CBSE Class 12 Biology 2024-25: Chapter 13 Biodiversity And Conservation Competency-Based Questions with Answers; Download Free PDF

Get ready for your CBSE Class 12 Biology exams with our easy guide on Chapter 13: Biodiversity And Conservation. This chapter is very important, especially with the new exam pattern starting in the 2024-25 school year. The CBSE will include 50% more competency-based questions. These questions ask you to use what you've learned in real-life situations.

In this article, we focus on key questions from Chapter 13: Biodiversity And Conservation. These questions help you think and solve problems. You’ll find different types of questions, such as multiple-choice, true-false, gap-filling, and short-answer questions. Each question has clear answers to help you understand the concepts better.

To help you study, you can download a free PDF that has all the competency-based questions from Chapter 13: Biodiversity And Conservation along with their answer keys.

CBSE 12 Biology Chapter 13 : Biodiversity And Conservation Competency-Based Questions

Q.1 Genetic diversity refersto the diversity in genetic makeup of organismsthat are capable of interbreeding.

What component of an ecosystem does genetic diversity DIRECTLY impact?

A. ecosystem diversity
B. species diversity
C. speciesrichness
D. ecological niche

Answer. B. species diversity

Q.2 Dr. Kirti has a patient who is diagnosed with an HIV infection. She hasto test for HIV infection in the partner of the patient who has no symptoms of the infection. Which of these methods can be used to diagnose the infection in the partner?

P) Urine analysis
Q) Electroporation
R) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
S) Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA)

A. only S
B. both Q and R
C. both R and S
D. all - P, R and S

Answer. C. both R and S

Q.3 Which of the following is/are example/s of biodiversity?

(i) Animals and emigrants in an area.
(ii) Microorganisms present in the intestine of an organism.
(iii) Cell from the same tissue in different organisms.

A. only (i)
B. only (ii)
C. only (ii) and (iii)
D. all - (i), (ii) and (iii)

Answer. D. all - (i), (ii) and (iii)

Q.4 The slope in a species-area relationship (SAR) predicts the species richness of an area. Consider a mainland with several islands around it.

Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to be true about the slope of regression as we move from islands closer to the mainland to those further away from it?

A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It remains the same
D. Cannot say without knowing the location of the islands.

Answer. B. It decreases

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Q.5 Two statements are given below - one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Genetic diversity can be increased only by the occurrence of migration.

Reasoning (R): Genetic diversity is the range of different inheritable traits within a species.

Which of the following is correct?

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation for A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation for A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer. D. A is false, but R is true.

Q.6 Given below are two statements. Statement I:

Plants are always more prone to extinction than animals. Statement II: Since plants can cross-pollinate, they can increase their genetic diversity more easily than animals.

Which of the following is TRUE about these statements?

A. Only statement I is true
B. Only statement II is true
C. Both statements are true
D. Both statements are false

Answer. D. Both statements are false

Q.7 The zebra mussel is a species that is native to Eastern Europe and Western Russia. It was unintentionally introduced into the lakes of the United States through the discharge of contaminated cargo from a ship.

Which of the following is this statement an example of?

A. Habitat loss
B. Co-extinction
C. Over-exploitation
D. Alien species invasion

Answer. D. Alien species invasion

Q.8 Which of the following will DEFINITELY contribute to a steeper slope of regression in a species-area relationship graph?

P) increase in the area for analysis

Q) immigration of new species

A. Only P
B. Only Q
C. Both P and Q D.
Neither P nor Q

Answer. A. Only P

Q.9 Biological invasion is the process by which an organism enters and establishes a sustainable population in a region that is beyond its native geography.

High species diversity in a region ensures a decline in the biological invasion of that region.

Justify this statement as true

Answer. 1 mark for each of the following:

- A high species diversity means that the resources in a region are being utilised by the existing species to survive leading to lower available resources.
- Lower available resources, which are required by the invading species, may prevent invasion.

[Accept any other valid answer]

Q.10 Producers are considered to be the most important members of the ecosystem.

How does the rivet popper hypothesis explain the importance of producers in the stability of the ecosystem?

Answer. 1 mark each for the following:

- According to the rivet popper hypothesis, the stability of an ecosystem is affected by the species that becomes extinct/is removed.

- Since producers are the most important members that provide energy to the whole food chain, their loss means danger for the entire ecosystem, similar to the loss of rivets on the wings of an aeroplane.

[Accept any other valid answer]

Q.11 (a) The introduction of genetically modified organisms, such as golden rice, can lead to a significant reduction in the genetic diversity of the region. Justify this statement as true.

(b) How does the impact identified in (a) affect the survival of the species?

Answer. (a) 1 mark for each of the following:

- Genetically modified organisms have a greater advantage due to some desirable characteristics added to them giving them dominance in competing with related species.

- This may cause these related species to be removed thereby leading to a reduction in genetic diversity.

(b) Without genetic diversity a population may not be able to evolve in response to changing environmental conditions, leading to their eventual extinction

[Accept any other valid answer]

Q.12 State THREE ADVANTAGES of in-situ conservation over ex-situ conservation of organisms.

Answer. 1 mark for each of the following:

- Conserving the natural habitat allows for the conservation of other organisms along with the endemic species.

- Organisms staying safe and recovering in their natural state is greater than in simulated habitats.

- It does not involve the removal of organisms from their natural habitat making it a more humane/ethical approach.

[Accept any other valid answer]

Q.13 Cryopreservation is a technique used in the conservation of endemic species.

(a) Explain how this method helps with the conservation of a species.
(b) Which process that is carried out with humans is similar to cryopreservation and what is it used for?

Answer. (a) 1 mark for each of the following:

- Through cryopreservation, gametes of an endemic species can be preserved.

- The gametes can be fertilised in-vitro and propagated using tissue culture and transferred to an animal that can carry the embryo to term allowing the endemic species count to increase.

(b) 0.5 marks each for the following:

- in-vitro fertilisation
- used in case of couples that are unable to reproduce normally

Q.14 Describe TWO situations in which ex-situ conservation will be preferred over insitu conservation.

Answer. 1 mark for any two of the following:

- when the survival of an organism is low due to high predation
- when harsh climatic conditions lead to the loss of organisms
- in cases of habitat loss due to a calamity

[Accept any other valid answers]

Q.15 Fish were the first vertebrates to exist and are the most diverse group of vertebrates. Give TWO reasons to justify this statement as TRUE.

Answer. 1 mark each for the following:

- They have good adaptability to aquatic conditions in different habitats.
- Since they were the first vertebrates to exist they have had a lot of time to diversify.

[Accept any other valid answer]

👉 CBSE Class 12 Study Materials

CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2024-25	CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Papers
NCERT Books For Class 12 Books	NCERT Class 12 Solutions
CBSE Class 12 Full Study Material	CBSE Class 12 Sample Paper 2024-25