Question

Read the sources given and answer any four from the questions given below:

In situ conservation strategies mean conservation of biodiversity on site. They emphasise on the protection of total ecosystems. These include protected areas like hot spots, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves. Ex situ conservation strategies means, the threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special areas like botanical gardens, zoo and aquaria where they can be protected and given special care. The concept of hotspots was developed by Norman Myers in 1988 to identify priority areas for in situ conservation. Hotspots are the richest zones of biodiversity. They contain the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. They have notable concentration of endemic species, i.e., species occupying narrow restricted area and confined to that region only. A particular area or region is designated hotspot on the basis of number of endemic species and the degree of threat to species, which is measured in terms of habitat loss. India has three main hotspots and these extend into the neighbouring countries also. These are Western Ghats, IndoBurma region and eastern Himalayas.

1. Which of the following are examples of in situ conservation strategies?
   1. national parks and zoo
   2. biosphere reserves and hotspots
   3. botanical gardens and aquaria
   4. wildlife sanctuaries and zoo
2. Which of the following statements is true for hot spots?
   1. richest biodiversity regions
   2. contain most threatened plants and animals
   3. present near the equator in hot regions
   4. both (a) and (b)
3. Endemic species of plants and animals are the ones which are
   1. endangered
   2. most threatened
   3. present in narrow restricted area
   4. almost extinct
4. The following are the main ‘hotspots' in India.
   1. Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
   2. Eastern Himalayas and Kutch area
   3. Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma region
   4. Indo-Burma region and Eastern Ghats
5. A region is designated as a hot spot if
   1. it has high number of endemic species
   2. it has number of plants and animals
   3. it has a hot climate
   4. it is close to a water reservoir

Answer 1

1. biosphere reserves and hotspots
2. both (a) and (b)
3. present in narrow restricted area
4. Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma region
5. it has high number of endemic species