UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 60
Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity :
- Species richness
- Vegetation density
- Endemism
- Ethno-botanical importance
- Threat perception
- Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions
Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C
Explanation: Global biodiversity hotspots are selected for unusually high endemic species richness combined with severe habitat loss or threat; vegetation density or ethnic knowledge alone do not qualify.
Statement / Item-wise Analysis:
1: Correct - Correct: exceptional species richness supports biological significance.
2: Incorrect - Incorrect: vegetation density is not a defining hotspot criterion.
3: Correct - Correct: endemism is a central formal criterion.
4: Incorrect - Incorrect: ethnobotanical importance is valuable but not a designation criterion.
5: Correct - Correct: high threat/habitat loss is essential to hotspot designation.
6: Incorrect - Incorrect: general adaptation to warmth and humidity does not define hotspots.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - includes unsupported items 2, 6; omits supported items 3, 5.
B: Incorrect - includes unsupported items 2, 4, 6; omits supported items 1, 3, 5.
C: Correct - includes the supported statements and excludes the unsupported ones.
D: Incorrect - includes unsupported items 4, 6; omits supported items 1, 5.
Review Note: Formal Conservation International criteria are endemic vascular plants and loss of at least 70% of original vegetation; species richness is an associated rather than separate numeric threshold.