Which of the following is not a part of combined diversity at all levels of biological organisation as given by Edward Wilson?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Physiological diversity
Option (1) Ecological diversity — A level.
Option (2) Physiological diversity — Not a level. NCERT names three most important levels of biodiversity: genetic, species and ecological diversity. Physiological diversity is not one of them, so it is the odd one out.
Option (3) Species diversity — A level.
Option (4) Genetic diversity — A level.
NCERT Extract:
Biodiversity – “Biodiversity is the term popularised by the sociobiologist Edward Wilson to describe the combined diversity at all the levels of biological organisation. The most important of them are– (i) Genetic diversity : A single species might show high diversity at the genetic level over its distributional range.”
Biodiversity – “… (ii) Species diversity: The diversity at the species level, for example, the Western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.”
Biodiversity – “… (iii) Ecological diversity: At the ecosystem level, India, for instance, with its deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries, and alpine meadows has a greater ecosystem diversity than a Scandinavian country like Norway.”