Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Forest fires recently broke out in Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram, damaging nearly one-ninth of its total area, according to state forest officials. Phawngpui National Park, also called the Blue Mountain National Park, is in the southeastern corner of Mizoram, close to the India-Myanmar border. It is the highest peak in Mizoram, with an altitude of 2,157 meters above sea level. The park covers 50 square kilometres, overlooks the Chhimtuipui River, and offers views of Myanmar’s hill ranges.

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new beetle species named Clinidium lalitae. It was found in the Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. The beetle is named in honour of Dr. Lalita Ray Chaudhury, a renowned coleopterologist and former ZSI scientist. Clinidium lalitae is part of a rare group of ground beetles known for living on forest floors. It has a unique body structure that makes it different from other beetles. These beetles help maintain soil health and support nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.

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Marine scientists have captured the world’s first video of a colossal squid swimming freely in the wild. This event comes nearly 100 years after the species was first discovered by researchers. The colossal squid is one of the largest and most mysterious invertebrates on Earth. Its scientific name is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. It is found in the cold, deep waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Despite its size and rarity, the colossal squid is listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Recently, herpetologist Fred Kraus discovered a new species of snake, Dendrelaphis anthracina, also known as the coal black tree snake, in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. This 4-foot, 8-inch snake was found on Sudest Island, highlighting the area’s biodiversity. Kraus’s research also identified three other new snake species. These include Dendrelaphis atra on Misima Island, Dendrelaphis melanarkys on Rossel Island, and Dendrelaphis roseni on Woodlark Island. The coal black tree snake was observed during a dramatic encounter with a goshawk, demonstrating its defensive behavior. The atra tree snake is adaptable, living in human-altered environments.

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Similipal has been declared a national park by the Odisha government. Similipal is now the 107th national park in India and the second in Odisha after Bhitarkanika. Similipal is also the largest national park in Odisha and part of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) spread over 2,750 square kilometres. The park is rich in biodiversity with 55 species of mammals, 361 birds, 62 reptiles, and 21 amphibians.

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Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Balasore District of Odisha and lies in the Eastern Ghats. It covers an area of 272 square kilometers and is part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau region. It forms a vital part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, which helps protect elephant populations in eastern India. The sanctuary is ecologically linked to the Simlipal Tiger Reserve through the Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges. It has several water sources, including the Kuldiha stream and its tributaries, supporting rich wildlife. Recently, forest staff arrested a man with a country-made gun and hunting tools during patrolling here.

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India is planning to restrict the import of genetically modified (GM) Alfalfa from the United States due to concerns over biosafety and environmental impact. Alfalfa is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the legume family Fabaceae. It is highly nutritious, rich in protein, calcium, vitamins A and D, and essential minerals. The crop grows well in temperate climates with ample sunlight. Major producers of Alfalfa include the United States, Russia, and Argentina. It enhances soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, thanks to symbiotic bacteria in its root nodules. Alfalfa is believed to have originated from the arid regions of present-day Iran and Turkey.

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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have recently launched formal hydrogen exploration initiatives. Hydrogen is seen as the fuel of the future due to its ability to help decarbonize the global economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Natural hydrogen, or white hydrogen, is hydrogen that naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust, unlike industrially produced hydrogen. It forms through geological processes such as serpentinisation, where water reacts with iron-rich rocks, radiolysis, the breakdown of water by radioactive rocks, and the decomposition of organic matter in deep geological formations.

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Scientists are closely watching the Axial Seamount as it is expected to erupt for the first time in ten years. Axial Seamount is an underwater shield volcano located about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, United States, in the Pacific Ocean. It has a large caldera at its summit and rises to a depth of 1,400 meters below sea level. The volcano was formed by a hot spot, where molten material from Earth’s mantle rises into the crust. It lies on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, the tectonic boundary between the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates. It features hydrothermal vents, which are underwater hot springs that release mineral-rich plumes heated by magma.

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Chinese scientists recently used classical Chinese poems to trace the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise from the Tang Dynasty to the People’s Republic of China. This is the only known freshwater porpoise species in the world and is found only in the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia. The study showcases how ancient literature can help track biodiversity changes across more than 1,000 years. The Yangtze finless porpoise is small, slow-moving, and shows intelligence like gorillas. It is a key indicator species of freshwater health and is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.