Faced with conflict between development and conservation, many nations find it unrealistic and economically not feasible to conserve all their biological wealth. On a global basis, eminent conservationists have identified certain regions as 'Biodiversity hotspots' for maximum protection.
(a) Mention two criteria for a region to be called a 'biodiversity hotspot'.
(b) Name two biodiversity hotspots in India.
(c) Hotspots occupy less than 2 per cent of the earth's land area. Yet, they are given priority for conservation of biodiversity. Give two reasons.

It is learnt from the study of the history of life on earth through fossil records that there were large scale losses of species. Since the orgin and diversification of life forms on the earth, there were five episodes of mass extinction. The 'Sixth Extinction' is presently in progress.
(a) Give two points as to how this sixth episode is different from the earlier episodes.
(b) What do the ecologists warn about the current trend?
(c) Mention the three effects of loss of biodiversity in a region.

When a graph showing species-area relationship on a logarithmic scale, the relationship is a straight line. Ecologists have discovered that the value of z-line lies in the range of 0.1 and 0.2 irrespective of the taxonomic group or the region.
(a) When will the stope become much steeper with higher Z-values? Give an example.
(b) What do steeper slopes mean in this context?

The following graph shows the species area relationship.

Answer the following questions as asked.
(i) Write the equations for the curves a and b.
(ii) Name the naturalist who showed this kind of relationship.
(iii) Name the region he explored.

The global animal diversity is shown in the pie charts (A-Invertebrates and B-vertebrates) drawn below.
Answer the questions that follow.

(a) Name the animal groups that are represented by the areas shaded black in A and B, respectively. Also, mention the kind of habitat, where you would find these groups of animals.
(b) Identify the following groups of animals in the pie diagrams: Crustaceans and Amphibians.