Q. 1 What is biodiversity? Give its different levels.
What are different types of biodiversity? 
 Answer Key Points: -
Biodiversity itself is a combination of two words, ‘Bio’ (life) and ‘diversity’ (variety). In simple terms, biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region. It refers to the varieties of plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form. It relates to the variability among living organisms on the earth, including the variability within and between the species and that within and between the ecosystems.
1) Genetic Diversity: - Genetic biodiversity refers to the variation of genes within species. Groups of
individual organisms having certain similarities in their physical characteristics are called species. Human beings genetically belong to the ‘homosapiens’ group and also differ in their characteristics such as height, colour, physical appearance, etc., considerably. This is due to genetic diversity. This genetic diversity is essential for a healthy breeding of population of species.
2) Species Diversity: - This refers to the variety of species. It relates to the number of species in a defined area. The diversity of species can be measured through its richness, abundance and types. Some areas are more rich in species than others. Areas rich in species diversity are called hotspots of diversity.
3) Ecosystem Diversity: - The broad differences between ecosystem types and the diversity of habitats and ecological processes occurring within each ecosystem type constitute the ecosystem diversity.

Q. 2 What do you know about the boundaries of the ecosystem?
 Answer Key Points: -
1) An ecosystem is an area in which the inputs and outputs can be studied across its boundaries.
2) It is only for convenience that it is considered as a separate entity. Otherwise, ecosystems are not strictly isolated.
3) Their boundaries are indistinct and overlapping. Some movement always occurs in their materials. This movement may be from an adjacent or distinct ecosystem. For instance, a pond may be separated from adjoining grassland, but some birds may break the barrier and feed on the fish and crabs of the pond.
4) The movement of energy and material can be achieved by biological climate or geological processes.
Q. 3 Write a short note on the man-made ecosystems.
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Humans have changed the environment to a far greater extent than any other species. Sometime, the modification is done on large scale so we call them man-made or artificial ecosystems.
2) Villages and cities, orchards and plantations, gardens and parks with their plants and animals are well known examples of the man-made terrestrial ecosystem.
3) Large dams and reservoirs, lakes, canals, small fishery tanks, and ponds are examples of the man-made aquatic ecosystem.
4) The most important man-made modifications in the biotic community came with the use of fire, cultivation of plants, and domestication of animals.
5) All man-made ecosystems including agro-ecosystems are simple and highly efficient. They lack the diversity of natural ecosystems.
6) A simple system is more vulnerable to sudden changes for example a single crop agro system may be totally destroyed by drought, floods, diseases, pests, etc. but a diversified system has scope for many adjustments and substitutions.
Q. 4 What are the roles played by biodiversity in the shaping of nature? Or
Explain the Ecological role of biodiversity.
 Answer Key Points: -
Species of many kinds perform some function or the other in an ecosystem. In an ecosystem, nothing is evolved and sustained without any reason. It implies that every organism, besides extracting its needs, also contributes something of useful to other organisms. Human beings contribute a great deal to the sustenance of ecosystems.

1) Species capture and store energy, produce and decompose organic materials, help to cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix atmospheric gases and help regulate the climate. These functions are important for ecosystem function and human survival.
2) The more diverse an ecosystem, better are the chances for the species to survive through adversities and attacks, and consequently, is more productive.
3) Hence, the loss of species would decrease the ability of the system to maintain itself. Just like a species with a high genetic diversity, an ecosystem with high biodiversity may have a greater chance of adapting to environmental change.
4) In other words, the more the variety of species in an ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is likely to be.
Q. 5 Biodiversity is important not only for geographers but also for economists. How? Or
Explain about economic importance of biodiversity. 
 Answer Key Points: -
It is rightly said that the biodiversity is important not only for geographers but also for economists. For all humans, biodiversity is an important resource in their day-to-day life.
1) Crop Diversity: - One important part of biodiversity is ‘crop diversity’, which is also called agro-biodiversity.
2) Manufacturing: - Biodiversity is seen as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the manufacture of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.
3) Tourism: - Biodiversity has given boost to tourism industry. Many people visit biological places and demand services of food and transport etc. which generate employment.
4) Economic Commodities: - Biodiversity supplies some of the important economic commodities to humankind. E.g. food crops, livestock, forests, fish, medicinal resources, etc.
