Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A new genus of jumping spiders, ‘Tenkana,’ was discovered across southern India. The genus includes two known species and a new species, Tenkana jayamangali, from Karnataka. The name “Tenkana” comes from Kannada, meaning “south,” reflecting its southern India and northern Sri Lanka presence. Tenkana belongs to the Plexippina subtribe, distinct from related genera like Hyllus and Telamonia. These spiders prefer dry, ground habitats and are found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

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The Karnataka Forest Department is urged to reject the Barachukki mini-hydel project, which would divert forest land in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1987, spans 1027.535 sq. km across Mandya, Chamarajanagar, and Ramanagar districts in Karnataka. The Cauvery River runs through the sanctuary, which is bordered by Tamil Nadu to the east and northeast. The sanctuary features South Indian dry deciduous forests, dominated by teak and sandalwood trees.

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Lahore is currently the world’s most polluted city, with an AQI of 394, according to air quality monitor, IQAir. IQAir measures air quality based on PM2.5 particle concentration, which poses health risks. Lahore’s AQI is 55.6 times above WHO’s safe air quality guideline. An AQI over 100 is unhealthy, while over 150 is deemed ‘very unhealthy.’ WHO air quality guidelines suggest PM2.5 limits of 5 µg/m³ annually and 15 µg/m³ daily, and PM10 limits of 15 µg/m³ annually and 45 µg/m³ daily. These guidelines help governments set air quality standards but are not legally enforceable.

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Indonesia’s Marapi Volcano, one of its most active, recently erupted, sending thick ash clouds and covering nearby villages, though no casualties occurred. It is located in the Padang Highlands of western Sumatra, Indonesia. Marapi is part of the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone. Marapi is the highest peak in the highlands, reaching 9,485 feet (2,891 meters) and has dense vegetation on its lower slopes.

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Indian botanists have discovered a new leafless orchid species, Gastrodia lohitensis, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district. This orchid thrives in bamboo thickets around Tezu, relying on nutrients from fungi in decomposing leaf litter instead of sunlight. The discovery was led by Krishna Chowlu from the Botanical Survey of India during a May 2024 expedition. Gastrodia lohitensis stands 50-110 cm tall and has unique features, including linear calli and ridges on its flower lip. It is classified as “Endangered” due to threats from local land use, emphasizing the need for habitat protection in this biodiverse area.

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Researchers discovered a mutant cyanobacteria, named Chonkus, which may help combat climate change. Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are microscopic organisms that use sunlight to produce food. They thrive in nutrient-rich, warm, slow-moving waters, often forming blooms, especially in late summer or early fall. Blooms are common in waters rich in phosphorus and nitrogen from sources like fertilizer runoff. Chonkus was found near Italy’s Vulcano Island in waters with volcanic, gas-rich groundwater. This cyanobacteria can absorb significantly more carbon than typical ocean cyanobacteria, potentially aiding carbon reduction efforts.

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Hokersar wetland, also called the ‘Queen Wetland of Kashmir,’ is a Ramsar site in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It is a perennial wetland connected to the Jhelum basin, receiving water from the Doodhganga River. The wetland is crucial for waterfowl, with 68 species like the Large Egret, Tufted Duck, and endangered White-eyed Pochard. Recent years of excessive rainfall deficit have reduced water levels, impacting migratory bird populations. It provides a vital food source, spawning grounds, and breeding habitats for various water birds and fish.

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A Siberian Demoiselle crane, Sukpak, set a record by migrating over 3,676 km to Rajasthan, India. It is the smallest crane species, known for its solitary and social behavior. The bird holds cultural importance in India, where it is called Koonj or Kurjaa. Demoiselle cranes inhabit fields, steppes, deserts, and plains near water, breeding in Central Eurasia and wintering in India and sub-Saharan Africa. Sukpak followed an unusual route through Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to reach India. Conservation efforts include India’s first Demoiselle crane reserve at Khichan, Rajasthan. Their conservation status is “Least Concern,” but they face threats like habitat loss and hunting.

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Madhya Pradesh officially declared Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as a Ratapani Tiger Reserve under Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Ratapani, now the state’s eighth tiger reserve, has an estimated 90 tigers. It spans Raisen and Sehore districts, serving as a critical tiger habitat linked to the Satpura ranges. Encroachments and lack of prey led to tiger-human conflicts, increasing the need for conservation. The delay in declaration, despite NTCA approval in 2008, prompted a PIL by a wildlife activist. Projects like coal plants and railway lines threaten the reserve’s ecosystem, raising concerns for its biodiversity.

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The Polavaram Multipurpose Project has sparked disputes among Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana over its potential impacts. The Polavaram Multipurpose Project is located on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. It aims to support irrigation, drinking water supply, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control. The project was conceived in 1980 on the Godavari River to address irrigation and power needs. Odisha raises concerns about the submergence of 162 villages and impacts on tribal populations. Chhattisgarh worries about environmental damage and submergence downstream. Telangana questions the project’s feasibility and its ecological and water resource impact. Odisha seeks a new backwater study, but the Central Water Commission has denied it.