Before You Begin
Question #135675
The Question
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): While ex-situ conservation in zoological parks effectively maintains the numerical abundance of a critically endangered species, it often compromises its long-term evolutionary survival upon reintroduction to the wild. Reason (R): Captive breeding programs typically involve a small effective population size, which accelerates genetic drift and leads to a loss of adaptive heterozygosity through the bottleneck effect.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Options
- A.
Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- B.
Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C.
(A) is correct but (R) is not correct
- D.
(A) is not correct but (R) is correct
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Ex-situ Conservation Techniques|IUCN Red List Data|Biosphere Reserves Architecture
Why This Question Is Tricky
Examiner Levers
Logical Assertion
Tests the causal relationship between two true statements.
Difficulty Boost : +4Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often equate 'saving a species' (numerical preservation) with 'saving its evolutionary future' (genetic preservation).
The trap lies in failing to synthesize ecology with population genetics.
While NCERT states ex-situ conservation protects threatened species, students must apply the concept of genetic drift from the Evolution chapter to understand that small captive populations inevitably lose the adaptive heterozygosity required for long-term in-situ survival.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biodiversity and Conservation - Class 12 |
| Concept | IUCN Red List Data |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |