1.
Ontario, a province in Canada, is nearly 6 times larger than the state of Karnataka, yet it
houses fewer species of plants and animals than its Indian counterpart. This is most likely
because:
a. Karnataka has a higher human population
b. Karnataka is closer to the equator
c. Ontario is west of Karnataka
d. Ontario gets more precipitation per year
Ontario vs Karnataka Biodiversity: Why Smaller Karnataka Has More Species
Ontario, Canada’s second-largest province, spans over 1 million km² but hosts fewer plant and animal species than Karnataka, India’s 191,791 km² state near the equator. This counterintuitive fact stems from ecological principles like the latitudinal diversity gradient.
Question Analysis
Ontario covers about 1,076,395 km², roughly 5.6 times larger than Karnataka’s 191,791 km², yet Ontario records around 30,000 species while Karnataka boasts over 4,500 flowering plants alone, plus rich fauna in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats. The correct answer is b. Karnataka is closer to the equator, as tropical regions support higher species richness due to stable climates, greater energy availability, and more niches over evolutionary time.
Option Breakdown
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a. Karnataka has a higher human population: Incorrect. Karnataka’s density exceeds 300 people/km² versus Ontario’s 15/km², but human numbers do not drive biodiversity; habitat loss from density might reduce it.
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b. Karnataka is closer to the equator: Correct. Karnataka lies at 11°-18°N (equatorial proximity), while Ontario spans 42°-56°N; equatorial zones have higher biodiversity from warmth, sunlight, and stability.
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c. Ontario is west of Karnataka: Irrelevant. Ontario (80°W) lies west of Karnataka (75°E), but longitude affects time zones, not species diversity.
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d. Ontario gets more precipitation per year: False. Ontario averages 800-1,000 mm annually; Karnataka’s coastal areas exceed 3,000 mm, but precipitation alone does not explain biodiversity—temperature and latitude dominate.
