Which of the following statements regarding faunal resources of India is/are correct? 1. High degree of endemism has been noticed in the biodiversity hotspots of India 2. Of the total biosphere reserves in India, the Sundarbans has the largest number of species and Nokrek has the smallest number of species

Statement 1 is correct as India's biodiversity hotspots, such as the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, exhibit exceptionally high levels of endemism [2][4]. For instance, the Western Ghats host numerous endemic amphibians and plants, while the Himalayas show high endemism in vascular plants and amphibians [4]. Statement 2 is incorrect. While the Sundarbans is a significant biosphere reserve, it is not officially ranked as having the 'largest number of species' among all 18 reserves in India, nor is Nokrek documented as having the 'smallest' [1][3]. Species richness varies significantly across reserves like the Gulf of Mannar and Nilgiri, and Nokrek is specifically noted for its unique fauna like the red panda rather than being a baseline for low diversity [1][2][4]. Therefore, only the first statement regarding endemism in hotspots is accurate.

Sources

1. [2] https://www.bbau.ac.in/Docs/FoundationCourse/TM/Biodiversity%20Hotspots%20in%20India.pdf
2. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > BIOSPHERE RESERVES > p. 49
3. [1] https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342/
4. [3] https://moef.gov.in/uploads/2018/04/India_Fourth_National_Report-FINAL_2.pdf