Biodiversity part 2

Global warming, fragmentation of habitat and invasion of alien species can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area while promotion of vegetarianism is not responsible for the same. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Five main threats to biodiversity are commonly recognized, these are invasive alien species, climate change, nutrient loading and pollution, habitat change and overexploitation. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Some of the main threats to biodiversity are: 1. Human Activities and Loss of Habitat, 2. Deforestation, 3. Desertification, 4. Marine Environment, 5. Increasing Wildlife Trade and 6. Climate Change. The current practice of shifting cultivation or Jhum cultivation in eastern and northeastern regions of India is an extravagant and unscientific form of land use. The effect of shifting cultivation are devastating and far-reaching in degrading the environment and ecology of these regions.

India's human population is growing at an outstanding pace but the bird population is shrinking fast mainly because there has been a large-scale reduction in the habitats of the birds and there has been an excessive use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and mosquito repellents. Pesticides like D.D.T. enters into the food-chain so that premature shells crack before time & their population decreases.

It is generally accepted that climate factors regulate most insect species' life cycle, including butterflies. It is well established that temperature is a key factor for increasing daily activities (flight, foraging, movements) of butterflies. Butterflies cannot tolerate low temperatures. So maximum number of the species of butterflies are found in tropical countries.

It is generally accepted that climate factors regulate most insect species' life cycle, including butterflies. It is well established that temperature is a key factor for increasing daily activities (flight, foraging, movements) of butterflies. Butterflies cannot tolerate low temperatures. So maximum number of the species of butterflies are found in tropical countries.

Afforestation of barren land is not a reason for the loss of biodiversity while the expansion of roads, urbanization and extension of agriculture are responsible for the loss of biodiversity.

The ecosystem is a dynamic entity. The interdependence of organisms on other organisms for food contribute to the creation of different trophic levels. The decrease in trophic level indicates an abundance of a particular type of organism, thus resulting in a decrease in bio-diversity. Rest other factors like the productivity of the ecosystem, intermediate-disturbance and age of the ecosystem contribute to the richness of bio-diversity of the ecosystem.

Establishment of the Biosphere Reserve is an important strategy for the conservation of Biodiversity. Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. Notably, In-situ and Ex-Situ techniques are adopted for the conservation of biodiversity.

For conservation of flora, Botanical Gardens do not come under in-situ method while Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Wild Life sanctuaries fall under the in-situ method.

The maintenance of Genetic, Diversity, Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks is done by In-situ conservation. When a plant or organism is preserved in its original natural habitat area, it is called in-situ conservation, while when they are preserved somewhere else it is called Ex-situ conservation.

Examples of Ex-situ conservation - Seed banks, Zoological parks, Botanical gardens etc.  Examples of in-situ conservation - National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, Reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Nature Reserves.

Ex-situ is the process of conserving components of biological diversity by restricting them to natural habitat and then managing them in a controlled or modified environment. There are two methods for Ex- situ conservation-  The primary facilities that hold ex-situ conservation collections of plants and animals are aquaria, botanical gardens, and zoos. The second method is the storage of seeds, pollen, tissue, or embryos in liquid nitrogen. This method can be used for virtually indefinite storage of materials without deterioration over a much greater period about all other methods of ex-situ conservation.

The most important strategy for the conservation of biodiversity together with traditional human life is the establishment of biosphere reserves. A biosphere reserve is an integral part of the human system. In these areas, multifaceted development of ecosystem is given prominence. The Indian Government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, which protects larger areas of natural habitats. Twelve of the eighteen biosphere reserves are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme list.

A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest. It helps to protect genetic variations of different organisms and plants.

Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too hot, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching.

Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too hot, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching.

The total coral reef area in India is 5,790 km², distributed between 4 major regions: Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Fringing reefs are common. They occur around the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Atoll reefs are found in Lakshadweep. Sundarban is known for mangrove forest.

The total coral reef area in India is 5,790 km², distributed between 4 major regions: Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Fringing reefs are common. They occur around the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Atoll reefs are found in Lakshadweep. Sundarban is known for mangrove forest.

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere reserve is the world's richest region from a marine biodiversity perspective, comprising twenty-one Islands with estuaries, beaches, forests of the nearshore environment, including a marine components with algal communities, sea grasses, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves.

Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the form of soil formation, prevention of soil erosion, recycling of waste and pollination of crops. Other important uses of biodiversity are listed for medicinal purpose also.

Created in Conservation 1948, the International Union for of Nature (IUCN) is a membership union which provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools to enable human progress, economic development and nature's conservation to take place together. It is not a part of the United Nations. IUCN's expertise and extensive network provide a solid foundation for a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects around the world. Hence, statement (1) is incorrect while statement (2) and (3) are correct.

The 'Red Data Books' published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of threatened plants and animal species.

The 'Red Data Books' published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of threatened plants and animal species.

Established in 1964, the International Union for Conserva- tion of Nature's Red list of threatened species has evolved to become the worlds most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, Fungus and plant species.

Established in 1964, the International Union for Conserva- tion of Nature's Red list of threatened species has evolved to become the worlds most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, Fungus and plant species.

Endangered species are listed in Red Data Book.

Endangered species are listed in Red Data Book.

Endangered species are listed in Red Data Book.

At the time of the question asked, animals belong to option (a) come under Endangered list (EN). Notably Great Indian Bustard comes under cricitically Endangered list (CR), according to IUCN 2015 Red data list, while Red Panda comes under Endangered catgegory (According to NCERT)

Great Indian Bustard is a highly endangered species.

According to the definition proavided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a species not seen during the last 50 years is considered to be extinct.

