"The Evil Quartet" of biodiversity loss includes which of the following ?
- Over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Soil pollution; Co-extinctions
- Habitat loss and fragmentation; Air pollution; Water pollution; Co-extinctions
- Habitat loss and fragmentation; over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Co-extinctions
- Over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Air pollution; Co-extinctions
Answer
(3) Habitat loss and fragmentation; over-exploitation; Alien species invasions; Co-extinctions
Solution
As per NCERT, the four major causes of the accelerated loss of biodiversity (the 'Evil Quartet') are:
(i) habitat loss and fragmentation, (ii) over-exploitation, (iii) alien species invasions and (iv) co-extinctions.
∵ Air, water and soil pollution are not among the four,
∴ the correct option is habitat loss and fragmentation; over-exploitation; alien species invasions; co-extinctions.
Answer: (3)