Q. 6 Explain the Scientific role of ecosystem in biodiversity.
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Biodiversity is important because each species can give us some clue as to how life evolved and will continue to evolve.
2) Biodiversity also helps in understanding how life functions and the role of each species in sustaining ecosystems of which we are also a species.
3) This fact must be drawn upon every one of us so that we live and let other species also live their lives.
4) It is our moral responsibility to consider that each and every species along with us have a basic right to exist.
5) The level of biodiversity is a good indicator of the state of our relationships with other living species. In fact, the concept of biodiversity is an integral part of many human cultures.
Q. 7 What are the major factors that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity? Or
How do natural calamities and illegal hunting harm biodiversity?
 Answer Key Points: -
There are following factors that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity
1) Increasing Population: - Since the last few decades, growth in human population has increased the rate of consumption of natural resources. It has accelerated the loss of species and habitation in different parts of the world.
2) Un-equal Distribution of Population: - Tropical regions which occupy only about one-fourth of the total area of the world, contain about three fourth of the world human population.
3) Overuse of Natural Resources: - Overexploitation of resources and deforestation has become rampant to fulfil the needs of large population. As these tropical rain forests contain 50% of the species on the Earth, destruction of natural habitats have proved disastrous for the entire biosphere.
4) Natural Calamities: - Natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, droughts, etc. cause damage to the flora and fauna of the earth, bringing change the biodiversity of respective affected regions.
5) Overuse of Pesticides: - Pesticides and other pollutants such as hydrocarbons and toxic heavy metals destroy the weak and sensitive species.
6) Hunting of Animals: - During the last few decades, some animals like tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, crocodiles, minks and birds were hunted mercilessly by poachers for their horn, tusks, hides, etc. It has resulted in the rendering of certain types of organisms as endangered category.
Q. 8 Differentiate between extinct, endangered, vulnerable and rare species with examples. Or
Classify the threatened species of plants and animals declared by IUCN.
 Answer Key Points: -
The International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) have classified the threatened species of plants and animals into following categories for the purpose of their conservation. These are: -
1) Endangered Species: - It includes those species which are in danger of extinction. The IUCN publishes information about endangered species world-wide as the Red List of threatened species.
2) Vulnerable Species: - This includes the species which are likely to be in danger of extinction in near future if the factors threatening to their extinction continue. Survival of these species is not assured as their population has reduced greatly.
3) Rare Species: - Population of these species is very small in the world; they are confined to limited areas or thinly scattered over a wider area.
4) Extinct Species: - Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds, usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point.
Q. 9 What is the conservation of biodiversity? What steps has been taken to conserve biodiversity?
 Answer Key Points: -
Conservation means ‘preservation’ of bio-diversity. The goal of conservation strategy is to ensure that evolution continues allowing natural forces to maintain and evolve species. It will maintain gene pools and retain genetic traits that may prove valuable in the future. Conservation also includes future efforts to protect species and to prevent rare ones from extinction. Conservation strategy has suggested the following steps for biodiversity conservation: -
1) Efforts should be made to preserve the species that are endangered.
2) Prevention of extinction requires proper planning and management.
3) Varieties of food crops, forage plants, timber trees, livestock, animals and their wild relatives should be preserved;
4) Each country should identify habitats of wild relatives and ensure their protection.
5) Habitats where species feed, breed, rest and nurse their young ones should be safeguarded and protected.
6) International trade in wild plants and animals be regulated.
Q. 10 What provisions have been made under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972? Or
What purpose was behind the Wild Life (Protection) Act?
 Answer Key Points: - 
The Wild Life Act was passed by the Government of India in 1972.
 Provisions: -
1) Its primary aim is to curb the illegal trade in wildlife and the derivative parts.
2) India's Wildlife Protection Act is made to regulate sanctuaries, national parks, and zoos among other protected locations.
3) For the conservation and protection of endangered species wildlife and plants, several national parks and sanctuaries were established to serve this purpose.
Q. 11 How are plants and animals important to human beings?
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The plants & trees form the basic foundation for the presence of life upon this Earth, they are the
primary producers of food and almost all of the human beings consume the plants and plant products.
2) Plants and trees can absorb the Carbon dioxide from the air and release Oxygen thus maintains the quality of environment.
3) Vegetation and wildlife plays an important role in balancing the environment.
4) Trees provide important products such as firewood, fruits, decorative materials,