Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biodiversity and Conservation

Question:

Tropics have greater biodiversity because:

Options:

Tropical environments are less predictable

More solar energy is available in the tropics

Tropical regions have been more subjected to glaciation in the past

There is low productivity in the tropics

Correct Answer:

More solar energy is available in the tropics

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) → More solar energy is available in the tropics. 

Ecologists and evolutionary biologists have proposed various hypotheses; some important ones are:

  • Speciation is generally a function of time, unlike temperate regions subjected to frequent glaciations in the past, tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions of years and thus, had a long evolutionary time for species diversification,
  • Tropical environments, unlike temperate ones, are less seasonal, relatively more constant and predictable. Such constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to a greater species diversity.
  • There is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher productivity; this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity.