Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
6. What are ecotones? Ecotones deserve high conservation investment, potentially serving as speciation and biodiversity centres. Elaborate on their importance. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the ecotones and their importance and the need to conserve them.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin defining ecotone.
Body:
First, mention briefly how ecotones are formed. Mentioned about the edge effect.
Next, write about the importance of ecotones – providing an area for a large number of species, nesting, food provisions, greater genetic diversity, serve as bridges of “gene flow” and buffer-zone” protecting the neighbouring ecosystem from possible environmental damage.
Next, write about the need to conserve them.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the importance and how Ecotones provide a sensitive indicator of global change.
