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

Total Questions: 50

1. Consider the following: [2013-1]

1. Star tortoise

2. Monitor lizard

3. Pygmy hog

4. Spider monkey

Which of the above are naturally found in India?

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

Star tortoise is found in India in the dry and scrub forests. Pygmy Hog is an endangered species found in Assam. Only 150 animals are left.
Monitor Lizard is found in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Spider Monkey is the inhabitant of tropical forests of Central and South America.

Star tortoise

  • The Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where it inhabits dry areas and scrub forest.
  • It is kept as pets, across homes in South East Asia, Europe and North America. Indian Star Tortoises are smuggled to countries like Japan and China as it is believed to bring good luck if it is kept as pets at home.
  • It is also perceived to have medicinal values.
  • Habitat:
  • Indian star tortoise is found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.
  • In India, they are found in the states of Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab.

2. Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? [2013-1]

1. Arsenic

2. Sorbitol

3. Fluoride

4. Formaldehyde

5. Uranium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 5 only
Solution:Drinking water in some parts of India has contaminants like Arsenic, Fluoride other than many other contaminants. The sources of Arsenic are run off from orchards. The sources of fluoride are erosion of natural deposits, discharge from fertilizers and aluminum factories.
New NCERT, Class 8 Science, Chapter 18 Pollution of Air and Water.

Nitrates

  • Dissolved nitrates commonly contaminate groundwater.
  • Excess nitrate in drinking water reacts with haemoglobin to form non-functional methaemoglobin and impairs oxygen transport. This condition is called methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome.

Arsenic

  • Seepage of industrial and mine discharges, fly ash ponds of thermal power plants can lead to arsenic in groundwater.
  • In India and Bangladesh (Ganges Delta), millions of people are exposed to groundwater contaminated with high levels of arsenic, a highly toxic and dangerous pollutant.
  • Chronic exposure to arsenic causes black foot disease. It also causes diarrhoea and also lung and skin cancer.

Fluoride

  • Excess fluoride in drinking water causes neuromuscular disorders, gastrointestinal problems, teeth deformity, hardening of bones and stiff and painful joints (skeletal fluorosis).
  • Pain in bones and joint and outward bending of legs from the knees is called Knock-Knee syndrome.
  • Fluorosis is a common problem in several states of the country due to the intake of high fluoride content water.

3. Consider the following pairs: [2013-1]

1. Nokrek Bio-sphere Reserve : Garo Hills

2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake : Barail Range

3. Namdapha National Park : Dafla Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve:

  • It is located in the Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
  • The biosphere reserve derives its name from the Nokrek Hill, the highest peak of the Garo Hills.
  • The Nokrek National Park was added to the list of biosphere reserves by UNESCO in May 2009.

Loktak Lake:

  • It is a freshwater lake located in Manipur and is famous for the phumdis floating over it.
  • Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park in the world is situated on this lake.
  • The lake is divided into three zones – northern, central, and southern zones.

Namdapha National Park:

  • It is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and finds a place between the Dapha bum range and the Patkai range.
  • Noa Dihing River crosses the national park from east to west.
  • It houses the world’s northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests, dipterocarp forests.

Garo Hills:

  • These are part of the Garo-Khasi range and are located in Meghalaya.
  • The Garo-Khasi range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical ecoregion and is one of the wettest places in the world.
  • Tura town located at the foothills of Tura peak is the largest town in the Garo Hills.
  • Nokrek National Park and the Balphakram National Park are also located here.

Barail Range:

  • It is a tertiary mountain range located in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, between the Brahmaputra and Barak basins.
  • It has Meghalaya on the west and Nagaland and Manipur on the east.

Dafla Hills:

  • It is located in Arunachal Pradesh and is bounded by the Abor range in the east and Aka hills on the west.
  • It is inhabited by the Dafla tribe.

