Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Two new species of marine amphipods named Grandidierella geetanjalae and Grandidierella khambhatensis were recently discovered by researchers from Chilika and the Gulf of Khambhat. Amphipods are small crustaceans related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They are found in marine, freshwater, and even land environments across the world. The word “amphipoda” means “different-footed”, as their legs are of varied types and functions. There are over 7,000 known species, mostly under the group Gammaridea. They usually feed on tiny dead plants and animals and also act as scavengers in aquatic ecosystems.

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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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A rare Indian Mouse Deer was recently spotted at Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vasai, Maharashtra. The Indian Mouse Deer, also called the Indian Spotted Chevrotain, is a small even-toed ungulate of the family Tragulidae. Its scientific name is Moschiola indica. It is the smallest deer species in India and is very shy and elusive. It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Sri Lanka hosts a separate species called Moschiola meminna. In India, it lives in forests of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats up to Odisha, and Central India.

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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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The Supreme Court recently ordered the Jharkhand government to notify the Saranda Forest as a wildlife sanctuary and conservation reserve. The Court also banned all mining activities within a one-kilometre radius of the forest boundary. Saranda, called the “land of seven hundred hills,” is a dense Sal forest in Jharkhand. It lies in the Chhotanagpur bio-geographic zone and connects with forests of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

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Recently, the Assam State Zoo team reported the first case of albinism in the checkered keelback, also called the Asian water snake. The checkered keelback is a medium-sized non-venomous snake native to Asia. It is widely found across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It lives in freshwater habitats like ponds, marshes, and rice fields. It is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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A wild tiger has returned to Gujarat after decades, establishing a permanent presence in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary. Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat on the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border and was declared a sanctuary in March 1982. It is also called Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary because it has the highest sloth bear population in Gujarat. The sanctuary forms the catchment of the Panam River in Central Gujarat.

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Telangana’s Mulugu forest officials are launching safari services for the first time inside Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary to promote eco-tourism and sustainable livelihoods. Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Telangana. The sanctuary was established in 1952 and covers an area of approximately 812 square kilometres. It is divided into two parts by a stream known as Dayyam Vagu. The Godavari River flows through the sanctuary, supporting rich biodiversity.

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A new fungus species named Parasynnemellisia khasiana has been discovered in bamboo forests near Mawsynram, Meghalaya. It was found on dead stems of thorny bamboo Chimonocalamus griffithianus. The species is named after the Khasi Hills region. Laboratory studies showed it does not belong to any known fungal genus. Researchers created a new genus called Parasynnemellisia with khasiana as its first species.

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The Miyawaki method is increasingly used in cities where green cover has declined over decades, and it is often seen in recent urban greening drives. It is an afforestation technique developed in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. Trees and shrubs are planted very close together, also called the pot plantation method. Only native species are planted, creating a resilient and balanced ecosystem. Forests grow nearly 10 times faster and become very dense with high biodiversity. Recent municipal projects have used this method to convert polluted and barren urban land into green spaces, reducing pollution, improving soil, and enhancing ecological balance.