Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new flowering plant species named Dicliptera pakhalica. The discovery was made in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary located in Warangal district of Telangana. The sanctuary is dominated by mixed deciduous forest vegetation. The area has rich plant diversity including bamboo and teak trees.

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The Arunachal Pradesh government recently approved capturing a tiger that killed a head constable along the Roing–Mayodia road inside Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary is in Arunachal Pradesh and is named after the scenic Mehao Lake in its core zone. The terrain is hilly, with altitudes ranging from 400 m to 3,560 m. The sanctuary has four forest types: Tropical Evergreen, Sub-Tropical & Temperate, Temperate Broadleaf, and Temperate Conifer Forests.

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A new trapdoor spider species, Titanidiops kolhapurensis, was discovered in the grasslands of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. It was found by researchers from Thackeray Wildlife Foundation and Shivaji University, Kolhapur. The spider creates vertical or slanted burrows in flat or sloping grassy meadows. Its burrow entrances are highly camouflaged, blending with soil and grass. The species thrives in natural forests and native grasslands. It is absent in areas dominated by exotic plantations like Gliricidia sepium (Undirmari). Due to rapid habitat degradation, it faces the risk of local extinction.

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Scientists warned that the Thwaites Glacier is melting rapidly due to human-induced climate change. It is a massive glacier in West Antarctica, often called the Doomsday Glacier. The glacier is very wide and fast-flowing, roughly the size of Florida or Great Britain. It is extremely important because it already contributes about 4% to global annual sea-level rise. Studies show it is thinning, retreating, and adding more meltwater to the oceans. If it collapses, it could destabilise the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, causing severe sea-level rise.

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Researchers discovered a new pistol shrimp species named Alpheus madhusoodanai in the Kochi backwaters of Kerala. Pistol shrimp are also called snapping shrimp because they produce a loud snapping sound with their claws. It belongs to the family Alpheidae. It is the first alpheid shrimp species recorded from an estuary in this region. The species shows burrowing behaviour in muddy soil. Its burrowing helps mangrove ecosystems by releasing trapped toxic gases from swampy soil. This improves soil quality and supports overall coastal ecosystem health.

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a detailed report regarding recent tiger fatalities in the reserve and nearby areas. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh and is spread across the Vindhya Hills. The topography of the reserve includes steep ridges, undulating forest landscapes, and open grassland meadows. The reserve is known for its historical and archaeological significance, featuring caves with Pali inscriptions and carvings depicting animals.

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Gentoo penguins became first bird species confirmed with H5 avian influenza in an Australian territory. It is closely related to Adélie penguin and Chinstrap penguin. It is found along Antarctic Peninsula, sub-Antarctic islands and Falkland Islands in Southern Hemisphere between 45° and 65° south latitude. It lives near shorelines for easy food access and nesting. It is fastest underwater swimmer among penguins. It is diurnal, social and breeds in colonies. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status is Least Concern.

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Scientists from the ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research have discovered a new species of blossom midge named Contarinia icardiflores. Contarinia icardiflores is a newly identified species belonging to the genus Contarinia, whose members are small insects recognized as serious pests of ornamental and food crops worldwide. The larvae of this species feed inside flower buds or blossoms, often leading to severe yield losses in agricultural and horticultural crops. The species has been named in honour of ICAR-DFR to acknowledge the institute’s significant contributions to floriculture research.

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The Smew was recently sighted for the first time in Kaziranga during the 7th Waterbird Count at Rowmari-Donduwa beels (Laokhowa) buffer of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Smew is a small diving duck. They breeds in the northern taiga of Europe and the Palearctic region. They requires trees for breeding and prefers fish-rich lakes and slow rivers. The conservation status of Smew according to the IUCN Red List is Least Concern.

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Over the past 200 years, the Kosi River has shifted its course westward by over 100 km. Kosi is a transboundary river flowing through China, Nepal, and India, and is a major tributary of the Ganges. It is called the “Sorrow of Bihar” due to frequent and severe flooding in Bihar. Formed by the confluence of Sun Kosi, Arun Kosi, and Tamur Kosi, originating in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. About 48 km north of the India-Nepal border, it gathers tributaries and flows south through the Siwalik Hills at Chatra Gorge.