Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
According to a recent report by Climate TRACE, Shanghai is the city that emits the most greenhouse gases, producing 256 million metric tons annually. This is more than the emissions of countries like Colombia or Norway. Climate TRACE is an emissions tracking organization that provides insights into global emissions and helps identify opportunities to reduce pollutants.

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The 9th Amur Falcon Festival was celebrated in Tamenglong, Manipur, to raise awareness about Amur falcons, the world’s longest-traveling birds. These falcons roost in Tamenglong during October-November, migrating to southern and eastern Africa. Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) are small raptors named after the Amur River, bordering Russia and China. They breed in southeastern Siberia and northern China and migrate across India to Africa, returning to Mongolia and Siberia.

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The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) launched its 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD). The initiative is led by CGIAR centers International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The initiative focuses on food security, biodiversity conservation, and resilient livelihoods. It targets 2.7 billion people living in drylands, especially in Asia and Africa. The strategy was launched at COP16 in Riyadh, after consultations with national research organizations, governments, private sector, and civil society. It aims to address the specific needs of different dryland regions and enhance sustainability and resilience in these areas.

Notes:
Wisdom, a 74-year-old Laysan albatross, is the world’s oldest known wild bird and has laid her 60th egg. Laysan albatrosses (Phoebastria immutabilis) are large seabirds inhabiting the North Pacific. 99.7% of the population is found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, mainly on Laysan Island and Midway Atoll. They nest on sandy or grassy islands, including Oahu, Kauai, and some sites in Japan and Mexico. Known for their exceptional soaring ability, they travel hundreds of miles with minimal wing movement. They are monogamous, mate for life, and are listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN.

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Researchers discovered a new predatory amphipod species, Dulcibella camanchaca, in the Atacama Trench off northern Chile. The Atacama Trench, located in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, reaches depths over 8,000 meters. Dulcibella camanchaca belongs to the Eusiridae family and represents a new genus. It is larger than similar species, measuring just under 4 cm, with pale coloration for survival in dark environments. DNA barcoding confirmed its distinct genetic lineage. Unlike scavengers, it preys on other amphipods, playing a key role in the deep-sea food web. The genus name is inspired by Don Quixote, and “camanchaca” refers to darkness.

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The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Forest and Wildlife asked the district administration to report on illegal construction near Sultanpur National Park. Sultanpur National Park is located in Gurgaon, Haryana, 46 km from Delhi. Formerly Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, it covers 1.42 sq. km with marshy lakes and floodplains. The core area is 1.21 sq. km, containing Sultanpur Lake. It is a seasonal freshwater wetland fed by the Yamuna River’s Gurgaon canal and nearby agricultural runoff. It was recognized as a Ramsar site in 2021, it is also an Important Bird Area.

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The Ministry of Textiles is promoting research into innovative natural fibers like milkweed fiber, derived from milkweed plant seed pods. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L) is native to North America and grows wild in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in India. Milkweed fiber is lightweight, soft, biodegradable, and renewable but brittle for spinning due to its oily material and lignin content. It has amphiphilic properties, both water-absorbing and water-repelling. Applications include water-safety equipment like life jackets and belts, and filtration systems due to its fine fiber structure.

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A recent study in Science Advances refined the timing and duration of Ocean Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a) by analyzing rocks and fossils from Mount Ashibetsu, Japan. OAE 1a occurred during the Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago), when Earth’s oceans became oxygen-depleted. It was triggered by massive volcanic eruptions releasing CO₂, causing global warming and oxygen depletion in oceans. This led to anoxic marine basins, extinction of marine species, particularly plankton, and the formation of black shales, rich in organic carbon.

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Madhya Pradesh will translocate 15 tigers (12 tigresses and 3 tigers) to Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha after Central Government approval. Tigers will be relocated from Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and Pench Tiger Reserves. These tiger reserves are located in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh leads India in tiger population with 785 tigers, followed by Karnataka (563) and Uttarakhand (560). Ratapani forest was recently notified as MP’s eighth tiger reserve.

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Gujarat government and Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat (BCSG) conducted India’s first coastal and wader bird census from January 3 to 5, 2025, at the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary in Jamnagar. Jamnagar district in Gujarat hosts 300+ bird species, including 50+ wader bird species. The three-day event includes expert talks on Day 1, bird counting on Day 2, and a closing ceremony with knowledge sharing on Day 3. The census will focus on wader and coastal bird species in the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary.