Question

Select the correct statement about biodiversity
A. The desert area of Rajasthan and Gujarat have a very high level of desert animals.
B. Large scale planting of Bt cotton has no adverse effect on biodiversity.
C. Western Ghats have a very high degree of species richness and endemism.
D. Conservation of biodiversity is just a fad pursued by the developed countries.

Answer 1

Hint: In order to arrive at the right answer, one must be well versed with the true meaning of biodiversity. It should also include the characteristics of biodiversity and what are the major biodiversity hotspots here in India to arrive at the correct answer.

Complete answer:
The Western Ghats start from the Satpura Range in the north, stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu. It travels south through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
It contains over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects species, and 290 freshwater fish species.
Many undiscovered species of plants and animals also exist in these ranges of Western Ghats. About 325 of all the globally threatened species of either plants or animals are home to the Western Ghats. This makes the Western Ghats the most biodiversity rich region in India.
Considering the desert area of Gujarat and Rajasthan, there are indeed many species of plants and animals found in this region. But in comparison to the Western Ghats, it is less. In the case of the plantation of Bt cotton, it refers to the effect of the growth of certain plants and their effect on biodiversity.

Thus, the correct option is (C) Western Ghats have a very high degree of species richness and endemism.

Note:
Some of the animals endemic to the Western Ghats are the Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest, Nilgiri Tahr, Malabar large spotted civet, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Jerdon's Courser, Nilgai and Nicobar megapode.