Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, scientists in Brazil launched the AmazonFACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment) project near Manaus. The project aims to study how the Amazon rainforest will respond to future atmospheric CO₂ levels. It seeks to simulate future atmospheric conditions and observe forest adaptation to rising CO₂, temperature, and humidity. The main focus is to understand the forest’s carbon uptake capacity, photosynthesis rate, and resilience to climate change. The system enables continuous monitoring every 10 minutes to measure CO₂ absorption and ecosystem responses in real time.

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recently discovered a new species of slender gecko named Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri. It was found in the Tirumala hill ranges within the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. The species is named after the sacred Venkatadri Hills. It belongs to the genus Hemiphyllodactylus and is the second slender gecko species recorded from Andhra Pradesh, after Hemiphyllodactylus arakuensis. The Venkatadri slender gecko is small, growing just over 2 inches long. It has short limbs and distinctive “spurs” at the base of its tail.

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Civil society groups and conservationists in Assam have urged declaring the Roumari-Donduwa Wetland Complex within Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary as a Ramsar Site due to its rich avian biodiversity. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon District, Assam. The sanctuary forms part of the Laokhowa–Burachapori ecosystem and serves as a buffer zone of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. It is situated within the Brahmaputra Valley and is surrounded by human settlements except to the north.

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Typhoon Kalmaegi recently made landfall in the central Philippines. Typhoons are tropical cyclones that form over the Western Pacific Ocean. A tropical cyclone is a rotating storm system developing over warm tropical oceans, varying in speed, size, and intensity. These storms are known by different names globally — Hurricanes in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, Cyclones in the Indian Ocean, and Willy-willies in Western Australia.

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The pristine waters of River Umngot in Meghalaya are turning murky due to soil dumping and construction debris. River Umngot, also called Dawki River, flows through the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. It originates from the Eastern Shillong Peak at about 1,800 meters above sea level. The river forms a natural divide between the Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills. It is known for its crystal-clear water and is considered the cleanest river in India. An annual boat race is held on the river during March–April. It also serves as a natural boundary between India and Bangladesh.

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Recently, a rare Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) was sighted in the Kali Tiger Reserve, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. It belongs to the Hyaenidae family, which includes Striped, Spotted, and Brown hyenas, and the Aardwolf. The Striped Hyena is smaller than the Spotted Hyena and has black stripes across its body. It is found in South Asia, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Western and Central Asia. It lives in open savannas, grasslands, and scrub woodlands of arid regions. It is mainly a scavenger feeding on carrion and human waste. It is listed as “Near Threatened” by IUCN.

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The Asiatic Caracal was recently spotted in Ramgarh, Rajasthan, showing its rare presence in India. The Caracal (Scientific Name: Caracal caracal) is an elusive medium-sized wild cat species. It is called the desert lynx but is more closely related to the African golden cat and the Serval. In India, it is known as Siya Gosh, meaning ‘black ear’ in Persian. It is native to Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, northwestern India, and arid Pakistan. Only about 50 remain in India, mostly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. It lives in semi-deserts, savannahs, shrublands, steppes, forests, and dry woodlands. Its IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status is Least Concern.

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A 9-day wildlife census has recently started in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Chandigarh near Sukhna Lake at the foothills of the Shivalik range. The sanctuary developed through afforestation for soil conservation around the lake. The region is geographically unstable and faces high soil erosion during rains due to surface runoff. The soil is mainly sandy Shivalik soil with patches of clay.

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Russia has joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 19th member, strengthening India-led global efforts to protect endangered big cats. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. It is a treaty-based inter-governmental organisation focused on conserving seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance aims to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise for global big cat protection.

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A new spider species named Dolomedes indicus was discovered in the evergreen rainforests of Western Ghats in Wayanad district, Kerala. It is the first recorded species of the Dolomedes genus, also called raft or fishing spiders, found in India. Unlike house spiders, it is an active semi-aquatic hunter that hunts on water surfaces. It senses vibrations using water surface tension and quickly jumps to catch insects or small fish. It can swim and dive in water.