiversity. In sambalpur,
Orissa 195 humans were killed in last 5 years by elephants. In retaliation the
villagers killed 98 elephants and badly injured 30 elephants. Recently, in
early 2004, a man-eating tiger was reported to have killed 16 Nepalese people
and one 4 -year old child inside Royal Chitwan National Park. The root causes
of conflicts between wildlife and man are-
a.
Dwindling habitats of tigers, elephants,
rhinos and bears due to shrinking forest cover compels them to move outside the
forest.
b.
Usually ill, weak and injured animals have
tendency to attack man. Also, the female tigers attack the humans if she \ feels
that her new born cubs are in danger.
c.
The cash compensation paid by the government
in lieu I of the damage caused to the formers crop is not enough.
d.
Forest department is going to cultivate or
undertake : plantation ofsome plants which are not the food and habitat of,
wild animals, hence the wild animals are not the food and habitat ' of wild
animals, come out from such forest areas.
Q. What do you mean by threatened
species? How can you classify the threatened species?
Ans : A species of wild life likely to
disappear from the ' world sooner or later is called threatened species. The
threatened species can be categorised as –
·
Endangered species: These are species whose
populations have decreased or habitats have been reduced to the levels that
pose immediate danger of extinction. They are not likely to survive if the
factors threatening their extinction are not removed. For example-Great Indian
Bustard, Pink headed duck etc.
·
Vulnerable species: It includes the species
whose populations have greatly reduced and survival is not assured and the
species which have normal populations but arc somehow threatened throughout
their range. They may become endangered species in the near future if the causative
factors: continue to operate. For example -spotted deer, golden langur
·
Rare: There are species or taxa with small
population in the world that are at present not endangered or vulnerable but are
at risk. Such species are usually localised within restricted geographical
areas or habitats or are thinly scattered over a more extensive range.
·
Out of Danger: The word Out of danger is
used in the conservation concept for species which do not fall in one of the
three categories, viz-endangered, vulnerable and rare.
Q. State some suggestion for the wild
life management.
Ans: Wild life management should have
following approaches.
a.
Enactment of wildlife legislation to
regulate and minimize the hunting of wild animals.
b.
Species preservation to protect particular
species as Kaziranga National Park in Assam preserves one horned rhinoceros.
c.
Assemblage protection to protect many
species together as Delhi Zoo and Bharatpurbird sanctuary protect the various
migratory birds by providing them cover and food.
d.
Habitat preservation to provide full
protection to wild life.
Q. Make a list of endangered animals
with their scientific title
names of India.
Ans: List of endangered animals
with their scientific title
names of India
a.
Red Panda :
Aliurus fengens
b.
Indian Rock Python : Pyton molurus
c.
Lion :
Panthera Leo
d.
Lion tailed monkey : Macaca silenus
e.
Crocodile :
Crocodylus porosus
f.
Pangolia :
Mains Crassicaudata
Q. Write a short note on Project Tiger.
Ans : Over 40,000 tiger,
Penthera tigris, existed in India some 50 years ago. Habitat destruction and
poaching reduced the tiger population to just 1827 by 1972. This made tiger an
endangered species. To protect tiger from extinction, Government of India
started "Project Tiger" on April 1, 1973. At present 21 National
Parks and sanctuaries are involved in Project Tiger. With the steps taken under
this project, the tiger population is growing. Today, over 40,000 tigers occur
in Indian forests.
Q. Mention a few
projects of wild life conservation.
Ans : There are some projects for wild
life conservation in India and they are :
a.
Tiger project: Project for conservation of
tiger and it started on April 1, 1973.
b.
Lion project: In Gir forest of Gujarat and
started in 1972.
c.
Himalayan Musk deer Project: At kedarnath of
Uttar Pradesh.
d.
Project Hangul: At Dashigan Sanctuary, Jammu
and Kashmir, started in 1970.
e.
Rhino Project at Dudhwal National Park.
f.
Crocodile Breeding project, started in 1975
in Orissa.
g.
Yak project started in Arunachal Pradesh.
