Consider the following statements regarding biodiversity conservation: 1. In situ conservation refers to conservation of species in their natural habitats. 2. Nature reserves are areas specifically designed for wildlife conservation. 3. Captive breeding of animals is an in situ conservation measure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2
- C.3 only
- D.2 and 3
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, 1 and 2. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, but captive breeding is an ex situ measure, so statement 3 is wrong.
In situ conservation protects plants and animals where they naturally live, along with their whole ecosystem. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, sacred groves and nature reserves are all in situ methods; a nature reserve is an area set aside mainly to protect wildlife and its habitat. Ex situ conservation takes a species out of its natural home and keeps it in a protected place. Zoos, botanical gardens, seed banks, gene banks, cryopreservation and captive breeding centres are examples. Captive breeding has helped revive species such as the gharial and vultures in India, whose young are later released into the wild.
A is wrong because statement 2 is also correct. C is wrong because statement 3 is the incorrect one. D is wrong because it includes statement 3 and leaves out the correct statement 1.
Exam tip: In situ = on site (parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves); ex situ = off site (zoos, seed banks, captive breeding).
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following statements with regard to growth of coral reefs is not correct?
- A.Coral can grow abundantly in freshwater.
- B.It requires warm water between 23 °C-25 °C.
- C.It requires shallow saltwater, not deeper than 50 metres.
- D.It requires plenty of sunlight to aid photosynthesis.
Show answer
Reef-building corals are marine animals and die in fresh water, so this statement is false. Corals are tiny polyps that build skeletons of calcium carbonate and live with algae called zooxanthellae inside their tissues.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following biosphere reserves is spread over three States in India?
- A.Nilgiri
- B.Achanakmar-Amarkantak
- C.Seshachalam
- D.Agasthyamalai
Show answer
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- A.2 only
- B.3 and 4
- C.1 and 3
- D.2 and 4
Show answer
Biofuel and hydropower are renewable because nature replaces them within a human lifetime, while fossil fuels and uranium are not.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is NOT decomposed by bacterial action ?
- A.Vegetable remains
- B.Plastic materials
- C.Animal carcasses
- D.Wastes of flowers
Show answer
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Read the full explanation →According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?
- A.Locomotives using fossil fuels
- B.Ships using fossil fuels
- C.Extraction of metals from ores
- D.Power plants using fossil fuels
Show answer
The EPA names the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities as the largest source of sulphur dioxide.
Read the full explanation →