Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Researchers spotted a large adult antlion, Palpares contrarius, resembling a dragonfly, for the first time in Tamil Nadu on the Madras Christian College campus. Antlions belong to the order Neuroptera and family Myrmeliontidae, with predatory larvae that trap ants in sandy pits. Found worldwide, mainly in dry, sandy areas, they are hard to spot during the day but visible at night near lights. Adults resemble damselflies but have softer bodies, lacy wings, and long clubbed antennae. Antlions are harmless, weak fliers, and beneficial by feeding on insects like ants.

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The Hindon River, once crucial for Western Uttar Pradesh, is now heavily polluted due to industrial and domestic waste. It has been declared a “dead river” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) due to severe health and environmental issues. Hindon is a tributary of Yamuna River. The river originates in the Lower Shivalik ranges, Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh, and flows for 400 km, merging with the Yamuna in Noida. It passes through cities like Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

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Researchers from Virginia Tech tagged a young shortfin mako shark in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in summer 2023. The shark, a critically endangered species, was tagged during a white shark research expedition. The tag, called a “pop-off archival tag,” collects data on water temperature, depth, and light levels, estimating the shark’s movements. The tagged shark traveled over 750 miles in 54 days, showing young sharks cover vast distances. Protecting nursery areas alone may not suffice due to their extensive travels. Sharks are vital for ocean health, connecting habitats and supporting ecosystem balance, benefiting human activities.

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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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A 50,000-year-old baby mammoth, Yana, was discovered in Yakutia, Russia, an exceptional palaeontological find. Mammoths are extinct species of the genus Mammuthus, adapted to cold climates. The Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) disappeared around 4,000 years ago and is classified as extinct by the IUCN. They had long, spirally twisted tusks, thick fur, fat layers, and small ears to minimize heat loss. Mammoths once inhabited Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

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The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) organized a Multi-Stakeholder Convention in New Delhi. The event was held in collaboration with the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRAN) and Watershed Support Services & Activities Network (WASSAN). It was established in 2006. The NRAA aims to manage dry land and rainfed agriculture. It has a two-tier structure: a Governing Board chaired by the Union Agriculture Minister and an Executive Committee with technical experts. The NRAA focuses on water conservation, sustainable development of rainfed areas, and improving livelihoods of landless and marginal farmers. It operates under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

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Assam introduced Anti-Depredation Squads near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located in east of Guwahati, Assam. It was established in 1998 and spans 48.81 sq km. It is part of the Brahmaputra floodplains and includes Rajamayong and Pobitora Reserve Forests. The sanctuary is surrounded by small hills like Kasasila, Hatimuria, Boha, Kardia, Govardan, and Panbari. Pobitora has the highest density of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in India. It contributed to the Indian Rhinoceros Vision 2020 by translocating eight rhinos to Manas National Park.

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A male tiger, T-2402, left Sariska Tiger Reserve and injured three people. Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan, covering 800 sq km in the Aravali Hills. It was a hunting ground for the Maharaja of Alwar before becoming a reserve in 1955 and a national park in 1979. It was the first reserve globally to successfully relocate tigers. The area is known for temples, palaces, and lakes like Pandu Pol, Bhangarh Fort, Siliserh Lake, and JaiSamand Lake.

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The Tamil Nadu Forest Department and an NGO are running a pilot project to remove Mucuna bracteata, an invasive plant, from rubber plantations and forest areas in Kanniyakumari. Originally introduced to protect rubber trees, it has spread across parts of the Western Ghats, including regions near the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai tiger reserve. Mucuna bracteata now covers large areas, overtaking native trees and hindering their growth. The vine is a threat to biodiversity and is found mainly in the rainforest of Kanniyakumari and abandoned rubber plantations.

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The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has directed Madhya Pradesh to address complaints from 52 villages regarding non-recognition of forest rights and forceful eviction near the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve. Villagers from Damoh, Narsinghpur, and Sagar districts allege violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) after the reserve was notified in September 2023. The Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh. The reserve is spread across the districts of Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur, covering an area of 2,339 square kilometers.