NEET 2025 Zoology Question 164 Solution

Correlating each term from NCERT Chapter 15:

• • A. The Evil Quartet: The four major anthropogenic drivers of accelerated species extinctions: (1) Habitat loss and fragmentation, (2) Over-exploitation, (3) Alien species invasions, and (4) Co-extinctions. Hence, A matches III (Causes of biodiversity losses).
• • B. Ex situ conservation: Threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special settings where they can be protected and given special care. Advanced ex situ methods include cryopreservation of gametes in viable and fertile conditions for long periods. Hence, B matches I (Cryopreservation).
• • C. *Lantana camara*: An exotic tropical shrub introduced into India as an ornamental plant that aggressively colonized native forests and displaced endemic flora, serving as a textbook example of Alien species invasion (along with water hyacinth / *Eichhornia* and carrot grass / *Parthenium*). Hence, C matches II.
• • D. Dodo (*Raphus cucullatus*): An extinct flightless bird endemic to the island of Mauritius that succumbed to extinction due to human over-hunting and predation by introduced domestic animals. Hence, D matches IV (Extinction).

Synthesizing the code:

• • A -> III (The Evil Quartet - Causes of biodiversity losses)
• • B -> I (Ex situ conservation - Cryopreservation)
• • C -> II (Lantana camara - Alien species invasion)
• • D -> IV (Dodo - Extinction)

The unambiguous combination is A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV, matching Option (2).