IUCN Categories & Biodiversity — Set 5
Forest & Wildlife · IUCN श्रेणियां और जैव विविधता · Questions 41–50 of 121
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act was passed in which year?
Correct Answer: D. 2023
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act was passed in 2023 to streamline and ease access to biological resources while maintaining conservation objectives. Key amendments include exempting AYUSH practitioners, seed producers, and local communities from access and benefit sharing requirements. The amendment also decriminalizes certain violations, replacing imprisonment with monetary penalties.
IPBES, the intergovernmental body for biodiversity assessments, is often called the 'biodiversity equivalent of IPCC.' What does IPBES stand for?
Correct Answer: B. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
IPBES stands for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. It was established in 2012 and is the equivalent of the IPCC for biodiversity. IPBES assesses the state of biodiversity and the nature's contributions to people, providing policymakers with objective scientific assessments to inform policy. Its secretariat is in Bonn, Germany.
The Living Planet Report, which tracks the health of global biodiversity, is published by which organization?
Correct Answer: C. WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
The Living Planet Report is published by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Published every two years, it uses the Living Planet Index to measure trends in global vertebrate populations. The 2022 report showed a devastating 69% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970.
The concept of biodiversity hotspots was first proposed by which scientist?
Correct Answer: B. Norman Myers
The concept of biodiversity hotspots was first proposed by British ecologist Norman Myers in 1988 and refined in 1990. He identified regions with exceptional concentrations of endemic species that have lost at least 70% of their original habitat. Conservation International later expanded and formalized the hotspot concept, currently recognizing 36 global hotspots.
The term 'biodiversity' was popularized by which American biologist?
Correct Answer: C. E.O. Wilson
The term 'biodiversity' was popularized by American biologist E.O. Wilson, who used it extensively in his 1988 book 'Biodiversity.' The contraction of 'biological diversity' into 'biodiversity' is attributed to Walter G. Rosen in 1985. E.O. Wilson is also known for his theory of island biogeography and contributions to sociobiology and myrmecology (study of ants).
The IUCN Red List is considered one of the most authoritative resources on biodiversity. It was first established in:
Correct Answer: B. 1964
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was first established in 1964 as the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. It has grown from a small booklet to an online database listing over 150,000 species. The Red List provides information about the range, population size, habitat and ecology, use, trade, threats, and conservation actions for each species.
Which of these three categories are collectively called 'threatened categories' in the IUCN Red List?
Correct Answer: B. CR, EN, VU
Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU) are collectively referred to as 'threatened categories' on the IUCN Red List. Species in these three categories face significant risks of extinction and require priority conservation attention. Near Threatened (NT) is not technically a threatened category but signals that a species may qualify as threatened in the near future.
India's four biodiversity hotspots together cover approximately what percentage of India's geographic area?
Correct Answer: B. 10%
India's four biodiversity hotspots together cover approximately 10% of the country's geographic area. Despite this relatively small area, they harbor a disproportionately large percentage of India's biodiversity, especially endemic species. India is one of the 17 'megadiverse' countries in the world, harboring 7-8% of global biodiversity.
Which Indian state hosts the largest area of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot?
Correct Answer: C. Karnataka
Karnataka covers the largest area of the Western Ghats, followed by Maharashtra. The Western Ghats stretch over 1,600 km through six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka's portion of the Western Ghats includes significant areas of Shola forests, grasslands, and river systems with high biodiversity value.
The Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is currently listed under which IUCN category?
Correct Answer: D. Vulnerable (VU)
The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros is currently listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Its population has recovered significantly from a low of about 200 at the turn of the 20th century to over 4,000 today, largely due to conservation efforts in India (Kaziranga) and Nepal. This recovery story is considered one of the great conservation successes in Asia.