Arrange the following in the decreasing order of species richness. (A) Fungi (B) Vascular plants (C) Insects, centipedes and millipedes (D) Vertebrates (E) Crustaceans
Options:

Correct option is C

Explanation:
Species richness refers to the number of different species represented in a given community or ecosystem. When ranked from highest to lowest:
· (C) Insects, centipedes and millipedes (Arthropods): Highest species richness, especially insects which make up the majority of all known species.
· (A) Fungi: Extremely diverse, second only to arthropods.
· (B) Vascular plants: Also quite diverse, but fewer than fungi and arthropods.
· (E) Crustaceans: Less diverse compared to above.
· (D) Vertebrates: Least species-rich group among these; includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Information Booster:
· Insects alone account for more than half of all known species on Earth. Fungi are estimated to have around 2.2 to 3.8 million species, many of which are yet to be described. In contrast, vertebrates—despite being the most studied—have only around 70,000 known species.
Additional Knowledge:
· Crustaceans (e.g., crabs, shrimp) belong to Arthropoda but are far less diverse than insects.
· Vascular plants include ferns, gymnosperms, and flowering plants.
· Species richness is a key measure of biodiversity and is used in conservation planning.