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ENHI

RAS question

Assertion (A): Biodiversity hotspots are regions that harbour exceptional concentrations of endemic species but have lost at least 70% of their original habitat. Reason (R): India has four globally recognized biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Indo-Burma region, the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland. Select the correct answer:

Correct answer: (B) Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A..

Biodiversity hotspots are defined by exceptional endemism and severe habitat loss, while India's four recognised hotspots are examples of such regions, not the reason for the definition.

  1. (A)

    Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

  2. (B)

    Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

  3. (C)

    A is correct but R is incorrect.

  4. (D)

    A is incorrect but R is correct.

Explanation

Both statements are correct, but R does not explain A. A biodiversity hotspot must meet two criteria: it must have exceptional endemism, with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species, and it must have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. R is also correct because India has four global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Sundaland, with the Nicobar Islands included in Sundaland. However, this list only gives examples associated with India. It does not explain the definition of a hotspot, which is based on endemism and habitat loss. Therefore, both A and R are correct, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) R lists the four hotspots associated with India but does not explain the two criteria in A: at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and loss of at least 70% of original habitat.
  • (C) R is correct because India has four globally recognised hotspots: the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Sundaland.
  • (D) A is correct because the hotspot definition requires both exceptional endemic vascular plant diversity and loss of at least 70% of original habitat.

Concept

This tests the Environment and Ecology concept of biodiversity prioritisation, especially the difference between a definition and an example. It recurs in RAS because hotspots connect species endemism, habitat loss and India's conservation geography in one compact theme.

Source

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