Q. Name the National Parks of Assam.
Ans : The state Assam has
3 National Parks and they are:
·
Kaziranga National Park (1974)
·
Manas National Park (1995)
·
Nameri National Park (1995)
Q. Write
briefly about the endemic species of India.
Ans: India has two biodiversity
hotspots and thus possesses a large number of endemic species. Out of 47,000
species of plants in our country 7,000 are endemic. Thus, Indian subcontinent
has about 62% endemic flora, restricted mainly to Himalayas, Khasi Hills and
Western Ghats. Some of important endemic flora include orchids and specials are
-
(i) Sapria Himalayana
(ii) UvariaLuride
(iii) Nepenthes Khasiana.
(iv) Pedicularis Perroter etc.
A large number out of total of 81,000
species of animals in India is endemic. The Western Ghats are particularly rich
in amphibians and reptiles. About 62 percent amphibians and 50% lizards are
endemic to Western Ghats. Different species of monitor lizards (Veranus),
Reticular Python and Indian Salamander and viviparous toad are some common examples
of endemic species of our country.
Q. What are the characteristics of
endangered species of wild life ?
Ans : Characteristics of endangered
species are -
(i) Small range.
(ii) Large territory or home range
size,,-
(iii) Living on islands.
(iv) Reproductive rate is low.
(v) Narrow Habitat requirements.
Q. Write the full form of the following
-
· CITES
: Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
· IUCN
: The International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
· IBWF :
Indian Board for Wild Life
· WWF :
The World Wild Life Fund for Nature
· MAB :
Man and Biosphere Programme.
· IBP :
International Biological Programme.
· PBR :
Plant Breeder's right.
· TKDL
: Traditional Knowledge Digital
Library.
Q. Make a list of endangered animals of
Assam.
Ans : The endangered animals of Assam
are -
Common name
|
.Scientific name
|
I.
One harned Rhino
|
Rhinoceros unicornis
|
2.
Golden Langur
|
Presbytis geei
|
3.
Pigmy hog
|
Sus salvanius
|
4.
Hispid Hare
|
Caprolagus hispidus
|
5.
Hoolock gibbon
|
Hylobales hoolock
|
6. Aseatic elephant
|
Elephas maximus
|
7.
Pangalin
|
Merits pentadactyla
|
8.
Wild buffalo
|
Bubalus bubalis
|
9.
Hombill
|
Tochus birostrls
|
10. Python
|
Python reticulatus
|
11. Peacock
|
Pavo cristatus.
|
Q. : MCQ
(i) Biodiversity is
an abbreviation of
(a) Abiotic factors (b) Biotic factors (c) Biological diversity (d) Biological rhythm
Ans: (c) Biological diversity
(ii) Genetic diversity refers to
a.
Variation of genes within a species b. Variation of genes
within a genus
c.
Variation of genes within a habitat d. Variation of genes
within a fruit
Ans : (a) Variation of genes within a
species
(iii) Species diversity is high at
(a) Temperate forest (b)
Tropical forest (c) Mountain
peaks (d)
Highway sides
Ans : (b) Tropical forest
(iv) 'Biodiversity
Hotspot' concept is put forward
(a) Darwin (b) Fleming (c) Myers (d)
De Vries
Ans : (c) Myers
(v) North eastern Region is situated at
the confluence of two biodiversity hotspots
(a) Himalaya
and Andaman (b) Himalaya and Indo-Burma
(c)
Himalaya and Bangladesh. (d) Himalaya
and Bay of Bengal
Ans : (b) Himalaya
and Indo-Burma
Q. : State whether the following
statements are true (T) or false (F)
(i) Rhino is found in Nagaland Ans
: False.
(ii) White winged wood duck is the
state bird of Assam. Ans
: True.
(iii) Aquilaria agalocha is endemic to
Assam. Ans
: True.
(iv) Pygmy hog is a migratory animal Ans
: False.
(v) Zoo is the example of ex-situ
facilities Ans
: True
(vi) Gene banks provide an
opportunity to present genetic diversity. Ans
: True.
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