Question

Islands have higher number of endemic species as they are separated from other land masses by
A. Deserts
B. Mountains
C. Large expanses of water
D. Valleys

Answer 1

Hint: Endemic species refers to any organism which is confined to a particular place which means animals and plant species which are not seen anywhere else apart from certain exclusive places in the world whether a particular state or a country. For example, Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve which is exclusively for Sal and wild mango species.

Step by step answer:Broadly the endemism can be classified into two subcategories- paleoendemism and endemism.
Paleoendemism means certain species were widespread but now it is confined to a smaller area.
Endemism means that there are new species of animals and plants which have arisen recently through reproductive isolation, divergence, or hybridization in plants, and they have to be widespread in the community. Charles Darwin studied Endemism species in the Galapagos Islands which helped him in understanding the evolution concept by natural selection.
There are specific factors that contribute to endemism like physical, climatic, and biological. Endemic species can be specifically seen in isolated areas such as islands and remote places like the Galapagos, Hawaii, and Socotra. Darwin's finches in the Galapagos and Hydrangea, endemic to Japan, are examples of endemic species-specific to those places.
Even highlands or isolated mountains or large bodies of water which are far away from the lake have endemic species.
The region's climate change contributes to the end of endemic species especially the paleoendemism
.
Hence, the answer is option C, Large expanses of water

Note: Reproductive isolation- the conditions such as physical or behavioral or geographical barriers will prevent interbreeding from cross-fertilization.
Divergence- can be defined as when two different groups of the same species will evolve gaining different traits like small beaks or closed feet they do this to fit into their surrounding environment such as for food, survival, mating, etc