UGC NTA NET/JRF Exam, Environmental Sciences, March-2023

Total Questions: 100

61. Which of the following are covered under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem?

(a) Himalayan Glaciers
(b) Institutional Capacities
(c) Biodiversity Conservation
(d) Wildlife Conservation
(e) Traditional Knowledge
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A. (a), (b), (c) and (d) only
B. (b), (c), (d) and (e) only
C. (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)
D. (a), (c), (d) and (e) only

Correct Answer: C. (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)

Solution:

The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

The mission covers a comprehensive range of topics related to the Himalayan region. This includes the monitoring of Himalayan glaciers, enhancing institutional capacities, biodiversity conservation, wildlife conservation, and preserving traditional knowledge systems.

The primary objective is to develop a sustainable strategy for conserving the Himalayan ecosystem by understanding the complex processes affecting it.

The Himalayan ecosystem is vital not only for India but for the world, due to its biodiversity richness and the rivers that originate from here.

62. Which of the following States/UTs have more than thirty Wildlife Sanctuaries?

(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra
(e) Rajasthan
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A. (a) and (c) only
B. (c) and (e) only
C. (b) and (e) only
D. (c) and (d) only

Correct Answer: C. (b) and (e) only

63. For a moderately asymmetrical (nonsymmetrical) distribution, mean, mode, and median obey the following relation:

(a) Mean = Mode = Median
(b) Mode = Mean - 3(Mean - Median)
(c) Mean - Median = 1/3 (Mean - Mode)
(d) Mean - Mode = 3 (Median - Mean)
(e) Mode - Median = 3 (Mean)
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A. (a) and (b) only
B. (b) and (c) only
C. (c) and (d) only
D. (d) and (e) only

Correct Answer: B. (b) and (c) only

Solution:

For a moderately asymmetrical distribution, the relationship between mean, mode, and median is described by the empirical relationship:
Mode = Mean - 3(Mean - Median)

It means that the distance between the mean and the mode is thrice the distance between the mean and the median.

This relationship is used to understand the skewness of the distribution. When data is skewed (either positively or negatively), the values of mean, median, and mode tend to diverge from each other.

Understanding these relationships can help in understanding the nature of the distribution and making statistical inferences.

64. Choose the correct statements:

(a) Basel convention was on transboundary movement of toxic waste.
(b) Kyoto protocol was on banning of production of CFCs.
(c) Montreal protocol was on controlling Global warming.
(d) Earth Summit in the year 2002 was held in Johannesburg.
(e) Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was held in the year 1995.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A. (a), (b), (c) and (e) only
B. (a), (b) and (c) only
C. (a) and (d) only
D. (b), (c), (d) and (e) only

Correct Answer: C. (a) and (d) only

Solution:

The Basel Convention was indeed related to the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Its primary aim was to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.

The Earth Summit in 2002, also known as the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), was held in Johannesburg.

On the other hand, the Kyoto Protocol was focused on greenhouse gas emissions and not on the banning of CFCs. The Montreal Protocol was associated with the phasing out of ozonedepleting substances, including CFCs. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into force in 1993 and not in 1995.

65. Read the following statements:

(a) Systemic insecticides kill insects only after moving through the system of the plant hosting the target insect.
(b) Contact pesticides enter the target pest upon direct application.
(c) Contact pesticides/insecticides or its residue kill target plants or insects on direct application.
(d) If a particular insect does not feed on the plant, it cannot be harmed by systemic insecticides.
(e) Contact pesticides are generally used only for specific insects occuring on specific plants/crops.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A. (a), (c) and (e) only
B. (a), (b), (c) and (e) only
C. (b), (c), (d) and (e) only
D. (a), (b), (c) and (d) only

Correct Answer: D. (a), (b), (c) and (d) only

Solution:

Systemic insecticides are those that are absorbed by plants when applied to seeds, soil, or leaves. They then move throughout the plant's tissues. Insects that feed on the plant consume the insecticide and are poisoned.

Hence, if an insect does not feed on the plant, it will not be affected by systemic insecticides. Contact pesticides, on the other hand, are designed to kill pests upon direct contact.

