Biodiversity Conservation Questions in English

(A) In vitro fertilization $(IVF)$ is a medical procedure used for assisted reproduction,often referred to as the test-tube baby technique.
It involves the fertilization of an egg by sperm outside the female's body in a laboratory setting.
$IUCN$ (International Union for Conservation of Nature),$WWF$ (World Wide Fund for Nature),and $IBWL$ (Indian Board for Wildlife) are all organizations or bodies directly involved in the conservation of biodiversity and wildlife.
Therefore,$IVF$ is not concerned with wildlife conservation.

(A) Compared to other reserves in India,$Sunderban$ National Park has the largest tiger population.
It also serves as a habitat for salt-water crocodiles,Gangetic dolphins,chitals,wild boars,and rhesus macaques.

(C) $IUCN$ stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
It is now known as the World Conservation Union $(WCU)$.
Its headquarters are located in Gland,Switzerland.
It assesses the conservation status of species globally by gathering information on their geographical distribution,population size,and trends.
It publishes the Red Data Book,which lists threatened species.

(B) The World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg,South Africa in $2002$.
In this summit,$190$ countries pledged to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss at global,regional,and local levels by $2010$.
In alignment with this global commitment,the Biological Diversity Act was passed in India in the year $2002$.

(A) Ex situ conservation refers to the conservation of organisms outside their natural habitats.
This involves maintaining sample populations in genetic resource centers or as gene pools.
Examples of ex situ conservation include $zoos$,botanical gardens,wildlife safari parks,seed banks,pollen storage,tissue culture,and genetic engineering.
In contrast,biosphere reserves,sacred groves,and national parks are examples of in situ conservation,where organisms are protected within their natural habitats.

(D) Sacred groves are forest patches around places of worship that are held in high esteem by tribal communities.
These areas are protected by local people due to religious beliefs,which helps in the conservation of biodiversity.
They are found in several parts of India,$e.g$.,Karnataka,Maharashtra,Rajasthan (Aravalli),Madhya Pradesh (Sarguja,Chanda,and Bastar),Kerala,and Meghalaya.
In Meghalaya,sacred groves are found in the Jaintia and Khasi hills.

(D) $Aegle \text{ } marmelos$ (Bel), $Ocimum \text{ } sanctum$ (Tulsi), and $Ficus \text{ } religiosa$ (Peepal) are widely recognized in Indian culture as sacred plants.
These species are often protected and conserved due to their religious significance, which is a form of in-situ conservation known as sacred groves or sacred plants.

(D) In recent years, $ex \, situ$ conservation has advanced beyond keeping threatened species in enclosures.
Now, gametes of the threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile condition for long periods using cryopreservation techniques.
Eggs can be fertilized $in \, vitro$ and plants can be propagated using tissue culture methods.
Therefore, all the mentioned techniques are part of modern $ex \, situ$ conservation.

(B) Biosphere reserve is an $in \, situ$ conservation method.
It is the most effective way among the given options for preserving genetic diversity because it protects the entire ecosystem, including wild populations, traditional lifestyles, and domesticated plant genetic resources in their natural habitat.

(A) Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park,also known as Patna Zoo,is located in Patna,the capital city of Bihar,India.

(D) The Red Panda $(Ailurus \text{ } fulgens)$ is classified as an Endangered species by the $IUCN$ Red List of Threatened Species. This classification indicates that the species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

(A) Siberian cranes $(Grus \ leucogeranus)$ are migratory birds that travel long distances to escape harsh winters. They are well-known regular winter visitors to the Keoladeo National Park,formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary,located in Rajasthan,India.

(A) The Biosphere Reserve Programme was launched by $UNESCO$ in $1971$ under its "Man and Biosphere Programme" $(MAB)$.
In India, the government implemented this programme in $1986$ to protect larger areas of natural habitat along with their flora and fauna.

