Minimum percentage of global biodiversity in major invertebrate and plant taxa, is seen in:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Crustaceans and lichens
NCERT shows global biodiversity as pie charts of the proportionate number of species in each major group. The smallest slice in each chart answers the question.
Option (1) Molluscs and algae — Incorrect. Molluscs have a larger share than crustaceans, and algae a larger share than lichens.
Option (2) Crustaceans and lichens — Correct. Among invertebrates, crustaceans have the smallest slice; among plants, lichens have the smallest.
Option (3) Crustaceans and ferns — Incorrect. Crustaceans fit, but ferns and allies have a larger share than lichens.
Option (4) Insects and mosses — Incorrect. Insects are the opposite case: they make up more than 70 per cent of all animal species, the largest group of all.
NCERT Extract:
Biodiversity – “… Let us look at some interesting aspects about earth’s biodiversity based on the currently available species inventories. More than 70 per cent of all the species recorded are animals, while plants (including algae, fungi, bryophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms) comprise no more than 22 per cent of the total. Among animals, insects are the most species-rich taxonomic group, making up more than 70 per cent of the total. … In Figure 13.1, biodiversity is depicted showing species number of major taxa.”
