Where would the greatest number of endemic species occur and why ?
(a) Small volcanic archipelagos, such as the Galapagos Islands, because the abundance of unoccupied habitats favours the adaptive divergence of colonists from nearby mainland populations.
(b) Large oceanic island, such as Australia, because the inhabitants have been isolated from mainland populations for a very long time.
(c) On rugged landscapes, such as Patagonia, because of the high levels of natural disturbance by glaciers and earthquakes.
(d) Temperate woodlands, such as those in southern England, because of the high levels of disturbance by human activity and the history of artificial selection.

Options

A. Small volcanic archipelagos, such as the Galapagos Islands, because the abundance of unoccupied habitats favours the adaptive divergence of colonists from nearby mainland populations.
B. Large oceanic island, such as Australia, because the inhabitants have been isolated from mainland populations for a very lonf time.
C. On rugged landscapes, such as Patagonia, because of the high levels of natural disturbance by glaciers and earthquakes.
D. Temperate woodlands, such as those in southern England, because of the high levels of disturbance by human activity and the history of artificial selection.

Answer

B

Explanation

Endemic species describe a plant or animal species that is restricted to one or a few localities in its distribution since, Australia is large oceanic continent, surrounded from all over with water and is isolated from the mainland, the flora and fauna has been completely isolated and preserved from ages. Many of the animal and plant species are unique to that island which are not found anywhere in the world and are endemic to Australia.