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Question #46592
The Question
Baculoviruses (genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus) are excellent biocontrol agents in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) due to their species-specific, narrow-spectrum insecticidal applications. Suppose this virus is released in a severely fragmented forest to control an agricultural pest, but a closely related, susceptible endangered native insect also resides in the fragments. Which of the following best explains why this ecologically 'safe' IPM strategy could inadvertently drive the endangered insect to local extinction?
Options
- A.
The increased edge effect in fragmented habitats directly amplifies the mutation rate of the viral genome, broadening its host specificity to infect non-target beneficial insects.
- B.
Habitat fragmentation has already reduced the endangered insect's effective population size, making the isolated population highly vulnerable to stochastic pathogenic mortality that pushes it below its minimum viable population.
- C.
The introduction of the virus triggers a 'Co-extinction' event, where the rapid elimination of the target pest obligatorily leads to the extinction of the endangered native insect.
- D.
The biocontrol agent over-exploits the fragmented habitat, depleting the environmental carrying capacity and leading to the competitive exclusion of the endangered insect.
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Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Baculovirus|Evil Quartet Drivers|Global Species Diversity Patterns
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
The Conceptual Pivot lies in integrating two distinct NCERT chapters: 'Microbes in Human Welfare' (IPM/Baculovirus safety) and 'Biodiversity and Conservation' (Habitat Fragmentation).
Students often memorize that Baculoviruses are 'safe for ecologically sensitive areas' and fail to account for the population dynamics of fragmented biomes, where even a narrow-spectrum pathogen can act as a stochastic extinction driver for bottlenecked susceptible populations.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Microbes in Human Welfare - Class 12 |
| Concept | Baculovirus Host Specificity |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |