Which of the following is/are cause(s) of biodiversity losses?
Answer: (C) Over-exploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation. Answer: (3) Over-exploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation Solution: NCERT lists four major causes of biodiversity loss ('The Evil Quartet'): habitat loss and fragmentation, over-exploitation, alien species invasions and co-extinctions.
- A.Over-exploitation only
- B.Habitat loss and fragmentation only
- C.Over-exploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation✓
- D.Climate change only
Correct Answer
(C) Over-exploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (3) Over-exploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation Solution: NCERT lists four major causes of biodiversity loss ('The Evil Quartet'): habitat loss and fragmentation, over-exploitation, alien species invasions and co-extinctions. The only option that combines genuine listed causes is (3); options (1), (2) and (4) are wrong because they say 'only' for a single cause, and climate change in (4) is not part of the Evil Quartet. NCERT: NCERT Class XII Biology, Ch 13 Biodiversity and Conservation, p.222, lines 28-29: "There are four major causes ('The Evil Quartet' is the sobriquet used to describe them)."