4. In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of : [2013-1]

Correct Answer: (c) water limits and fire
Solution:The trees cannot replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of water limits and fire.
Ecological succession is the gradual, directional change in the species composition of ecosystems over time. It begins in a bare area with pioneer species and progresses through seral communities until reaching a stable climax community. Succession can be primary, starting in lifeless areas, or secondary, following disturbances like wildfires or deforestation. Other types include autogenic, allogenic, progressive, and retrogressive succession.
This natural process is crucial for restoring ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and creating self-sustaining ecosystems. Examples like coral reefs, tropical forests, and Acadia National Park show nature's resilience and its ability to recover and thrive after disturbances.

5. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity? [2013-1]

Correct Answer: (c) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
Solution:Mangroves have high productivity due to the unique adaptations of mangrove trees and the nutrient-rich environment of coastal areas. Grasslands have a relatively lower productivity compared to mangroves.

Lakes have lower productivity compared to both mangroves and grasslands. Oceans, although vast and supporting diverse ecosystems, have the lowest productivity among the given options due to the limited availability of nutrients and sunlight in the open water.

6. Consider the following fauna of India: [2013-1]

1. Gharial

2. Leatherback turtle

3. Swamp deer

Which of the above is/are endangered?

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:Gharial is critically endangered according to IUCN. Overhunting for skin and trophies, habitat loss due to construction of dams and barrages has been the reason for their decline. Leather back turtles are endangered due to human carelessness. Swamp deer occupies a place in the list of the endangered species of the world. Deforestation, draining of swamps and marshes for farming has led to the destruction of their natural habitat.

7. With reference to the food chains in ecosystems, which of the following kinds of organism is/are known as decomposer organism/organisms? [2013-1]

1. Virus

2. Fungi

3. Bacteria

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Solution:Bacteria and Fungi both are known as decomposer organisms. Bacteria are important decomposers; they can break down any kind of organic matters. Fungi are primary decomposers, they not only decompose the surface organisms but they can also penetrate deep into the organic matters.
Decomposers eat dead things, like fallen leaves and wood, as well as dead animals and faeces. They provide an important service by acting as Earth's cleanup crew. Fallen leaves, dead insects, and decaying organic matter would pile up everywhere if decomposers were not present. Decomposers are also important because they make major nutrients usable to an ecosphere primary producer, which are typically plants and algae.
Decomposers are organisms that break down complicated organic matter into simple molecules such as water and carbon dioxide, as well as simple nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium compounds. These kinds of constituents are materials that plants require in order to thrive. Others are generalists who consume a wide variety of different materials. Decomposers return nutrients to the soil or water, allowing producers to use them for growth and reproduction in fact, the majority of decomposers are microscopic organisms, such as protozoa and bacteria. Other decomposers are large enough to be observed without the use of a microscope. They consist of fungi as well as invertebrate organisms, which are sometimes referred to as detritivores and include earthworms, termites, and millipedes

8. Consider the following international agreements: [2014-1]

1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

3. The World Heritage Convention

Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture aims at guaranteeing food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. The World Heritage Convention is concerned with the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. All three of them have a bearing on the biodiversity.

9. Consider the following statements regarding 'Earth Hour': [2014-1]

1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.

2. It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day every year.

3. It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the planet.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Solution:

About Earth Hour

  • It is a global grassroots movement uniting people to take action on environmental issues and protect the planet.
  • It is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
  • It started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event and has since grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 190 countries and territories.
  • It takes place towards the end of March every year.
  • “Earth Hour” encourages people to switch off all lights for an hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, to promote awareness of climate change challenges and energy conservation.
  • Governments and companies also participate by turning off non-essential lights in their buildings, monuments, and landmarks to raise awareness about the impact of energy consumption on our planet.
  • This symbolic act, known as the ‘lights off’ moment, unites people worldwide in a show of support for the planet and serves as a reminder of the environmental issues facing us

10. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain? [2014-1]

Correct Answer: (a) Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
Solution:Diatoms are autotrophs which prepare their own food. Crustaceans are herbivorous animals which feed on diatoms. Herrings are carnivorous animals which feed on Crustaceans. This completes the food chain.

Diatoms are autotrophs, prepare their own food. Crustaceans eats diatoms. Crustaceans are members of zooplankons and are eaten by Herring fish when small.