Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A recent faunal survey by the Forest Department recorded 63 new species of odonates, butterflies, and birds in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is in Malappuram district, Kerala, covering 227.97 sq.km on the western slopes of the Nilgiri Hills. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary shares boundaries with Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala. The name ‘Karimpuzha’ comes from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of River Chaliyar. The terrain varies from 40 m to 2550 m, supporting rich biodiversity.

Notes:
Naini Lake in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region has recorded a water level of 4.7 feet, the lowest in five years. The lake has reached its zero level more than 10 times since 2000, compared to only twice in the 1900s. It is a natural freshwater lake, tectonic in origin, and has a crescent shape due to repeated landslides. Naini Lake is the third-largest lake in Uttarakhand by surface area.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh government has announced a dolphin safari in Varanasi to boost conservation and eco-tourism. The safari will be set up between Kaithi and Dhakhwa villages, home to the highest number of dolphins in the region. Dolphin Mitras have been appointed for Ganges River Dolphin conservation. The goals include increasing dolphin populations, protecting their habitat, promoting eco-tourism, and educating people on dolphin conservation.

Notes:
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is celebrating its 25th foundation day, marking a major milestone in India’s polar research journey. Established in 1998 as an autonomous Research and Development (R&D) institution under the Government of India, it is based in Goa. NCPOR leads India’s polar and Southern Ocean research, managing missions in some of the world’s most extreme environments. It operates India’s Antarctic stations “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and the Arctic station “Himadri”. It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Notes:
India has launched a unique scientific study to detect zoonotic diseases that may pass from birds to humans. The study is titled “Building a surveillance model for detecting zoonotic spillover in increased bird-human interaction settings using the One Health approach.” It will follow the One Health approach, which links the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is leading the initiative. The study will be carried out in selected bird sanctuaries and wetlands in Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. It aims to monitor human and bird health where their interactions are increasing.

Notes:
Recently, bioluminescent blue waves appeared in the backwaters of Kochi, Kerala, drawing tourists but causing concerns about environmental degradation among ecologists and fishers. Bioluminescence is the natural light produced by organisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae when coastal waters are disturbed. The main cause of this glow is Noctiluca scintillans, a type of plankton known as “sea sparkle”. This glow happens due to chemical reactions in parts called scintillons, and it is usually blue but can appear red or brown depending on the plankton’s concentration. The phenomenon is most commonly seen between March and May, known locally as “Kavaru” in Malayalam.

Notes:
Work has begun to revive the historic Ramgarh Lake near Jaipur, Rajasthan, which once served as the main water source for the city. The lake, built in 1876 by Sawai Ram Singh II, is a man-made water body created by constructing an embankment on forested hills. Four rivers — Roda, Banganga, Tala, and Madhoveni — once fed the lake but have dried due to deforestation and mining. Ramgarh Lake hosted rowing events in the 1982 Asian Games, and houses Jamwa Mata temple nearby. It also has a renowned Polo Ground and is part of a wildlife sanctuary notified in 1982, home to animals like Nilgai, Chital, and lions.

Notes:
The recent helicopter crash into the Hudson River might be linked to mast bumping, according to aviation experts. The Hudson River is located in New York State, United States, flowing through the state and forming a boundary with New Jersey in its final segment. It spans 315 miles, originating from lakes in the Adirondack Mountains near Mount Marcy, and drains an area of 34,628 sq. km. Mast bumping occurs when the rotor hub strikes the mast in helicopters with two-bladed, teetering rotor systems, such as Bell models, often during low-G maneuvers.

Notes:
India is now the second-largest emitter of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in the world after China, raising climate concerns due to N₂O’s high global warming potential. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is nearly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO₂) in trapping heat in the atmosphere. Nitrogen makes up around 78% of Earth’s atmosphere and is essential for DNA, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), proteins, and chlorophyll. Plants cannot use nitrogen gas (N₂) directly, so they depend on nitrogen-fixing bacteria called diazotrophs to convert it into usable forms. In the nitrogen cycle, ammonia changes into nitrites (NO₂⁻), then nitrates (NO₃⁻), which plants absorb. Excess nitrates are returned to the atmosphere through denitrification, maintaining balance in the nitrogen cycle.

Notes:
The 2024 report titled “Plant Breeding Programmes in Indian Zoos: Assessment and Strategic Actions” by the Central Zoo Authority highlighted a gap in conservation breeding for the endangered Himalayan Musk Deer in Indian zoos. The Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster) is native to the Himalayas and can be found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China. It inhabits alpine forests and scrublands. Known for being solitary, nocturnal, and territorial, the males have curved canines and a musk gland, making them vulnerable to poaching. The species is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.