Biodiversity and Conservation: MCQ Test

41. How many Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, and Wildlife Sanctuaries does India currently have, respectively?

• 14 Biosphere Reserves, 90 National Parks, 448 Wildlife Sanctuaries
• 90 Biosphere Reserves, 14 National Parks, 448 Wildlife Sanctuaries
• 448 Biosphere Reserves, 90 National Parks, 14 Wildlife Sanctuaries
• 14 Biosphere Reserves, 448 National Parks, 90 Wildlife Sanctuaries

42. In India, tracts of forest set aside and given total protection due to religious and cultural traditions that venerate trees and wildlife are known as:

• National Parks
• Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Sacred Groves
• Biosphere Reserves

43. Which of the following is **not** an example of an *ex situ* conservation method?

• Maintaining threatened species in zoological parks and botanical gardens.
• Cryopreservation of gametes.
• Protecting a biodiversity hotspot like the Western Ghats.
• Propagating plants using tissue culture methods.

44. What was the primary call to action from the historic Convention on Biological Diversity ('The Earth Summit') held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992?

• To establish the IUCN Red List.
• To identify 34 biodiversity hotspots globally.
• To call upon all nations to take appropriate measures for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilisation of its benefits.
• To fund bioprospecting initiatives globally.

45. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, what commitment did 190 countries pledge to achieve by 2010?

• To increase the number of protected areas globally by 50%.
• To ban all activities causing habitat loss.
• To achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional, and local levels.
• To establish a global fund for biodiversity conservation.

46. If we consider the problem of completing the inventory of biological wealth in India, which of the following is highlighted as a major challenge?

• Lack of funding for taxonomic research.
• Difficulty in accessing remote areas.
• The immense trained manpower (taxonomists) and time required, coupled with the threat of species becoming extinct before discovery.
• Lack of international cooperation.

47. Why might a stable biological community not show too much variation in productivity from year to year?

• It has very few species.
• It is resistant or resilient to occasional disturbances (natural or man-made).
• It is easily invaded by alien species.
• It lacks diverse trophic levels.