Unit 3: Biodiversity and conservation - Practice Quiz

CHE110 — Environmental Studies 60 Questions
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1 What does biodiversity mean?

Definition of biodiversity Easy
A. The amount of rainfall in a region
B. The movement of air in an ecosystem
C. The variety of life on Earth
D. The study of rocks and minerals

2 Which of the following is a level of biological diversity?

Levels of biological diversity Easy
A. Mineral diversity
B. Chemical diversity
C. Genetic diversity
D. Weather diversity

3 Genetic diversity refers to differences in genes among members of the same ____.

Genetic diversity Easy
A. Ecosystem
B. Continent
C. Climate
D. Species

4 What does species diversity describe?

Species diversity Easy
A. The variety of species in an area
B. The number of genes in one organism
C. The amount of water in a habitat
D. The layers of soil in a forest

5 Which example best represents ecosystem diversity?

Ecosystem diversity Easy
A. Forests, deserts, and wetlands
B. Different ages of trees
C. Different breeds of dogs
D. Different colors of flowers

6 Why is biodiversity important for ecosystems?

Importance of biodiversity Easy
A. It supports ecological balance
B. It makes all habitats identical
C. It prevents every species from changing
D. It removes all natural disasters

7 Which of the following is an ecosystem service?

Ecosystem services Easy
A. Manufacturing of plastic
B. Pollination of crops
C. Construction of highways
D. Mining of metals

8 The ecological value of biodiversity is mainly related to its role in ____.

Ecological value Easy
A. Increasing building height
B. Maintaining ecosystem functions
C. Producing synthetic materials
D. Reducing all human activities

9 Which is an example of the economic value of biodiversity?

Economic value Easy
A. Rocks changing their color
B. Medicinal plants used in healthcare
C. Winds moving across oceans
D. Clouds forming over mountains

10 The social value of biodiversity is often connected with its importance in ____.

Social value Easy
A. Volcanic eruptions
B. Planetary motion
C. Ocean tides only
D. Culture and traditions

11 The beauty of forests, flowers, and wildlife represents the ____ value of biodiversity.

Aesthetic value Easy
A. Industrial
B. Aesthetic
C. Geological
D. Mechanical

12 Biodiversity has informational value because organisms can provide knowledge for ____.

Informational value Easy
A. Road construction
B. Weather forecasting only
C. Fuel combustion only
D. Scientific research

13 A biodiversity hotspot is an area that has many unique species and faces ____.

Hot spots of biodiversity Easy
A. Severe habitat loss
B. Very little human pressure
C. No native species
D. Only one type of ecosystem

14 What is habitat loss?

Habitat loss Easy
A. Movement of animals between habitats
B. Protection of forests from human use
C. Increase in the number of native species
D. Destruction or reduction of natural habitats

15 Poaching means ____.

Poaching of wildlife Easy
A. Illegal hunting or capturing of wildlife
B. Planting trees in a national park
C. Studying animals in their habitat
D. Legal breeding of endangered species

16 A biological invasion occurs when a non-native species ____.

Biological invasions Easy
A. Provides shelter to every native species
B. Remains limited to a laboratory
C. Spreads and harms native species
D. Becomes extinct in its original habitat

17 Which situation is an example of human-wildlife conflict?

Human-wildlife conflicts Easy
A. Elephants damaging village crops
B. Birds feeding in a protected forest
C. Fish living in a clean pond
D. Trees growing in a wildlife sanctuary

18 A species is called extinct when ____.

Extinct species Easy
A. No individuals remain alive
B. It is found in many habitats
C. It lives only in a zoo
D. Its population is temporarily small

19 An endangered species is one that has a ____ risk of extinction.

Endangered species Easy
A. Seasonally changing
B. Completely absent
C. Very high
D. Very low

20 What does in-situ conservation mean?

In-situ conservation Easy
A. Protecting species in their natural habitats
B. Displaying animals in public parks
C. Keeping species only in laboratories
D. Storing seeds in artificial containers

21 A forest contains many species, several genetic varieties within each species, and different habitat types. Which concept best describes this overall variation?

Definition of biodiversity Medium
A. Biodiversity across living systems
B. Biomass of the forest
C. Population density of the forest
D. Productivity of the forest

22 A conservation plan protects distinct rice varieties, wild rice species, and rice-growing wetland habitats. Which levels of diversity are being addressed?

Levels of biological diversity Medium
A. Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
B. Species, population, and climatic diversity
C. Ecosystem, geological, and atmospheric diversity
D. Genetic, behavioral, and cultural diversity

23 Why is maintaining several traditional crop varieties useful when climate conditions become unpredictable?

Genetic diversity Medium
A. It makes every crop variety genetically identical
B. It prevents all crop diseases permanently
C. It eliminates the need for soil nutrients
D. It increases the chance of climate-tolerant traits

24 Two grasslands each contain 10 species. In Grassland A, one species dominates, while in Grassland B, individuals are distributed more evenly. Which statement is most accurate?

Species diversity Medium
A. Both have identical species evenness
B. Neither grassland has species diversity
C. Grassland A has greater species evenness
D. Grassland B has greater species evenness

25 A state protects mangroves, grasslands, alpine meadows, and freshwater lakes. What aspect of biodiversity does this most directly conserve?

Ecosystem diversity Medium
A. Variation in local traditions
B. Variation within one species
C. Variation in individual body size
D. Variation among ecosystems

26 A wetland reduces flooding, filters pollutants, and provides fish for nearby communities. These benefits are best classified as:

Ecosystem services Medium
A. Genetic mutations
B. Ecosystem services
C. Biogeographic barriers
D. Invasive characteristics

27 A wild plant is studied and developed into a commercially useful medicine. Which value of biodiversity is most directly demonstrated?

Economic value Medium
A. Social value
B. Aesthetic value
C. Economic value
D. Geological value

28 The decline of a pollinator causes reduced seed production in several plant species. This example shows biodiversity's:

Ecological value Medium
A. Informational value
B. Ecological value
C. Aesthetic value
D. Recreational value

29 Scientists examine the navigation of migratory birds to design improved aircraft guidance systems. This illustrates the:

Informational value Medium
A. Aesthetic value of biodiversity
B. Informational value of biodiversity
C. Consumptive value of biodiversity
D. Social value of biodiversity

30 Which combination best identifies a biodiversity hotspot?

Hot spots of biodiversity Medium
A. Large area and few threatened species
B. High rainfall and no endemic organisms
C. Low species richness and stable habitats
D. High endemism and severe habitat loss

31 A highway divides a continuous forest into isolated patches, reducing animal movement and breeding. This process is called:

Habitat loss Medium
A. Genetic recombination
B. Ecological succession
C. Artificial selection
D. Habitat fragmentation

32 A population of a large mammal declines because individuals are illegally killed for body parts. Which threat is primarily responsible?

Poaching of wildlife Medium
A. Habitat restoration
B. Mutualistic competition
C. Poaching of wildlife
D. Natural succession

33 An introduced plant spreads rapidly, displaces native plants, and changes soil conditions. Why is it considered an invasive species?

Biological invasions Medium
A. It increases native species without competition
B. It survives only in protected reserves
C. It is always larger than native species
D. It causes ecological harm outside its native range

34 After natural prey declines, elephants enter farms and damage crops. Which measure would address the underlying conflict most effectively?

Human-wildlife conflicts Medium
A. Increase disturbance inside protected forests
B. Restore habitat and secure wildlife corridors
C. Release unrelated predators near farms
D. Remove all vegetation near villages

35 A species has not been found despite repeated surveys across its former range, and no individuals remain anywhere. How should it be classified?

Extinct species Medium
A. Endangered
B. Rare
C. Vulnerable
D. Extinct

36 A species has a very small and declining population because of habitat destruction and illegal hunting. Which category best describes its conservation status?

Endangered species Medium
A. Common
B. Data deficient
C. Least concern
D. Endangered

37 A conservation program prioritizes a species that is evolutionarily unique and also highly threatened. Which category supports this priority?

EDGE species Medium
A. Keystone species only
B. Flagship species only
C. EDGE species
D. Domestic species

38 Protecting a wild orchid within the forest where it evolved allows the species to interact with its natural pollinators. This is an example of:

In-situ conservation Medium
A. Artificial hybridization
B. Commercial cultivation
C. Ex-situ conservation
D. In-situ conservation

39 A seed bank stores seeds of a threatened crop variety under controlled conditions away from its natural habitat. This is:

Ex-situ conservation Medium
A. Biological invasion
B. In-situ conservation
C. Ex-situ conservation
D. Habitat fragmentation

40 India is considered a megadiverse nation mainly because it has:

India as a mega-diversity nation Medium
A. No threatened or rare biological resources
B. Only a few ecosystems and low endemism
C. Uniform climate across its entire territory
D. High species richness and many endemic species

41 A landscape contains two genetically distinct populations of the same species, five species, and three ecosystem types. Which interpretation best reflects the definition of biodiversity?

Definition of biodiversity Hard
A. It refers only to the number of species present
B. It includes variation within species, among species, and among ecosystems
C. It measures only ecosystem productivity and stability
D. It is the proportion of endemic species in a region

42 Two forest patches contain the same number of species, but their species identities differ completely. Which statement best distinguishes their diversity patterns?

Levels of biological diversity Hard
A. They may have similar alpha diversity but high beta diversity
B. They have identical beta diversity because richness is equal
C. They differ in alpha diversity because their species identities differ
D. They have identical gamma diversity regardless of the regional species pool

43 A disease affects one crop variety severely, while a genetically diverse collection of varieties shows varying resistance. Which conservation inference is most appropriate?

Genetic diversity Hard
A. Genetic diversity can provide raw material for adaptation
B. Uniform varieties maximize long-term evolutionary potential
C. Ecosystem diversity eliminates the need for seed conservation
D. Species richness alone guarantees crop resilience

44 Community A has 10 species with equal abundances, while Community B has 10 species but one species comprises 90% of individuals. Which conclusion is most defensible?

Species diversity Hard
A. Community B has greater evenness than Community A
B. Community A has greater diversity when evenness is considered
C. Community B has greater diversity because dominance improves stability
D. Both communities have equal species diversity in every sense

45 A conservation plan protects a mangrove, coral reef, seagrass meadow, and adjacent estuary, even though some species occur in several of them. What principal dimension is being represented?

Ecosystem diversity Hard
A. Ecosystem diversity across interacting habitat types
B. Species diversity within one uniform habitat
C. Taxonomic diversity restricted to endemic organisms
D. Genetic diversity within a single population

46 A wetland reduces flood peaks, filters nutrients, supports fish nurseries, and provides recreation. Which classification is correct?

Ecosystem services Hard
A. Flood reduction is regulating and recreation is cultural
B. Flood reduction is provisioning and recreation is regulating
C. Nutrient filtration is cultural and fish production is regulating
D. Fish production is cultural and recreation is supporting

47 Removing a predator causes herbivore numbers to rise, vegetation to decline, and stream temperature to increase. Which ecological value of the predator is demonstrated?

Ecological value Hard
A. Its market value as a harvested commodity
B. Its symbolic value in local religious traditions
C. Its aesthetic value to visitors and photographers
D. Its role in maintaining trophic interactions and ecosystem functioning

48 A wild plant has no current commercial use, but screening reveals compounds that may yield future medicines. Which economic value is most directly involved?

Economic value Hard
A. Cultural value from traditional festivals
B. Option value from preserving possible future benefits
C. Existence value from knowing the plant survives
D. Direct-use value from present household harvesting

49 Why can conserving an apparently obscure species be scientifically important even without immediate economic use?

Informational value Hard
A. It may preserve unique genetic information about adaptation
B. It guarantees that habitat fragmentation will be reversed
C. It automatically increases the population of every species nearby
D. It makes all ecosystem services financially measurable

50 A region qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot only when it combines substantial endemism with which additional condition?

Hot spots of biodiversity Hard
A. Extensive remaining primary vegetation and low endemism
B. Large total area and high numbers of introduced species
C. Severe habitat loss relative to its original vegetation
D. High annual rainfall and low human population density

51 A road divides a continuous forest into isolated patches, increasing edge exposure and reducing interior habitat. Which mechanism best explains the biodiversity impact?

Habitat loss Hard
A. Isolation necessarily increases effective population size
B. Fragmentation always increases carrying capacity for specialists
C. Fragmentation can reduce gene flow and intensify edge effects
D. Edge effects eliminate invasive species from forest margins

52 A poached population still appears numerically stable, but most removed individuals are breeding adults. Why may the conservation risk be underestimated?

Poaching of wildlife Hard
A. Population counts always exclude juveniles and adults equally
B. Removing breeding adults increases demographic resilience
C. Poaching affects only species with high genetic diversity
D. Adult removal can reduce reproduction before abundance declines

53 An introduced plant initially remains localized but later expands rapidly after a disturbance removes native competitors. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

Biological invasions Hard
A. Native competitors always facilitate establishment of invaders
B. Introduced species become invasive only when deliberately cultivated
C. A long lag phase proves the species is ecologically harmless
D. Disturbance can create conditions that increase invasion success

54 Crop losses rise after a wildlife corridor is blocked, forcing animals through farms. Which intervention addresses the underlying cause most directly?

Human-wildlife conflicts Hard
A. Relocate every animal without assessing habitat conditions
B. Remove all native vegetation bordering agricultural fields
C. Restore landscape connectivity and improve preventive measures
D. Increase retaliatory killing near affected villages

55 Which statement correctly distinguishes conservation categories based on population risk?

Species of conservation concern Hard
A. Extinct species retain self-sustaining wild populations
B. Endangered species are defined only by their economic importance
C. Rare species are necessarily more threatened than endangered species
D. Vulnerable species face lower risk than species classified as endangered

56 A species has not been observed for decades despite intensive surveys across all plausible habitats, and no captive individuals remain. Which classification is most justified?

Extinct species Hard
A. Endangered, because every unobserved species remains extant
B. Vulnerable, because absence of records proves population recovery
C. Rare, because rarity and extinction are identical categories
D. Extinct, if the evidence supports the loss of the last individual

57 Which species would receive the strongest EDGE-style conservation priority?

EDGE species Hard
A. A highly threatened species with little evolutionary distinctiveness
B. A moderately threatened species representing a unique ancient lineage
C. A recently introduced species with rapid population growth
D. A common species with many close relatives

58 Why is conserving a threatened tree within its natural forest often preferable to preserving only seeds in a gene bank?

In-situ conservation Hard
A. It guarantees immunity from fire, disease, and climate change
B. It eliminates the need for population monitoring
C. It maintains ecological interactions and ongoing natural evolution
D. It preserves only the species name rather than its genes

59 A critically threatened plant produces recalcitrant seeds that cannot tolerate drying or conventional cold storage. Which ex-situ strategy is most suitable?

Ex-situ conservation Hard
A. Maintain living collections or use tissue culture and cryopreservation
B. Replace the species with a closely related crop
C. Store all seeds after extensive desiccation
D. Release stored pollen without preserving viable tissues

60 A conservation program compares the Himalaya, Western Ghats, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. What is the main biogeographic significance of this comparison?

Biogeographic zones of India Hard
A. They differ only in administrative boundaries and not biodiversity
B. They are all classified solely according to annual rainfall
C. They are identical zones because India has one uniform climate
D. They represent distinct zones with different evolutionary histories and assemblages