According to the hypothesis proposed by environmental biologists, a relatively constant environment in tropics promotes:
Show Hint
Tropical ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots due to their stable climate.
- Niche specialization and lesser species diversity
- Niche specialization and greater species diversity
- Niche diversity and lesser species specialization
- Niche diversity and greater species specialization
The Correct Option is B
Approach Solution - 1
Environmental biologists propose that the stable tropical climate leads to unique ecological patterns:
(A) Niche specialization and lesser species diversity - Incorrect: While niche specialization occurs, it actually leads to greater (not lesser) species diversity in the tropics.
(B) Niche specialization and greater species diversity - Correct: The constant tropical environment allows species to specialize in narrow niches, enabling more species to coexist (higher biodiversity). This explains why 50-75% of Earth's species live in tropical rainforests covering just 7% of land area.
(C) Niche diversity and lesser species specialization - Incorrect: The opposite occurs - greater specialization (not lesser) develops in stable environments.
(D) Niche diversity and greater species specialization - Partially correct but misleading: While specialization increases, "niche diversity" isn't the standard terminology used in this hypothesis.
The best-supported answer is (B), as the stable tropics promote both niche specialization (resource partitioning) and consequently greater species diversity through competitive coexistence mechanisms.
Approach Solution -2
In tropical regions, the environment is relatively stable throughout the year, allowing species to evolve niche specialization . This means organisms adapt to very specific roles within their ecosystems, leading to greater species diversity . The stability of the environment supports the development of specialized niches.
- (A): Incorrect because niche specialization leads to greater species diversity, not less.
- (B): Correct because niche specialization and greater species diversity are linked.
- (C): Incorrect because niche diversity alone does not explain the high species richness in the tropics.
- (D): Incorrect because greater species specialization is not the primary driver.
Top KCET Biology Questions
- Relate Column I with Column II with regard to predatory behaviour:
Column I Column II 1. Calotropis p. Invertebrates 2. Pisaster q. Distasteful 3. Monarch butterfly r. Cryptically colored 4. Frogs s. Cardioglycoside - Small mammals and birds are rarely found in polar regions. The reason is that
Match Column I and Column I
Column I Column II 1 Narrowly utilitarian argument p Conserving biodiversity for major ecosystem services 2 Broadly utilitarian argument q Every species has an intrinsic value and moral duty to pass our biological legacy in good order to future generation. 3 Ethical argument r Receiving benefits like food, medicine & industrial products. - Identify the correct statement/s about ex situ conservation. Advanced ex situ conservation includes i. Cryopreservation of gametes. ii. Plant tissue culture method. iii. Seed bank. iv. In vitro fertilisation.
- Identify the odd one out.
Top KCET Ecology and Ecosystem Questions
Top KCET Questions
- Which of the following is not true for oxidation?
- If $a, b$ and $c \in N$ which one of the following is not true ?
- When $50\, cm ^{3}$ of $0.2\, N$ $H_{2} SO _{4}$ is mixed with $50 cm ^{3}$ of $1 N\, KOH$, the heat liberated is :
- If $a | (b + c)$ and $a| (b-c)$ where $a,b,c \in \, N $ then
- Which of the following is NOT a pair of functional isomers?