Question

Choose the correct statement about the patterns of biodiversity.

• A. The diversity of plants and animals is uniform and evenly distributed throughout the world.
• B. The tropics harbour more species than the temperate or polar regions.
• C. Speciation is a function of time as the tropical latitudes have been disturbed by frequent glaciations in the past.
• D. Lesser solar energy in the temperate regions contributes to higher productivity and greater diversity in species.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

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, whereas New York at 41° N has 105 species and Greenland at 71° N has only 56 species.