“The Evil Quartet” of biodiversity loss includes which of the following?
- A.Over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Air pollution; Co-extinctions
- B.Habitat loss and fragmentation; Air pollution; Water pollution; Co-extinctions
- C.Habitat loss and fragmentation; over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Co-extinctions✓
- D.Over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Soil pollution; Co-extinctions
Correct Answer
(C) Habitat loss and fragmentation; over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Co-extinctions
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (3) Habitat loss and fragmentation; over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Co-extinctions. [option C] Solution: The Evil Quartet of biodiversity loss comprises exactly four human-driven causes: habitat loss and fragmentation, over-exploitation, alien species invasions, and co-extinctions. Options (1), (2) and (4) wrongly include pollution categories (air, water, soil) that are not part of the Evil Quartet, so only (3) lists all four correct causes. NCERT: NCERT Class XII Biology, Ch 13 Biodiversity and Conservation, p.222, lines 28-31 and continuing: "There are four major causes ('The Evil Quartet'...). (i) Habitat loss and fragmentation"; p.222, line 48: "Over-exploitation"; p.223, line 9: "Alien species invasions"; p.223, line 22: "Co-extinctions".