Biodiversity and Conservation: NEET PYQ, 2018–2026

Q1 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

How many of the world's biodiversity hotspots cover the regions of exceptionally high biodiversity in India?

• A34
• B2
• C3
• D5

Q2 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

Which of the following Indian regions, together with Sri Lanka, forms one of the globally recognised biodiversity hotspots?

• AWestern Ghats
• BThar Desert
• CSundarbans
• DRann of Kutch

Q3 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

A conservation programme for a rare tree whose seeds are produced only after pollination by a single specialist moth decides to rely entirely on ex situ collection of its seeds in a gene bank. Which is the most significant ecological limitation of this strategy?

• ASeeds stored in a gene bank lose all of their genetic variation within a few years, so the stored population cannot be used for restoration.
• BThe ex situ collection cannot maintain the species' interaction with its specialist pollinator and the natural ecological processes that shape its evolution in the wild.
• CGene banks cannot store seeds of any tree species, so the programme cannot begin without first moving the tree into a botanical garden.
• DSeed-derived plants cannot be reintroduced into the wild under any circumstances, so the stored material has no conservation value.

Q4 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

Which term describes the number of species present within a single local community or habitat?

• AAlpha diversity
• BBeta diversity
• CGamma diversity
• DEcological diversity

Q5 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

A zoo wants to preserve the sperm of a threatened mammal species for future breeding, without keeping live animals. Which technique is most suitable?

• AStoring the sperm in a domestic deep freezer at about -20 degrees Celsius.
• BCryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at about -196 degrees Celsius.
• CKeeping the sperm in a refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius for indefinite storage.
• DMaintaining the species in a protected forest reserve, where it breeds naturally.

Q6 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

A village community protects a patch of forest around its temple by religious taboo, banning felling, hunting and collection of plants within it. Which statement best explains why this patch can conserve many species that are not protected in the surrounding unprotected land?

• ABecause the grove is maintained by humans, it is an ex situ collection in which species are kept outside their natural range.
• BBecause the grove is legally a core zone of a biosphere reserve, it is closed to all human activity, including the collection of plant material.
• CBecause the protection targets a single endangered animal species that has been moved into the grove, the whole plant community benefits from that one species' protection.
• DBecause the restrictions protect the whole ecosystem in its natural habitat, including its plants, animals and microbes, the grove functions as an in situ conservation site.

Q7 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

For a plant species whose seeds lose viability when dried and cannot be stored in a conventional seed bank, which ex situ method is most suitable for conservation?

• AStorage in a conventional seed bank at low temperature and low humidity
• BTissue culture of explants grown in vitro on nutrient medium
• CProtection of the species within its natural habitat through a reserve
• DReleasing the seeds in a biosphere reserve core zone

Q8 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

A species that has been bred in captivity is released into a protected forest where it was once common. Which description best fits this overall conservation strategy?

• AA combined approach: ex situ breeding in captivity followed by in situ reintroduction into the natural habitat.
• BPurely in situ conservation, because the species is ultimately protected within a forest.
• CPurely ex situ conservation, because the animals were kept in captivity and bred under human care.
• DIn situ conservation, because captive breeding inside protected reserve boundaries counts as protecting the species in its habitat.

Q9 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

Biotic interactions such as competition and predation are proposed to be more intense in tropical communities, favouring narrower niches and closer packing of species. Which finding would most directly support this proposal?

• ATropical congeneric species typically have narrower niche breadths, such as narrower diet or climatic tolerance ranges, than their temperate counterparts.
• BTropical congeneric species typically have wider niche breadths than temperate counterparts, because the tropics are more stable.
• CTropical communities contain more migratory species than temperate communities, which reduces competition.
• DTropical species tolerate a larger range of temperatures than temperate species, so climate tolerance must be broader in the tropics.

Q10 · Botany · Biodiversity and Conservation

Which of the following best describes gamma diversity?

• AThe total species richness of a large geographical region, including all its habitats
• BThe rate at which species composition changes between two adjacent habitats
• CThe number of species present in one small quadrat within a community
• DThe average number of individuals of each species in a community