Biodiversity part 2

31. Which one of the following Indian birds is a highly endangered species? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]

(a) Golden Oriole
(b) Great Indian Bustard
(c) Indian Fantail Pigeon
(d) Indian Sunbird

Correct Answer: (b) Great Indian Bustard

Solution:Great Indian Bustard is a highly endangered species. It is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent. It is among the heaviest of the flying birds. It inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands. It is found mainly in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan that holds about 100 individuals. Also found in the arid regions of Maharashtra (Solapur), Karnataka (Bellary and Haveri) and Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool)

Features:

It is a large bird with a horizontal body and long, bare legs, giving it an ostrich-like appearance.
The sexes are roughly the same size, with the largest individuals weighing 15 kg (33 pounds).
It can easily be distinguished by its black crown on the forehead, contrasting with the pale neck and head.
The body is brownish, and the wings are marked with black, brown, and grey.
They breed mostly during the monsoon season, when females lay a single egg on open ground.
Lifespan: 12-15 years

32. A species is considered to be extinct if it has not been seen in its natural habitat for - [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

(a) 15 years
(b) 25 years
(c) 40 years
(d) 50 years

Correct Answer: (d) 50 years

Solution:According to the definition proavided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a species not seen during the last 50 years is considered to be extinct. The IUCN is a global union composed of both government as well as civil society organisations. With more than 1400 organisations as its members, the IUCN is an international authority on the status of the natural world. The IUCN Red List, compiled by the IUCN, is considered the world's most comprehensive information source about the extinction risk status of plants, animals and fungus species. It gives information about population size, range, habitat, ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.

33. Consider the following pairs : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]

Wildlife	Naturally found in
1. Blue-finned Mahseer	Cauvery River
2. Irrawaddy Dolphin	Chambal River
3. Rusty-spotted Cat	Eastern Ghats

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Solution:Blue-finned Mahseer is found naturally in the Cauvery River. Irrawaddy Dolphine is found near sea coasts in estuaries and rivers in parts of Bay of Bengal and South East Asia. In Chilika Lake also Irrawaddy Dolphine is found. In Chambal River Gangetic Dolphine is found. Rusty Spotted Cat is found in Eastern Ghats. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

34. Recently, which of the following drug has been reported as responsible for vulture death? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2008]

(a) Aspirin
(b) Chloroquine
(c) Diclofenac Sodium
(d) Penicillin

Correct Answer: (c) Diclofenac Sodium

Solution:In May, 2003, a scientist working with the Peregrine Fund presented a research paper that aconfirmed that the vulture deaths were due to the anti-inflammatory painkilling drug Diclofenac Sodium. A vulture that had got had high levels of Diclofenac in their kidneys. In January, 2004, the results of a joint study conducted by the Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan confirmed that Diclofenac Sodium was indeed the primary reason for vulture deaths. That was an important study that resulted in a ban on the manufacturing of veterinary Diclofenac by the Drug Controller General of India. The devastating effect of this medicine can be understood from the fact that it caused the death of about 8.5 crore vultures in India, Nepal and Pakistan in 10 years. This ban was soon introduced in Nepal and Pakistan.

35. The rapid rate of decline in the vulture population in India is mainly due to : [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) Overuse of Diclofenac drug
(b) Low death rate of animals
(c) High death rate of animals
(d) Cleanliness

Correct Answer: (a) Overuse of Diclofenac drug

Solution:In May, 2003, a scientist working with the Peregrine Fund presented a research paper that aconfirmed that the vulture deaths were due to the anti-inflammatory painkilling drug Diclofenac Sodium. A vulture that had got had high levels of Diclofenac in their kidneys. In January, 2004, the results of a joint study conducted by the Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan confirmed that Diclofenac Sodium was indeed the primary reason for vulture deaths. That was an important study that resulted in a ban on the manufacturing of veterinary Diclofenac by the Drug Controller General of India. The devastating effect of this medicine can be understood from the fact that it caused the death of about 8.5 crore vultures in India, Nepal and Pakistan in 10 years. This ban was soon introduced in Nepal and Pakistan.

36. Which pain killer given to cattle is responsible for the near extinction of vultures in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

(a) Ibuprofen
(b) Acetaminophen
(c) Aspirin
(d) Diclofenac

Correct Answer: (d) Diclofenac

Solution:In May, 2003, a scientist working with the Peregrine Fund presented a research paper that aconfirmed that the vulture deaths were due to the anti-inflammatory painkilling drug Diclofenac Sodium. A vulture that had got had high levels of Diclofenac in their kidneys. In January, 2004, the results of a joint study conducted by the Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan confirmed that Diclofenac Sodium was indeed the primary reason for vulture deaths. That was an important study that resulted in a ban on the manufacturing of veterinary Diclofenac by the Drug Controller General of India. The devastating effect of this medicine can be understood from the fact that it caused the death of about 8.5 crore vultures in India, Nepal and Pakistan in 10 years. This ban was soon introduced in Nepal and Pakistan.

37. The most important factor contributing to the loss of the vulture population in India is : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2015]

(a) Viral infection
(b) Bacterial infection
(c) Administrating of painkillers to cattle
(d) Administrating of estrogen injection to cattle

Correct Answer: (c) Administrating of painkillers to cattle

Solution:Administrating of painkiller to cattle is the main cause of loss of vulture population in India. Diclofenac is the drug that acted as a major cause of death of vultures. Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory, painkiller drug that was used widely in India in the 90s. It proved fatal to vultures.

38. Vultures which used to be very common in the Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen now a days. This is attributed to : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

(a) The destruction of their nesting sites by new invasive species
(b) A drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle
(c) Scarcity of food available to them
(d) A widespread, persistent and fatal disease among them

Correct Answer: (b) A drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle

Solution:The reason behind the heavy decline in the population of vultures is Diclofenac taken by vultures from the carcasses of dead cattle lying in open field. Cattle owners used this drug for treating their diseased animals. Diclofenac is highly toxic and has killer vultures in very large numbers in this way. It has drastically brought down their population.

39. A tree species in Mauritius Failed to reproduce because of the extinction of a fruit-eating bird. [I.A.S. (Pre) 1998]

Which one of the following was that bird ?

(a) Dove
(b) Dodo
(c) Condor
(d) Skua

Correct Answer: (b) Dodo

Solution:Dodo was a giant bird with short stumpy legs and a large hooked beak. It used to live on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius but had completely vanished by the end of the 17th century. Dodo was helpful in pollinating and propagating seed of the species called Tambalacoque.

40. In the context of Indian wildlife, the flying fox is a : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

(a) Bat
(b) Kite
(c) Stork
(d) Vulture

Correct Answer: (a) Bat

Solution:The Indian flying fox (Pteropus Gigantes), also known as the greater Indian fruit bat, is a species of bats in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Bangladesh, china, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

It is a species of flying fox native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the largest bats in the world. The nectar and fruit-eating flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) is generally considered a vermin as they raid orchards.

It is a keystone species causing seed dispersals of many plants in tropical systems. The Indian flying fox is so called due to its unique, fox-like appearance: reddish-brown coat, characteristically long snout as well as large eyes. And indeed, this animal resembles a little fox with wings. These bats are endemic to South Central Asia, found from Pakistan and China to the Maldive Islands.