Issues on Environment, Biodiversity & Climate Change (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

41. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment describes the following major categories of ecosystem services provisioning, supporting, regulating, preserving and cultural. Which one of the following is supporting service? [2012-1]

(a) Production of food and water
(b) Control of climate and disease
(c) Nutrient cycling and crop pollination
(d) Maintenance of diversity

Correct Answer: (c) Nutrient cycling and crop pollination

Solution:Supporting services of Millennium Ecosystem Assessment are necessary for production of all other ecosystem services including soil formation, nutrient cycling, photosynthesis to name a few.

42. What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru? [2012-1]

(a) Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains
(b) Oryx is poached for its antlers whereas Chiru is poached for its musk
(c) Oryx exists in western India only whereas Chiru exists in north-east India only
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct

Correct Answer: (a) Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains

Solution:Oryx has adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains.

43. Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? [2012-1]

1. Global warming

2. Fragmentation of habitat

3. Invasion of alien species

4. Promotion of vegetarianism

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Solution:Except promotion of vegetarianism all other acts are threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area.

44. Consider the following agricultural practices: [2012-1]

1. Contour bunding

2. Relay cropping

3. Zero tillage

In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of them

Correct Answer: (b) 3 only

Solution:As crops photosynthesize to produce their food, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and create the oxygen we need to breathe. Through this chemical process, carbon is sequestered in the soil.

Disturbing soil by ploughing or tilling a field can cause the release of stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. When farmers don't till their fields, carbon stays stored in the ground. This is an important way how agriculture can play a role in addressing climate change.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.

45. What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason? [2012-1]

1. The ocean as a carbon sink would be adversely affected.

2. The food chains in the ocean would be adversely affected.

3. The density of ocean water would drastically decrease.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Solution:If phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason then.

(i) The ocean as a carbon sink would be adversely affected.

(ii) The food chains in the ocean would be adversely affected as the fishes live on them.

46. Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to : [2012-1]

(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 decline in the population of vultures in the Indian countryside is primarily attributed to the use of a drug called diclofenac by cattle owners to treat their diseased cattle. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat inflammation and pain in cattle. However, when vultures consume the carcasses of cattle treated with diclofenac, they suffer from kidney failure and die. This has resulted in a drastic decline in the population of vultures in India, with some species declining by more than 99% in just a few decades. While destruction of their nesting sites and scarcity of food may also contribute to the decline of vultures, the use of diclofenac is the primary reason for their decline in India. The introduction of alternative drugs such as meloxicam, which are safe for vultures, has been suggested as a solution to this problem.

47. Due to improper/ indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste? [2013-1]

1. Beryllium

2. Cadmium

3. Chromium

4. Heptachlor

5. Mercury

6. Lead

7. Plutonium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
(b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only
(c) 2, 4, 5 and 7 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only

Solution:Electronic waste or E-waste has ferrous and non-ferrous metals both. Non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminium, silver, gold, platinum, palladium etc. The presence of elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and hexavalent chromium are classified as hazardous waste.

48. With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements: [2013-1]

1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other.

2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species.

3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

Solution:A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other.

A food chain is the sequence of who eats whom in a biological community to obtain nutrition.

Sample:- Grassland Biome

Grass> Grass Hopper > Rat> Snake > Hawk

49. In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? [2013-1]

1. Tamil Nadu

2. Kerala

3. Karnataka

4. Andhra Pradesh

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Solution:Lion-tailed Macaques are found in the mountain forests scattered across three Indian states stated above. The lion-tailed Macaques are endangered as per IUCN.

The Lion Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) is an old world monkey native to the western ghats of Southern India. Old World monkey is the common English name for a family of primates known taxonomically as the Cercopithecidae.

50. Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms? [2013-1]

(a) Ecotone
(b) Ecological niche
(c) Habitat
(d) Home range

Correct Answer: (b) Ecological niche

Solution:Ecological Niche is a term that describes the way of life of a species. Each species is thought to have a separate unique niche.

The ecological niche describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors.

A niche is the sum of the habitat requirements that allow a species to persist and produce offspring.

« Previous 1 2 3 45