Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The intense wildfires in the U.S. and Canada have created “pyrocumulonimbus” clouds, which can produce lightning and potentially spark more fires. These clouds form when extreme heat from wildfires causes hot air, carrying water vapor, smoke, and ash, to rise and cool, creating fire clouds. If the conditions intensify, these clouds can generate thunderstorms but little rain, spreading wildfires further. Climate change may be increasing their frequency due to rising global temperatures.

Notes:
On Independence Day, sambar and barking deer were released in Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in Khurda district, Odisha, marking the northeastern limits of the Eastern Ghats. The sanctuary, established in 1982, is home to many threatened wild animals and birds. The climate is tropical, with summer, rainy season, and winter. The flora includes a mix of evergreen and deciduous vegetation, with species like Dhaman, Kusum, and Thorny bamboo. The fauna includes elephants, chital, wild boar, rhesus monkey, sloth bear, Indian wolf, and hyena.

Notes:
Typhoon Ampil hit the Tokyo area with heavy rains and mudslide warnings in northern Japan. The typhoon has led to hundreds of cancellations, impacting travel plans. With gusts up to 180 km/h, there are warnings for floods, landslides, and violent gusts. Climate change is making this typhoon season particularly intense, challenging Japan’s preparedness and response.

Notes:
Shiveluch volcano in Russia erupted following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast. It is located about 280 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Kamchatka, it is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the region. Shiveluch has two parts: Old Shiveluch (3,283 meters) and Young Shiveluch (2,800 meters), which is within an ancient caldera. The volcano has been erupting continuously since August 1999, with significant explosive events, including in 2007.

Notes:
A recent study found that the South American lungfish genome has grown significantly over the past 100 million years. The lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa, is a freshwater species and the closest living relative to the first land vertebrates. It has the largest genome of any animal, over 50 times the size of the human genome. The DNA in each lungfish cell would stretch almost 60 meters, while human DNA stretches only 2 meters. The genome is mostly made up of repetitive elements, accounting for 90% of it. Found in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and other South American countries.

Notes:
Wular Lake is gradually being filled with silt from streams flowing in from surrounding mountains. It is the largest freshwater lake in India and the second-largest in Asia, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipore district. Fed by the Jhelum River, it sits at an altitude of 1,580 meters near Haramuk Mountain, covering 200 square kilometers. Formed by tectonic activity and a remnant of the ancient Satisar Lake, it features a central island called ‘Zaina Lank,’ built by King Zainul-Abi-Din. Designated a Ramsar Wetland in 1990, it supports diverse bird species and is crucial for fish production in the state.

Notes:
A recent man-eating wolf attack in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, has put about 35 villages on high alert. Forest officials have launched ‘Project Bhediya’ to capture the wolves involved. India has two wolf species: the Indian Wolf in peninsular regions and the Himalayan Wolf in the upper trans-Himalayan ranges. Wolves are highly social, living in packs of 6-8, running at high speeds, and maintaining a male dominance hierarchy. They communicate through vocalizations and scent-marking. Grey Wolf is listed as Least Concern by IUCN, while the Himalayan Wolf is Vulnerable; both are protected under Schedule I of WPA, 1974.

Notes:
Natural geographic isolation is occurring among Asiatic lions in Gujarat, so translocation isn’t needed, says the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) director. IBCA was launched by the Indian Prime Minister on 9 April 2023, during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. Its goal is to conserve seven big cat species—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma—and their habitats globally. The alliance covers 97 range countries and focuses on knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and resource support. India supports IBCA with Rs 150 crore for five years, with its headquarters in India and a governance structure.

Notes:
The union government approved transferring 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), drawing criticism from opposition leaders. Salt pans are low-lying lands where seawater leaves behind salt and minerals, vital for flood protection. According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, salt pans are ecologically sensitive and fall under CRZ-1B, allowing only salt extraction and gas exploration. Nationally, 60,000 acres of salt pan land exist, with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra having the largest areas. Salt pans also host various bird and insect species, contributing to ecological balance.

Notes:
A lion-tailed macaque (LTM) gave birth at the Chamundi Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre near Mysuru, Karnataka. The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) is an Old World monkey, known for its males marking territory with calls. They have 17 vocalisations and are characterised by a grey mane around their face, resembling a beard, and a lion-like tufted tail. These primates are native to India, living in the fragmented rainforests of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The species is endangered due to habitat destruction.