CBSE Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 Biodiversity and Conservation

*As per the revised curriculum of CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter, previously known as Chapter 15, has now been renumbered as Chapter 13. Stay updated with the latest changes in the curriculum.

Biodiversity and Conservation Class 12 NCERT Solution is all about biodiversity its importance and different methods of conservation. These NCERT Solutions are prepared by our Top Biology Experts in order to take care of all Important Topics that might be asked in the upcoming examination 2023. So, Students can also refer to these solutions for their final Examination preparation.

This Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 Biodiversity and Conservation NCERT Solutions are carefully developed using easy-to-understand language while adhering to the guidelines for solving NCERT Solutions for Class 12. Working through these solutions can be highly beneficial for students in their board exams, as well as in preparing for future competitive Exams.

Biodiversity and Conservation CBSE Class 12 Questions and Answers

NCERT Solution for Class 12 Biodiversity and Conservation explains biodiversity as the variety of all living systems and their interactions. Biodiversity conservation is the practice of the protection and preservation of a variety of species, their natural habitats, and their functionality, which are important for our survival. Revise the basic concepts of Biodiversity and Conservation for quick revision and class notes.

Q1: Name the three important components of biodiversity.

Answer:

Biodiversity (biological diversity) refers to the variety of life forms on the earth. The three important components of biodiversity are:

1. Genetic diversity
2. Species diversity
3. Ecosystem diversity

Q2: How do ecologists estimate the total number of species present in the world?

Answer:

The total number of species in the world can be estimated by ecologists by statistically comparing the species richness of insect groups in temperate and tropical regions. These relationships are made with other groups of animals and plants to calculate the total biodiversity of the earth. Species density, or the number of species per square meter, is a common way of measuring species richness.

Q3: Give three hypotheses for explaining why tropics show the greatest levels of species richness.

Answer: 

Three hypotheses which explain the tropics show the greatest levels of species richness are given below:

1. Tropical latitudes receive sunlight to a greater extent than that of temperate regions. It leads to high productivity and more species richness. 
2. Tropical regions show a constant environment with fewer seasonal variations which develop the niche specialization. So, high species richness can be seen. 
3. When temperate regions are put through glaciations, but tropical regions still remain unchanged, it leads to an increase in species richness.

Q4: What is the significance of the slope of regression in a species-area relationship?

Answer:

The slope of regression (z) in species-area relationship predicts a species-area relationship or species richness of an area. A higher slope reflects a higher dependency on the area. It has been found that in smaller areas where the species-area relationship is analyzed, the value of the slope of regression (z) is similar regardless of the taxonomic group or the region while in larger areas, the slope of regression was seen as steeper. 

Q5: What are the major causes of species losses in a geographical region?

Answer: 

The causes of species losses in the geographical region are :

1. Habitat loss and fragmentation– Deforestation results in habitat loss and fragmentation. This also leads to the fragmentation of habitats and ultimately to the extinction of a variety of plant and animal species.
2. Over-exploitation– It involves hunting and fishing-like practices where organisms are collected in large numbers so that they can not be replenished soon.
3. Alien species invasions– It is the introduction of new species into a geographical region. Invasive alien species could be plants, animals, pathogens, or any other organisms which are non-native to an ecosystem and causes a major loss to the biological community. 
4. Co-extinction– Co-extinction or co-threatened refers to the phenomena where the host species is lost and as a result, the other species may also be lost which depends on the host species.

Q6: How is biodiversity important for Ecosystem Functioning?

Answer:

Biodiversity is necessary for all the processes which support the survival of life on Earth. Without having a vast variety of flora and fauna, a healthy ecosystem can not be established, on which we depend for the air (oxygen) we breathe and the food we consume. An ecosystem is said to be stable when it has a high species richness and so, environmental disturbances like floods or alien species invasion can be overcome. Different trophic levels are interconnected to food chains, a small change at any of the trophic levels can affect the whole food chain.

Q7: What are sacred groves? What is their role in Conservation?

Answer:

Sacred Groves are patches of forest that are encouraged to grow near places of worship. Sacred groves are found in Rajasthan, the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Madhya Pradesh. Common examples of sacred furrows are Ficus Religiosa (Peepal) and Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) trees. They are a good example of in situ conservation. They protect many species of plants and animals found in a given area. Many endangered plant and animal species live in these temperate zones, which provide habitat for many species.

Q8: Among the ecosystem services are control of floods and soil erosion, how is this achieved by the biotic components of the ecosystem?

Answer:

In an ecosystem, the biotic components comprise of living organisms like plants and animals. Plants play a major role in limiting some natural hazards like drought, floods, and soil erosion. The soil particles bind together by the roots of plants which avoid the soil erosion caused by water or wind which ultimately increases the fertility of the soil and thus important microbes. Ecosystem services are products or benefits which are provided by the ecosystem like purification of air, beauty of nature, increased biodiversity, protection of natural resources, habitats to different organisms, protection against soil erosion, and retention of water against floods, drought, and pollution.

Q9: The species diversity of plants (22 percent) is much less than that of animals (72 percent). What could be the explanations for how animals achieved greater diversification?

Answer:

Biodiversity refers to the variety of species in a specific region. Most animals have a simple or complex nervous system that controls and coordinates many activities. They have receptors that receive impulses. Most of their reactions are adaptable and ensure their survival under changing environmental conditions. We can therefore predict that they evolved with a much greater diversity of species than plants without a nervous system and respond differently to environmental stimuli due to the action of phytohormones.

Q10: Can you think of a situation where we deliberately want to make a species extinct? How would you justify it?

Answer:

Yes, there are parasites and pathogenic bacteria which cause diseases. By the use of vaccinations, biologists are able to eliminate the smallpox virus from the world. So, it can be concluded that we intentionally want to make these species extinct. Several other eradication programs are aimed to make these pathogens extinct like polio and Hepatitis B vaccinations.

Key Features of NCERT Solutions Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 Biodiversity and Conservation

• They enhance the conceptual knowledge of the students.
• Clear and Comprehensible Content.
• Aid in Competitive Exam Preparation.
• The answers are provided by Top subject experts.
• Readily available and easily accessible.

FAQs on Biodiversity and Conservation Class 12 NCERT Solution

Q1: What is the name of chapter 13 of NCERT class 12 Biology?

Answer:

Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 name is Biodiversity and Conservation which explains biodiversity as the variety of all living systems and their interactions.

Q2: Where can I find NCERT solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 13?

Answer:

NCERT solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 can be found on various online platforms such as the official NCERT website, GeeksForGeeks, and more.

Q3: Why are NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 beneficial for the students??

Answer:

The benefits of using the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 are:

1. Completely solved answers for all the questions present in the NCERT textbook are available in PDF format.
2. Simple and easy-to-understand language is used to make learning fun for the students.
3. Top Subject matter experts prepare the solutions after conducting vast research on each concept.
4. The solutions not only help students with their board exam preparation but also for various competitive exams like JEE, NEET, etc.