UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 5
If a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A
Explanation: Most nutrients in wet tropical rainforests are rapidly cycled through living biomass and surface litter; leached soils are comparatively nutrient-poor after clearing.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Correct - depleted, heavily leached soils hinder rapid natural recovery.
B: Incorrect - Poor seed/propagule viability is not the general explanation.
C: Incorrect - Rainforests include fast-growing pioneer species, so universal slow growth is false.
D: Incorrect - Exotic invasion may occur but is not the primary general cause; the soil is not uniformly fertile.