NEETBotanyBiodiversity and its Conservation
What is the cause of the rapid decline in the biological wealth of earth?
Options
- AHuman activities
- BNatural calamities
- CClimate change
- DCosmic events
Correct answer
A. Human activities
Step-by-step solution
The biological wealth of our planet has been declining rapidly and the accusing finger is clearly pointing to human activities. The colonisation of tropical Pacific Islands by humans is said to have led to the extinction of more than 2,000 species of native birds. The IUCN Red List (2004) documents the extinction of 784 species (including 338 vertebrates, 359 invertebrates and 87 plants) in the last 500 years. Some examples of recent extinctions include the dodo (Mauritius), quagga (Africa), thylacine (Australia),