Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – June 19-20, 2022 [Mock Test]
June 20, 2022 June 20, 2022
1. Black Sea Biosphere Reserves was in news recently, with respect to it, consider the following statements:
- It is located in Ukraine.
- It is a part of World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
- It is included in the international list of Ramsar Convention.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:- The Black Sea Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve of Ukraine that is located at littoral zone of the northern Black Sea coast covering regions of the Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts and including Gulf of Tendra and Yahorlyk Bay. The reserve is part of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
- In December 1984 the reserve was accepted to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The territory of the preserve is included in the international list of Ramsar Convention.
- The preserve was damaged in March 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2. Consider the following statements:
- Ecotone has a low species richness.
- Ecocline can be easily identified by distinct change in soil gradient and soil composition between two communities.
- Edge effect refers to the changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1 & 3]
Notes:- An ecotoneis a transition area between two biological communities, where two communities meet and integrate. The word ecotone was coined by Alfred Russel Wallace, who first observed the abrupt boundary between two biomes in 1859. An ecotone describes a variation in species prevalence and is often not strictly dependent on a major physical factor separating one ecosystem from another, with resulting habitat variability. An ecotone is often unobtrusive and harder to measure. An ecotone is the area where two communities interact. Ecotones can be easily identified by distinct change in soil gradient and soil composition between two communities. Ecotone transitions are more clear-cut (distinct), conditions are less stable, hence they have a low species richness.
- An ecocline is a variation of the physiochemical environment dependent of one or two physico-chemical factors of life, and thus presence/absence of certain species. An ecocline can be a thermocline, chemocline, halocline or pycnocline. Ecocline transitions are less distinct (less clear-cut), have more stable conditions within, hence a higher plant species richness.
- Edge effect refers to the changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats (ecotone). Sometimes the number of species and the population density of some of the species in the ecotone is much greater than either community. This is called edge effect.
3. Which of the following countries have formed a group comprising heads of governments to fast-track the goal to reduce by a third premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs)?
- United States
- India
- Ghana
- Norway
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 2 & 4
[B] Only 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] Only 1 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 3 & 4]
Notes:- The governments of Ghana and Norway have formed a group comprising heads of governments to fast-track the goal to reduce by a third premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The target is part of the United States-mandated Sustainable Development Goals.
- The first meeting of the ‘Global Compact on NCDs’ will be held in September 2022. The meeting will strategies reduction of preventable deaths from diabetes, cancer, heart and lung disease, and promote mental health and well-being.
- The decision to form the group was taken at the first International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and the Sustainable Development Goals, held in Accra, Ghana April 12, 2022. It was hosted by WHO, along with the governments of Ghana and Norway.