Blue-finned Mahseer is found naturally in the Cauvery River. Irrawaddy Dolphine is found near sea coasts in estuaries and rivers in parts of Bay of Bengal and South East Asia. In Chilika Lake also Irrawaddy Dolphine is found. In Chambal River Gangetic Dolphine is found. Rusty Spotted Cat is found in Eastern Ghats. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

In May, 2003, a scientist working with the Peregrine Fund presented a research paper that aconfirmed that the vulture deaths were due to the anti-inflammatory painkilling drug Diclofenac Sodium. A vulture that had got had high levels of Diclofenac in their kidneys. In January, 2004, the results of a joint study conducted by the Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan confirmed that Diclofenac Sodium was indeed the primary reason for vulture deaths. That was an important study that resulted in a ban on the manufacturing of veterinary Diclofenac by the Drug Controller General of India. The devastating effect of this medicine can be understood from the fact that it caused the death of about 8.5 crore vultures in India, Nepal and Pakistan in 10 years. This ban was soon introduced in Nepal and Pakistan.

In May, 2003, a scientist working with the Peregrine Fund presented a research paper that aconfirmed that the vulture deaths were due to the anti-inflammatory painkilling drug Diclofenac Sodium. A vulture that had got had high levels of Diclofenac in their kidneys. In January, 2004, the results of a joint study conducted by the Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan confirmed that Diclofenac Sodium was indeed the primary reason for vulture deaths. That was an important study that resulted in a ban on the manufacturing of veterinary Diclofenac by the Drug Controller General of India. The devastating effect of this medicine can be understood from the fact that it caused the death of about 8.5 crore vultures in India, Nepal and Pakistan in 10 years. This ban was soon introduced in Nepal and Pakistan.

In May, 2003, a scientist working with the Peregrine Fund presented a research paper that aconfirmed that the vulture deaths were due to the anti-inflammatory painkilling drug Diclofenac Sodium. A vulture that had got had high levels of Diclofenac in their kidneys. In January, 2004, the results of a joint study conducted by the Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan confirmed that Diclofenac Sodium was indeed the primary reason for vulture deaths. That was an important study that resulted in a ban on the manufacturing of veterinary Diclofenac by the Drug Controller General of India. The devastating effect of this medicine can be understood from the fact that it caused the death of about 8.5 crore vultures in India, Nepal and Pakistan in 10 years. This ban was soon introduced in Nepal and Pakistan.

Administrating of painkiller to cattle is the main cause of loss of vulture population in India. Diclofenac is the drug that acted as a major cause of death of vultures. Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory, painkiller drug that was used widely in India in the 90s. It proved fatal to vultures.

The reason behind the heavy decline in the population of vultures is Diclofenac taken by vultures from the carcasses of dead cattle lying in open field. Cattle owners used this drug for treating their diseased animals. Diclofenac is highly toxic and has killer vultures in very large numbers in this way. It has drastically brought down their population.

Dodo was a giant bird with short stumpy legs and a large hooked beak. It used to live on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius but had completely vanished by the end of the 17th century. Dodo was helpful in pollinating and propagating seed of the species called Tambalacoque.

The Indian flying fox (Pteropus Gigantes), also known as the greater Indian fruit bat, is a species of bats in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Bangladesh, china, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Dugong is a medium-size marine mammal, which is vulnerable to extinction.

The dugong known as 'Sea Cow' is mostly found in Eastern Africa, South Asia and Australia. In India, it is found in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. Feeding on seagrass dugongs are found in seagrass beds, sheltered waters, lagoons and Bays. It has been given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972.

Rann of Kachchh is the natural habitat of Indian Wild Ass. This animal has no predators in that area but its existence is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat.

Prosopis juliflora is an exotic plant that wipes out most of the native plants and animals that room around it once. It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows.

Lion- tailed macaque is found in Western Ghats of India. It is an endangered species which is mostly found in Kerala, Karnataka and the border region of Tamil Nadu.

Cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Recently, the Supreme Court of India withheld the government's plan to rehabilitate Cheetah in India. Significantly the government introduced Cheetah in a wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh from Namibia. Snow Leopard's habitat is found 3000-4500 meters above the sea level. Surveys held in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have confirmed the presence of Snow Leopards in India. Black-necked Crane is the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir. Flying Squirrels are found in India, Russia, Japan, China, Europe, Africa and North America. India is habitat to seven species of flying Squirrel, six of which are found in the Himalayan Region.

With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger), Coppersmith barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), Grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) and White-throated redstart (Phoenicurus schisticeps) are the species of birds.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are very rich in biodiversity harbouring unique endemic life forms. The marine biodiversity includes marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, dugong, marine turtles, estuarine or saltwater crocodile, fish, prawns and lobsters, corals, seashells including rare and endangered Trochus species. Shrew and tapir are found in large Himalayan Ranges, not in the Western Ghats of the Malabar region.

The Red Panda is a territorial mammal. Its zoological name is Ailurus fulgens. Red Panda lives in temperate climates, in deciduous and coniferous forests, usually with an under story of bamboo and hollow trees. This makes them a key species of these forests and indicators of forest health. They are found in the Himalayan region, in parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and in the Indian States of Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Most of the red pandas of the world are found in China whereas the majority of the Indian red panda is found in Arunachal Pradesh. Thus, statement 1 is incorrect. Slow Loris species are found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, north-eastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura), Myanmar (including the Mergui Archipelago), Thailand, and Vietnam (except the south). Thus, statements 2 is correct.

According to ENVIS Center for Faunal Diversity hosted by Zoological Survey of India sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, below is the risk status of the animals given in the options.
Golden Langur: Endangered
Hoolock Gibbon : Endangered
Asiatic Wild Dog: Endangered
Desert Cat: Endangered