MCQs with answers on “Impact of Invasive Species on Biodiversity in India”

1. What are invasive species?

• A) Species that are native to an ecosystem
• B) Species that are introduced and cause harm to the ecosystem
• C) Species that only thrive in controlled environments
• D) Species that do not interact with other organisms
• Answer: B) Species that are introduced and cause harm to the ecosystem

2. Which of the following is an example of an invasive species in India?

• A) Tiger
• B) Common carp
• C) Bengal tiger
• D) Nilgiri Tahr
• Answer: B) Common carp

3. Which of the following is a primary reason for the spread of invasive species in India?

• A) Natural evolution
• B) Introduction through human activities
• C) Weather changes
• D) Loss of native species
• Answer: B) Introduction through human activities

4. What is the effect of invasive species on native plant species?

• A) Promotes diversity of plants
• B) Leads to the decline or extinction of native species
• C) Enhances the health of native ecosystems
• D) Has no impact on native species
• Answer: B) Leads to the decline or extinction of native species

5. Which invasive species has caused damage to the agricultural sector in India?

• A) African honey bee
• B) Lantana camara
• C) Indian Bullfrog
• D) Water hyacinth
• Answer: B) Lantana camara

6. Which invasive species is known to affect water quality in Indian rivers and lakes?

• A) Purple loosestrife
• B) Water hyacinth
• C) Indian Cobra
• D) Grey wolf
• Answer: B) Water hyacinth

7. Which one of the following is NOT an invasive species in India?

• A) Eucalyptus
• B) Argemone
• C) Himalayan Yew
• D) Myriophyllum aquaticum
• Answer: C) Himalayan Yew

8. What is one of the major ecological impacts of invasive species on local ecosystems?

• A) Loss of habitat for native species
• B) Improvement in local biodiversity
• C) Creation of new food chains
• D) No impact on the ecosystem
• Answer: A) Loss of habitat for native species

9. Which of the following species is invasive and has negatively impacted the freshwater ecosystem in India?

• A) Indian Peafowl
• B) Indian Bullfrog
• C) Blackbuck
• D) Asiatic Lion
• Answer: B) Indian Bullfrog

10. Which Indian river is heavily impacted by water hyacinth, an invasive species?

• A) Yamuna River
• B) Ganga River
• C) Godavari River
• D) Brahmaputra River
• Answer: B) Ganga River

11. What is the role of the Forest Research Institute in combating invasive species in India?

• A) Develops policies to promote invasive species
• B) Conducts research on invasive species and their control
• C) Introduces more invasive species
• D) Manufactures pesticides for invasive species
• Answer: B) Conducts research on invasive species and their control

12. Which of the following strategies can help control the spread of invasive species in India?

• A) Introducing more invasive species
• B) Using biological control methods
• C) Encouraging the use of chemical pesticides
• D) Allowing uncontrolled human activity
• Answer: B) Using biological control methods

13. The introduction of which species caused a decline in native amphibians in India?

• A) Indian Bullfrog
• B) Nilgiri Tahr
• C) Lionfish
• D) Mongoose
• Answer: A) Indian Bullfrog

14. What is the main reason behind the success of invasive species in foreign ecosystems?

• A) Lack of natural predators
• B) Strong competition with native species
• C) Ability to adapt to changing environments
• D) Both A and B
• Answer: D) Both A and B

15. Which of the following is a significant invasive plant species in India?

• A) Sal
• B) Eucalyptus
• C) Neem
• D) Mango
• Answer: B) Eucalyptus

16. Which invasive species in India has severely impacted agricultural productivity in the coastal areas?

• A) Water hyacinth
• B) Taro
• C) Mangrove trees
• D) Coconut tree
• Answer: A) Water hyacinth

17. What kind of damage does the invasive species ‘Lantana camara’ cause in India?

• A) It spreads and replaces native vegetation, impacting wildlife habitats
• B) It enhances soil fertility
• C) It provides food to native species
• D) It reduces the risk of forest fires
• Answer: A) It spreads and replaces native vegetation, impacting wildlife habitats

18. Which invasive species is responsible for the destruction of mangrove forests in India?

• A) Lantana camara
• B) Sea urchin
• C) Coconut palm
• D) Acanthus
• Answer: B) Sea urchin

19. What is one of the major consequences of invasive species on native flora and fauna in India?

• A) Decreased biodiversity
• B) Enhanced ecosystem stability
• C) Increased forest growth
• D) Improved agricultural output
• Answer: A) Decreased biodiversity

20. Which invasive species has been introduced into India for the control of agricultural pests but later became a problem?

• A) Blackbuck
• B) Common carp
• C) Mongoose
• D) Argemone
• Answer: C) Mongoose

21. In which of the following ecosystems do invasive species pose the most significant threats in India?

• A) Grasslands
• B) Forests and wetlands
• C) Mountainous areas
• D) Marine ecosystems
• Answer: B) Forests and wetlands

22. What is the main challenge in controlling the spread of invasive species in India?

• A) Lack of government support
• B) Difficulty in identifying invasive species
• C) Inadequate funding for research
• D) Lack of awareness among the public
• Answer: D) Lack of awareness among the public

23. What kind of impact do invasive species have on native plant-pollinator relationships?

• A) They enhance these relationships
• B) They disrupt these relationships
• C) They have no impact
• D) They create new pollination networks
• Answer: B) They disrupt these relationships

24. Which invasive species is commonly found in the Himalayan region and threatens local vegetation?

• A) Eucalyptus
• B) Oak tree
• C) Parthenium
• D) Mango tree
• Answer: C) Parthenium

25. Which of the following steps is important in the management of invasive species in India?

• A) Prevention and early detection
• B) Only eradication of invasive species
• C) Allowing natural selection to remove them
• D) Introducing more non-native species
• Answer: A) Prevention and early detection

26. Which of the following animals is an invasive species in India that affects agricultural crops?

• A) Elephant
• B) Wild boar
• C) Indian mongoose
• D) Snow leopard
• Answer: C) Indian mongoose

27. Which of the following human activities is most responsible for the introduction of invasive species in India?

• A) Deforestation
• B) Agriculture and trade
• C) Tourism
• D) Natural disasters
• Answer: B) Agriculture and trade

28. Which invasive species poses a serious threat to the local bird population in India?

• A) House crow
• B) Nilgai
• C) Asian Elephant
• D) Bengal tiger
• Answer: A) House crow

29. Which of the following is a key measure to prevent the introduction of invasive species?

• A) Reducing human mobility
• B) Preventing imports of non-native species
• C) Promoting the spread of new species
• D) Increasing trade of plants and animals
• Answer: B) Preventing imports of non-native species

30. What is the primary source of funding for invasive species control programs in India?

• A) International conservation agencies
• B) Private corporate sectors
• C) Government and environmental NGOs
• D) Tourism industry
• Answer: C) Government and environmental NGOs