In situ conservation refers to the preservation of species in their natural habitats, which is a comprehensive approach that involves protecting entire ecosystems. This method aims to maintain and recover populations of species within their natural environments, where they have evolved. The correct answer to the question of what in situ conservation refers to is "Protect and conserve the whole ecosystem.
Explanation:
In summary, in situ conservation's emphasis on protecting whole ecosystems encapsulates a comprehensive approach to biodiversity conservation.
| List-I | List-II |
| A. Biodiversity hotspot | I. Khasi and Jantia hills in Meghalaya |
| B. Sacred groves | II. World Summit on Sustainable |
| C. Johannesburg South Africa | III. Parthenium |
| D. Alien species invasion | IV. Western Ghats |
Among ‘The Evil Quartet’, which one is considered the most important cause driving extinction of species?
The term ‘biodiversity’ is derived from the two words- ‘bios' which means life and ‘diversity’ i.e, differentiation or variation. Edward Wilson, the sociobiologist was the first to popularise the term ‘biodiversity’ in the year 1992. The term implies the occurrence of various plants and animals along with their variants such as biotypes, ecotypes and genes on earth. In our biosphere, the immense diversity or heterogeneity remains not only at the species level but also, at every level of biological organization that ranges from macromolecules in the cells to biomes.
Biodiversity and Conservation is a topic covered under the fifteenth chapter and Unit 5 of NCERT class 12 biology.