Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Eravikulam National Park (ENP), in Kerala’s Idukki district, closing for the Nilgiri tahr’s calving season, hosts diverse flora and fauna. Declared a National Park in 1978, it spans 97 sq.km, featuring Anamudi, the highest peak south of the Himalayas. Famous for the “Neelakurinji” flower blooming every twelve years, the park experiences heavy monsoons. Rich in biodiversity, it houses species like Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, and hosts rare butterflies and the world’s largest moth, the Atlas moth.

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The flightless Aldabra rail, scientifically known as Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus, was thought extinct 130,000 years ago but reappeared through iterative evolution. Residing on a coral atoll off Africa’s southeast coast, it resembles a chicken with a gray back, red head, and white throat. A subspecies of the white-throated rail, it’s the only flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. The Aldabra rail evolved twice, losing its ability to fly, a phenomenon explored in a 2019 Zoological Journal study on the atoll’s fossil record. Iterative evolution involves the repeated emergence of traits from the same ancestral lineage at different times.

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Sculptures made from the invasive lantana camara plant recently gained attention at a Bengaluru exhibition. Native to the American tropics, it was introduced to India during the colonial period. Despite its adaptability to climate changes, lantana camara is among the world’s top ten invasive species, causing significant concern in India. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is heavily impacted by its invasion, making it one of the largest affected areas.

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At least 112 people have died in the Valparaíso region of Chile due to fast-moving wildfires. The fires are thought to be the deadliest ever recorded in Chile. The government is investigating whether some of the fires were deliberately started. The fires have also destroyed an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 homes. The fires are thought to be the result of a week of record-setting temperatures caused by El Niño. High heat has also caused droughts and generally increased wildfire risk.

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China recently opened its fifth Antarctic research station, the Qinling facility on Inexpressible Island in the Ross Sea. Demonstrating a commitment to scientific exploration in the region, the station will focus on diverse research, including biological oceanography, glaciology, and marine ecology. The inauguration underscores China’s active role in advancing polar research and understanding the complexities of Antarctica’s ecosystems.

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Six forest authorities were suspended for negligence in curbing teak smuggling in Kawal Tiger Reserve, located in the north-eastern part of Telangana. Declared a Tiger Reserve in 2012, it lies at the southern tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, with diverse habitats, including dense forests and water bodies. The reserve, a catchment for Godavari and Kadam rivers, is vital for its rich flora, including extensive teak and bamboo, hosting 673 plant species.

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The Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Maharashtra, declared a tiger reserve in July 2014, recently sought Rs 1 crore for wildlife safari initiatives in Bangdapur and Hingni forest ranges. It is India’s smallest tiger reserve located in Wardha District. Situated amidst various Bengal Tiger habitats, it neighbors Pench, Nagzira Navegaon, Karhandla, Tadoba Andhari, Melghat, and Satpura reserves. The area boasts Dry Deciduous Forest vegetation and includes the Bor Dam drainage basin.

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NASA’s recent images reveal Badwater Basin, North America’s driest spot, transformed into a lake for 6 months. Situated 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, it’s known for extreme aridity. Manly Lake, formed after Hurricane Hilary in August 2023, defied expectations by persisting through fall and winter. Its revival in February 2024, fueled by an atmospheric river, expanded it to 11 km length, 6.5 km width, and 60 cm depth, filling the expansive salt flat.

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Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified a new species of head-shield sea slug, Melanochlamys Droupadi, along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal. Measuring up to 7 mm, it’s a small invertebrate with a brownish-black body and a distinctive ruby red spot. Inhabiting wet sandy beaches, the hermaphroditic slug forms a protective mucus sheath, leaving a trail like a turtle as it moves beneath the sand. Sea slugs, mollusks found in various marine environments, include 18 known species globally.

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The leopard population in Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Telangana, has significantly increased, as per the recent ‘Status of Leopards in India’ report. Spanning 2611.4 sq km, it is one of India’s largest tiger reserves and the second-largest in core area. Originally part of Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Amrabad Tiger Reserve emerged post-state bifurcation. Situated in Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts, it encompasses Nallamala Forest and vital water sources like Srishailam Dam and Nagarjunsagar Dam, fed by Krishna River.