- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Biodiversity and its Conservation
NEET · Botany · Biodiversity and its Conservation
What is the main reason for the uneven distribution of plant and...
Options
- AThe distribution of species diversity is random.
- BLatitudinal gradient in diversity.
- CThe biodiversity is the same everywhere in the worlD)
- DPolar areas have more species than temperate or tropical areas.
Correct answer
B. Latitudinal gradient in diversity.
Step-by-step solution
The diversity of plants and animals is not uniform throughout the world but shows a rather uneven distribution. For many group of animals or plants, there are interesting patterns in diversity, the most well- known being the latitudinal gradient in diversity. In general, species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the poles. With very few exceptions, tropics (latitudinal range of 23.5° N to 23.5° S) harbour more species than temperate or polar areas. Colombia located near the equator has nearly 1,400 species of birds while New York at 41° N has 105 species and Greenland at 71° N only 56 species. India, with much of its land area in the tropical latitudes, has more than 1,200 species of birds