Assertion: Western Ghats are included among the hotspots of biodiversity.
Reason: Western Ghats have greater amphibian diversity than eastern Ghats.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The mountain range of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of extreme importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. The Western Ghats of India, are considered among the biodiversity hotspots in the world, is rich in amphibian fauna.
Western Ghats rise majestically to over 2500 m above sea level. Such high range allows them to capture the moisture laden trade winds that blow annually once over the India sub-continent. Hence, rainfall is high and the Western ghats is a continuous land area. This climatic ecosystem favors greater amphibian population in Western ghats than eastern ghats.