(D) Biosphere reserves are a special category of protected areas of land and/or coastal environments wherein people are an integral component of the ecosystem.
It represents a specified area zonated for particular activity and consists of a core zone without any human activity,a buffer zone with limited human activities,and a manipulation zone with several manipulating human activities.

(C) Gir National Park (Gujarat) is famous for the Asiatic lion and is not a habitat for tigers.
The animals found in Gir National Park include the Asiatic lion,panther,striped hyena,sambar,nilgai,chital,four-horned antelope,and chinkara.
Ranthambore National Park,Sunderbans,and Jim Corbett National Park are well-known tiger reserves.

(B) Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Asom.
It covers an area of $80 \; \text{sq km}$.
Its key vertebrate species include the tiger, wild boar, sambar, golden langur, one-horned rhinoceros, swamp deer, wild dog, and wild buffalo.

(D) Ranthambore National Park is a famous wildlife sanctuary and national park located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan,India. It is well-known for its population of Bengal tigers.

(C) $Ex \, situ$ conservation is the preservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats.
It includes techniques such as cryopreservation, botanical gardens, zoological parks, gene banks, and tissue culture.
In contrast, $in \, situ$ conservation is the preservation of biological diversity within their natural wild conditions, which includes biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.

(B) Simlipal is a $Biosphere Reserve$ located in the state of Odisha, India. It is part of the $UNESCO$ World Network of Biosphere Reserves and is known for its rich biodiversity, including tigers and elephants.

(A) Each biosphere reserve has three main zones:
$(i)$ Core or Natural Zone: No human activity is allowed. The area is an undisturbed and legally protected ecosystem.
$(ii)$ Buffer Zone: It surrounds the core area. Limited human activity is allowed,such as resource use strategies,research,and education.
$(iii)$ Transition Zone (Manipulation Zone): It is the outermost or peripheral part of the biosphere reserve where active cooperation exists between reserve management and local people for activities like settlements,cropping,recreation,forestry,and other economic uses without disturbing the ecology.
Therefore,human settlement is permissible in the transition zone.

(A) Silent Valley is a national park located in the Nilgiri hills of Kerala,South India. It is a well-known tropical evergreen forest. The area was historically explored in $1847$ by the botanist Robert Wight.

(D) Kaziranga National Park is world-famous for being the habitat of the one-horned rhinoceros. The Little Rann of Kutch is famous for the Indian wild ass.

(D) The Red Data Book is a public document created by the $IUCN$ (International Union for Conservation of Nature) for recording endangered and rare species of animals, plants, and fungi.
It serves as a comprehensive inventory of the conservation status of biological species.
Species listed in the Red Data Book include those that are threatened, which encompasses categories such as vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered species.
Therefore, since threatened, endangered, and rare species are all tracked within this system, the correct answer is $All \text{ of these}$.

(B) The Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil,in $1992$.
It promoted the Convention on Biological Diversity $(CBD)$,which was signed by $152$ nations to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

(A) In situ (on-site) conservation refers to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity through a network of protected areas.
In this method,the selected flora and fauna are conserved in their natural habitats.
Examples of in situ conservation include national parks,wildlife sanctuaries,and biosphere reserves.
Conversely,botanical gardens,tissue culture,and genetic engineering are examples of ex situ (off-site) conservation.

(C) The Biological Diversity Act of India was enacted by the Parliament of India in the year $2002$.
This act was established to provide for the conservation of biological diversity,sustainable use of its components,and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources and knowledge.

(C) India's first national park ($IUCN$ category-$II$ protected area) was Hailey National Park,which is now known as Jim Corbett National Park.
It was established in $1935$.
By $1970$,India had only $5$ national parks,whereas today the number has increased significantly.

(C) $IUCN$ (International Union for Conservation of Nature) maintains a Red Data Book or Red List,which is a comprehensive catalogue of taxa (species) that are facing a high risk of extinction globally.

