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

Total Questions: 50

41. Consider the following pairs: [2019-1]

Wildlife: Naturally found in

1. Blue finned mahseer: Cauvery river

2. Irrawaddy dolphin: Chambal river

3. Rusty spotted cats: Eastern ghats

Which one of the pair given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:

• In the river Cauvery, the Mahseer community comprises a “blue-finned” and an “orange-finned, hump-backed” fish.
• While it is not yet known whether these are distinct species or 2 different phenotypes, evidence suggests that the hump-backed phenotype is endemic to the river, whereas the blue-finned phenotype was introduced in the 1980s.
• Irrawaddy Dolphin is a critically endangered species.
• They are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and Mekong.
• In India, it is found in Lake Chilika and not the Chambal river.
• Rusty Spotted Cat is one of the world’s smallest feline.
• In India, it was long thought to be confined to the south, but records have established that it is found over much of the country.
• It was observed in eastern Gujarat’s Gir National Park, in Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and along India’s Eastern Ghats.
• This cat is nocturnal by nature.
• This little carnivore survives on insects, birds and rodents.
• Its survival is being threatened due to the loss of its habitat.

42. Why is there a great concern about the microbeads that are released into environment? [2019-1]

Correct Answer: (a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystem
Solution:Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified microbeads as "unsafe" for use in cosmetic products. NGT had earlier directed the Centre to test cosmetic products containing microbeads after a plea sought ban on their use on the ground they are extremely dangerous for aquatic life and environment. So, A is the closest answer.
• In the US, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 phases out microbeads in rinse off cosmetics by July 2017. The Netherlands was the first country to ban cosmetic microbeads in 2014.
• Microbeads are washed down the drain, can pass unfiltered through the sewage treatment plants and make their way into rivers and canals, resulting in plastic particle water pollution.
• A variety of wildlife, from small fish, amphibians and turtles to birds and larger mammals, mistake microbeads for their food source.
• This ingestion of plastics introduces the potential for toxicity not only to these animals but to other species higher in the food chain.
• Greenpeace refers to it as a “toxic time bomb”. Once in the marine environment microplastics can both release and absorb toxins, which can then move throughout the foodchain.

43. Consider the following: [2019-1]

1. Carbon monoxide

2. Methane

3. Ozone

4. Sulphur dioxide

Which of the above are released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

Correct Answer: (d) 1,2,3 and 4
Solution:All of the above gases can be released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue. Carbon monoxide and methane are produced due to incomplete combustion, ozone is formed due to the reaction of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight, and sulphur dioxide is produced due to the presence of sulphur in the biomass. These emissions can have harmful effects on both human health and the environment.

44. Consider the following statements: [2019-1]

1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.

2. Cattle release ammonia into environment.

3. Poultry industry release reactive nitrogen compounds into environment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:Agricultural soils contributed to over 70% of N2O emissions from India in 2010.

Cattle account for 80% of the ammonia production Poultry industry recorded an excretion of reactive nitrogen compounds of 0.415 tonnes in 2016. So D: all 3 statements are correct.

45. Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? [2020-1]

1. Automobile exhaust

2. Tobacco smoke

3. Wood burning

4. Using varnished wooden furniture

5. Using products made of polyurethane

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Solution:Benzene is a colourless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It evaporates quickly when exposed to air. It dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of the water. It is highly flammable. It is formed from both natural processes and human activities. It is found in crude oils and as a by-product of oil-refining processes.

The sources of benzene in the environment comprise of industrial sources, automobile exhaust, and fuel evaporation from gasoline filling stations. Because of benzene solubility in water, a small amount may be removed by rain to pollute surface waters and soil. Reason for exposure to benzene pollution includes Automobile exhaust, Tobacco smoke, Wood Burning, etc.

46. With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? [2020-1]

1. It is spread over two districts.

2. There is no human habitation inside the Park.

3. It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:Normally human activities are not allowed in National Park but many villagers lived inside Desert National park, and they did not have access to even basic facility like road, electricity and water. 2017: Supreme Court ordered the government to provide such facilities to them So, #2 as wrong. By elimination the answer is c.

Desert national park is spread in two districts of Rajasthan Jaisalmer &Barmer. So #1 is correct.

It is Natural home to the Great Indian Bustard. 3rd Statement is right.

47. Consider the following statements: [2020-1]

1. 36% of India's districts are classified as "overexploited" or "critical" by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.

3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 & 3 only
Solution:The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act. 1986, 2nd statement is correct.

The countries with the largest extent of areas equipped for irrigation with groundwater, in absoluteterms, are India (39 million ha), China (19 million ha) andthe USA (17 million ha). Says FAO research paper published in 2010. So, #3 is correct So Answer b.

48. Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under "Critical Tiger Habitat"? [2020-1]

Correct Answer: (c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
Solution:Sundarban has Critical Tiger Habitat area of 1699.62 sq.
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Core/Critical Tiger Habitat: 3721 Sq. Km.
If Sundarbans critical Tiger Habitat is smaller than Nagarjunsagar then remaining options are unlikely to have a bigger size than Nagarjunsagar so answer should be cс.
About Critical Tiger Habitat
• Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH), also known as core areas of tiger reserves, are identified under the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), 1972.
• These are based on scientific evidence that “such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation, without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such other forest dwellers”.
• The notification of CTH is done by the state government in consultation with the expert committee constituted for the purpose.
• Inviolate Status: These areas are kept inviolate (free from human activities) for the purpose of tiger conservation.
• The forests peripheral to CTH are notified as buffer areas, which act as a transition between CTH and non-tiger reserves.

49. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication? [2020-1]

Correct Answer: (a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.
Solution:Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has six schedules.

No person is allowed to cultivate a specified plant mentioned in schedule 6, except with a licence granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden. The plant mentioned in the sixth schedule are:

1. Beddomes' cycad

2. Blue Vanda

3. Kuth

4. Ladies slipper orchids

5. Pitcher plant

6. Red Vanda

50. Which one of the following statements best describes the term 'Social Cost of Carbon'? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the : [2020-1]

Correct Answer: (a) long-term damage done by a tonne of CO, emissions in a given year.
Solution:In microeconomics, Social cost is a concept associated with some type of negative externality. For example, Factories emit large amount of smoke from their chimneys into the atmosphere.

This may not figure in the calculation of costs in their records. But the cost to the community may be in the form of additional washing bills for clothes and the money spent by the community on medical bills etc. These costs are social costs.

OECD defines Social Cost of Carbon as the net present value of climate change impacts over the next 100 years (or longer) of one additional tonne of carbon emitted to the atmosphere today.

Considering these interpretations, a is the closest option.