Conservation of Plants and Animals - Exemplar Solutions 3

CBSE Class 8 Science
NCERT Exemplar Solutions
CHAPTER 7
Conversation of Plants and Animals

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
17. Why are wildlife sanctuaries important for conservation of plants and animals?
Ans. A wildlife sanctuary is a space that is set aside exclusively for the use of wild animals, which are protected when they roam or live in that area. These are protected areas under government mandate where human activities like plantation, cultivation, grazing, falling of trees, hunting and poaching are prohibited completely.

18.  Why are endemic organisms in greater danger of becoming extinct?
Ans. Endemic organisms are confined to a limited geographical area. They cannot adapt or live outside their natural habitat. Any disturbance to their habitat will adversely affect them. Henceforth they are in greater danger of becoming extinct.

19. How are even small animals important in an ecosystem?
Ans. Even small organisms are important in an ecosystem because every organism forms a part of a food chain/food web/ecosystem. Moreover small animals within the ecosystem has a vital role in the well-being of the planet. If one species is rendered extinct due to some imbalance, it can have significant cascading effects throughout the rest of the chain.

20. A new species X is introduced in a forest. How is it likely to affect the local species of that area?
Ans. Introduction of a new species may affect the existence of local species due to competition.

21. Does soil erosion affect the fertility of soil? How?
Ans. Yes. Soil erosion removes the fertile top layer of the soil, which contains a high amount of organic material that is rich in nutrients thereby, exposing the hard-rocky lower layers which are less fertile. This is how soil erosion affects the fertility of soil.

22.  What is the unique feature of the biodiversity found in Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve?
Ans. The biodiversity found in Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve is similar to that found in upper Himalayan peaks and lower Western Ghats. This reserve encompasses three wildlife conservation units viz. Bori Sanctuary, Pachmarhi Sanctuary and Satpura National Park. 

23. Mention the aim of Forest (Conservation) Act.
Ans. The Forest Conservation Act 1980 was enacted to help conserve the country's forests.It strictly restricts and regulates the de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of Central Government. To this end the Act lays down the pre-requisites for the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.

24. What is biodiversity?
Ans. Biodiversity a portmanteau of "biological diversity," generally refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth. It specifically refers to the variety of organisms existing in the Earth, their interrelationships and also their relationship with the environment.