(D) The correct matched pair is $Rann$ of $Kutch - Wild$ $ass$.
$1$. $Gir$ forest is famous for the $Asiatic$ $lion$.
$2$. $Kaziranga$ $National$ $Park$ is famous for the $One-horned$ $rhinoceros$.
$3$. $Corbett$ $National$ $Park$ is famous for $Tigers$, $Elephants$, and various other mammals.
$4$. $Rann$ of $Kutch$ (Little $Rann$ of $Kutch$) is the natural habitat of the $Indian$ $wild$ $ass$ ($Equus$ $hemionus$ $khur$).

(A) The Hoolock gibbon $(Hoolock \text{ hoolock})$ is the only ape found in India. It is primarily distributed in the northeastern states of India. Among the given options, the Kaziranga National Park, located in the state of Assam, is known for protecting various species, including the Hoolock gibbon, the one-horned rhinoceros, and pythons.

(A) The $IUCN$ (International Union for Conservation of Nature) maintains the global Red List. In the context of India,the documentation and compilation of threatened species for the Red List are carried out by the Botanical Survey of India $(BSI)$ for plant species and the Zoological Survey of India $(ZSI)$ for animal species. However,in the context of standard textbook questions regarding the primary agency often cited for the Red Data Book in India,the Botanical Survey of India $(BSI)$ is the correct answer.

(A) taxon is classified as $Vulnerable$ $(VU)$ when it is not critically endangered or endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
These species are likely to move into the endangered category if the prevailing negative conditions continue.
Examples include the Madagascar frog,$Dyscophus$ $antongilii$,etc.

(A) The first biosphere reserve established in India is the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve $(NBR)$.
It was established in $1986$ and covers parts of Tamil Nadu,Kerala,and Karnataka.
It is known for conserving the gene pool of diverse flora and fauna,as well as protecting the traditional lifestyle of indigenous tribal communities residing in the region.
It includes protected areas such as Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park.

(D) Wildlife conservation is primarily focused on protecting natural ecosystems and the variety of life forms within them.
Statement $I$ is correct because maintaining ecological processes (like nutrient cycling and energy flow) is essential for the survival of species.
Statement $IV$ is correct because the core objective of conservation is to preserve the Earth's genetic,species,and ecosystem diversity.
Statement $II$ is incorrect because introducing exotic (alien) species often disrupts native ecosystems and threatens local biodiversity.
Statement $III$ is incorrect because migration is a natural biological process essential for the survival and reproduction of many species.
Therefore,the correct statements are $I$ and $IV$.

(D) Eminent conservationists identified areas (regions) with very high level of species richness and high degree of endemism (i.e. species confined to that region and not found anywhere else) for maximum protection.
Initially,the number of biodiversity hot spots were $25$,but now it has increased to $34$.

(B) Endangered species are those species which are on the verge of extinction due to a critically reduced number of individuals caused by indiscriminate killing and a drastic reduction in their habitats.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act of India,the Indian wild ass ($Equus$ $hemionus$ $khur$) is classified as an endangered species.
Other examples of endangered species in India include the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger.

(C) Sustainable use of resources refers to the practice of utilizing natural resources in a manner that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
It involves managing resources in a way that maintains the ecological balance and protects the ecosystem while providing benefits to humanity.
Therefore,option $C$ correctly defines sustainable use as the ability to use natural resources in a way that helps people while protecting the ecosystem.

(C) The Earth Summit promoted the Convention on Biological Diversity $(CBD)$. The three main objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity are:
$(i)$ The conservation of biological diversity.
$(ii)$ The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.
$(iii)$ The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
Option $(C)$ is not an objective of the $CBD$. In fact,the convention aims to protect species,not promote selective hunting.

(A) The name of $Smt. Thimmakka$ is famously associated with the planting and conservation of avenue trees. She is known as 'Aala Marada Thimmakka' and has planted and nurtured hundreds of banyan trees along a $4 \text{ km}$ stretch of highway in Karnataka, India.