These pesticides don't need to be ingested by the pests to be effective. They can kill pests either by being directly applied onto them or if the pest comes into contact with the residue.

However, systemic insecticides tend to have a longer-lasting effect since they remain active within the plant for an extended period.

66. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I (Wavelength Range)	List-II (Vegetation Characteristics)
(a) $0.52-0.60 \mu m$	I. Absorption band of healthy vegetation
(b) $0.63-0.69 \mu m$	II. Responsive to amount of vegetation biomass/leaf area
(c) $0.76-0.90 \mu m$	III. Sensitive to turgidity or amount of water in plants
(d) $1.55-1.75 \mu m$	IV. Green reflectance of healthy vegetation

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
A.	IV	III	I	II
B.	I	III	IV	II
C.	II	III	IV	I
D.	II	IV	III	I

Correct Answer: C.

Solution:

Remote sensing techniques use different wavelengths to monitor various parameters of the Earth's surface, including vegetation health.

• 0.63-0.69 um range is sensitive to the amount of vegetation biomass or leaf area, making it essential for monitoring vegetation vigor and health.

• 0.76-0.90 µm is sensitive to the water content in plants. This Near-Infrared (NIR) region is vital as healthy vegetation reflects a lot in this region.

• 1.55-1.75 µm falls into the shortwave infrared range, capturing the absorption band of healthy vegetation. It is used to determine the health of vegetation and its water content.

• 0.52-0.60 um range captures the green reflectance of healthy vegetation. Green plants absorb sunlight in this range for photosynthesis.

67. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I (Term)	List-II (Definition)
(a) Sympatric speciation	I. The process by which organisms adapt to changed environmental conditions to form new species in a relatively short period
(b) Parapatric speciation	II. The process of differentiation and acquiring reproductive isolation within the same geographical area
(c) Adaptive speciation	III. Population evolving in different geographical regions due to isolation
(d) Allopatric speciation	IV. The process of speciation which occurs between adjacent populations within a broadly continuous habitat

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
A.	IV	II	III	I
B.	II	IV	I	III
C.	I	II	III	IV
D.	III	I	II	IV

Correct Answer: В.

Solution:

Speciation refers to the process by which populations evolve to become distinct species.

• Sympatric speciation occurs when populations differentiate and acquire reproductive isolation within the same geographical area. This might happen due to differences in niche utilization or behavior.

• Parapatric speciation is the process of speciation that occurs between adjacent populations within a continuous habitat. The populations are not geographically separated but develop differences due to slight variations in the environment.

• Adaptive speciation is the rapid process by which organisms adapt to changed environmental conditions to form new species.

• Allopatric speciation occurs when populations are geographically isolated, leading to differentiation over time.

68. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I (Author)	List-II (Concept of ecological niche)
(a) Charles Elton (1927)	I. The activity range of each species along every dimension of the environment
(b) G.F. Gause (1934)	II. The intensity of competition between species suggests the degree to which their niches overlap
(c) David Lack (1947)	III. The place of species in the biological environment, its relationship to food and predators
(d) G.E. Hutchison (1959)	IV. Niche relationship could provide a basis for evolutionary diversification of species

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
A.	IV	II	III	I
B.	I	II	III	IV
C.	III	II	IV	I
D.	I	IV	III	II

Correct Answer: C.

69. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I (Types of Interaction)	List-II (Nature of Interaction)
(a) Parasitism	I. The predator generally larger than prey have positive interaction while prey have negative interaction
(b) Mutualism	II. Interaction favourable to both and obligatory
(c) Predation	III. The parasite generally smaller than the host benefitted while the host have negative interaction
(d) Commensalism	IV. The commensal benefits while the host remains unaffected

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
A.	I	II	III	IV
B.	III	I	IV	II
C.	III	II	I	IV
D.	I	IV	III	II

Correct Answer: C.

70. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I (Name)	List-II (Parameter)
(a) Contour	I. Density
(b) Isohyet	II. Height
(c) Isopycnic	III. Wind direction
(d) Isogon	IV. Precipitation accumulation