The high biodiversity in Western Ghats is linked with which combined physical cause?

Correct answer: Altitude, moisture, and varied habitats

Option C is correct because the Western Ghats combine substantial relief, elevation differences, heavy orographic rainfall, and many habitat types within a relatively narrow zone. Moisture from the Arabian Sea monsoon, variation in altitude, evergreen forests, montane grasslands, valleys, and rain-shadow areas create distinct ecological niches. Long-term geological stability in parts of the region has also allowed species to diversify, making the Western Ghats a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot. Sandy plains alone cannot create this habitat variety; widespread Himalayan glaciation is not the controlling condition; and the Ghats are not mountains formed from coral reefs. The combined physical setting, rather than one isolated factor, explains the exceptional biodiversity.