Question

Which of the following statements regarding biodiversity hotspots are incorrect?
i. High endemism
ii. High level of species richness
iii. The total number is 34 in the world
iv. Five of these occur in India
v. High alien species invasion
vi. Covers less than $2$ of the Earth’s land area; but if properly conserved, they can reduce extinctions by about $30$
A. (i) and (ii)
B. (iv) and (v)
C. (iv), (v), and (vi)
D. (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi)

Answer 1

Biodiversity refers to the variations seen in the plants and animal species in a particular ecosystem or area. The biodiversity hotspots are those areas that are rich in variations in living organisms and are threatened by human inhabitations. This means that they contain a large number of diverse species of plants and animals due to their appropriate environmental conditions but are in danger from humans, thus they are preserved.

Complete answer:

Biodiversity is a broad term that consists of words ‘bio’ meaning living and ‘diversity’ meaning variations. The Earth’s global ecosystem consists of millions of different species. These species are different from each other by features, genetic constitutions, feeding behaviors, habitats, etc. This variation seen in the living forms is termed as Biodiversity. Some areas are rich in biodiversity. This means that they have a comparatively large number of different species constituting their ecosystem.
Now, let us study each given option to conclude which of the given terms are correct about Biodiversity hotspots.
-High endemism means that a particular species is seen and found only in a specific or particular land. Biodiversity hotspots have high endemism levels as they are rich in their defined characteristic species that are found only in a particular area and nowhere else in the world. Thus, this is correct for biodiversity hotspots.
-A high level of species richness means that the biodiversity hotspots are home to a large number of different or variant living organisms. This is true as Biodiversity hotspots are locations having the most suitable conditions for providing habitats to a large number of species. So, this is also correct.
-The total number of biodiversity hotspots on Earth represents only about $2.3% of the total Earth’s surface. The total number of biodiversity hotspots qualified with a significant amount of biodiversity endangered to human inhabitation is 34. Thus, this statement is true about biodiversity hotspots.
India is considered one of the most bio-diverse regions in the World.
-The regions of The Western Ghats, The Himalayas, Indo-Burma region, and The Sundaland are qualified to be considered biodiversity hotspots. So, India consists of a total of four biodiversity hotspots, not five. Hence, this is incorrect.
-Alien species invasion means the entrance of new kinds of species in an already existing biodiversity hotspot. This new species can prove harmful to the prevailing species. This can create an imbalance in the working of biological hotspots. Therefore, alien species invasion should not be high. Thus, this statement is incorrect.
-The total area covered by global biodiversity regions is 2.3%. These areas are endangered by human settlements and have become less than 2%. But if conserved they can reduce extinctions by about thirty percent as they contain a large number of species.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Note: All of the biodiversity hotspots consist of a rich number of species that are beneficial to the ecosystem and are advantageous to humans. But overexploitation of these resources should be avoided. A decrease in biological diversity will lead to an imbalance in the working of Nature.