Question

(a) Indiscriminate human activities such as alien species invasion, fragmentation and habitat loss have accelerated the loss of biodiversity. Justify by taking one example for each.
(b) State the importance of the following:
(i) IUCN Red data list
(ii) Hot spots in conservation of biodiversity

Hint:

Alien species, habitat destruction, and fragmentation are major drivers of biodiversity loss. Conservation efforts should prioritize biodiversity hotspots and rely on data from tools like the IUCN Red List.

Answer 1

Step 1 (a):
Alien species invasion: Introduction of Nile perch in Lake Victoria caused extinction of many native fish.
Habitat fragmentation: Road construction through forests isolates species populations, e.g., tigers in India.
Habitat loss: Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest significantly reduces biodiversity.
Step 2 (b):
(i) IUCN Red data list: This list details global conservation status of species, aiding conservation prioritization.
(ii) Hot spots in conservation of biodiversity: Biodiversity hotspots, regions with high species richness and endemism under threat. Conservation in these areas maximizes biodiversity protection with limited resources.