Slope of Species-Area Relationship — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptWhat is the significance of the slope of regression in a species – area relationship?
Which of the following statements are NOT correct regarding the patterns of biodiversity and the species-area relationship? S1: Tropical regions, located between 23.5° N and 23.5° S, generally exhibit higher species diversity compared to temperate or polar areas. S2: One key reason for the high diversity in tropical latitudes is their history of frequent glaciations, which accelerated evolutionary diversification. S3: Stable and predictable tropical environments favour niche generalisation, allowing a wider range of species to coexist without intense competition. S4: The Amazonian rainforest is renowned for its immense biodiversity, including over 40,000 species of plants and 1,25,000 species of invertebrates. S5: Alexander von Humboldt observed that species richness increased with explored area, and this relationship is typically a linear function on an arithmetic scale. S6: For frugivorous birds and mammals in tropical forests across different continents, the slope (Z-value) of the species-area regression line is found to be 0.15.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: D — S2, S3, S5 and S6 only
Let's evaluate each statement based on NCERT: S1: Correct. The NCERT states, 'With very few exceptions, tropics (latitudinal range of 23.5° N to 23.5° S) harbour more species than temperate or polar areas.' S2: Incorrect. The NCERT states the opposite: 'unlike temperate regions subjected to frequent glaciations in the past, tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years and thus, had a long evolutionary time for species diversification'. S3: Incorrect. The NCERT explains, 'Such constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to a greater species diversity,' not niche generalisation. S4: Correct. The NCERT mentions, 'The largely tropical Amazonian rain forest... is home to more than 40,000 species of plants... and of more than 1,25,000 invertebrates.' S5: Incorrect. The NCERT states, 'the relation between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa... turns out to be a rectangular hyperbola (Figure13.2).' On a logarithmic scale, it's a straight line, but not on an arithmetic scale. S6: Incorrect. The NCERT specifies, 'For example, for frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds and mammals in the tropical forests of different continents, the slope is found to be 1.15,' not 0.15. Therefore, statements S2, S3, S5, and S6 are NOT correct. This question tests the understanding of latitudinal gradients, the ecological and evolutionary factors contributing to tropical biodiversity, and the characteristics of the species-area relationship.
What does NCERT say about What significance slope regression?
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Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 176 of the 180 ReNEET 2026 (June 21) questions were already in the MedicNEET question bank before the exam.
176/180MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.