(B) Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas designed to preserve genetic diversity in representative ecosystems of various natural biomes and unique biological communities.
They achieve this by protecting wild populations,the traditional lifestyles of tribal communities,and domesticated plant and animal genetic resources.
Humans are an integral part of biosphere reserves,whereas they are generally excluded from the core zones of National Parks.

(D) Ex situ conservation is the strategy of conserving threatened plant and animal species outside their natural habitats.
In this method,the population is maintained under controlled conditions that simulate their natural environment.
Examples of ex situ conservation include:
$1$. Zoological parks (Zoos) - $I$
$2$. Seed/pollen banks - $II$
$3$. Gene banks and tissue culture collections - $III$
$4$. Botanical gardens - $IV$
Since all the listed options represent methods of ex situ conservation,the correct answer is $I, II, III$ and $IV$.

(D) In situ conservation refers to the protection and conservation of biodiversity within its natural habitat.
This approach allows species to continue evolving in their natural environment.
Examples of in situ conservation strategies include:
$1$. National parks: Areas reserved for the protection of wildlife and their natural environment.
$2$. Wildlife sanctuaries: Areas where human activity is limited to protect specific species.
$3$. Biosphere reserves: Large areas of land or coastal environments designed to promote conservation and sustainable development.
$4$. Sacred forests/groves and lakes: Areas protected by local communities due to cultural or religious significance.
Therefore,all the listed options $(I, II, III, IV)$ are examples of in situ conservation strategies.

(D) In India, nearly $450$ plant species and many animal species have been identified as endangered, threatened, or rare. The Hornbill (a bird) and Indian aconite ($Aconitum$ $\text{deinorrhizum}$, a medicinal plant) are both included in the list of endangered species in India.

(A) Strict protection of biodiversity hotspots is a key strategy in conservation biology.
It is estimated that by strictly protecting these hotspots,we could reduce the ongoing rate of mass extinctions by almost $30\;\%.$

(B) The approach described in the question refers to $In-situ$ (on-site) conservation, where the entire ecosystem is protected to conserve biodiversity at all levels.
$Biosphere$ $reserves$, $National$ $parks$, and $Sanctuaries$ are all examples of $In-situ$ conservation strategies.
$Seed$ $bank$ is an example of $Ex-situ$ (off-site) conservation, where genetic resources are stored outside their natural habitat.
Therefore, $Seed$ $bank$ is the correct exception.

(B) Sacred groves are a form of on-site (in-situ) conservation where patches of forest are protected by local communities due to religious beliefs.
As of recent data,there are $90$ National Parks in India.
Western Ghats are spread across states like Maharashtra,Kerala,Karnataka,and Tamil Nadu,not Rajasthan and $M.P.$

(A) Ex-situ conservation is the conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats.
In this method,threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special settings where they can be protected and given special care.
Zoological parks are examples of ex-situ conservation for animals.
Botanical gardens are examples of ex-situ conservation for plants.
Biosphere reserves are examples of in-situ conservation,where the entire ecosystem is protected in its natural habitat.

(C) Cryopreservation is a technique used to store gametes, seeds, embryos, and tissues of threatened species in a viable and fertile state for long periods.
This process involves storing the biological material in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of $-196^{\circ}C$.
This method allows for the conservation of genetic diversity outside of the natural habitat, which is a form of ex-situ conservation.

(A) The correct answer is $A$.
$Aravalli$ hills are primarily located in the state of $Rajasthan$,not $Gujarat$.
$Khasi$ and $Jaintia$ hills are correctly located in $Meghalaya$.
$Sarguja$ is a region in $Madhya$ $Pradesh$.
$Western$ $Ghats$ span across several states including $Karnataka$ and $Maharashtra$.

(A) The Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is a unique tropical evergreen rainforest. It is being preserved primarily because it is an abode for many rare,endemic,and endangered species of plants and animals,making it a critical biodiversity hotspot.