Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

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SEAWEEDS (algae) are good indicators of heavy metal levels in marine environments and could be used for monitoring such pollutants in seas. According to a new study in the Gulf of Kutch, which receives discharges containing heavy metals from several industries, various species of brown, red and green algae accumulate heavy metals from seawater and sediments. Heavy metals enter various organisms and trigger tissue damage. They generate reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide, which break down proteins and lipids, degrade DNA, and cause cell deaths. The study was conducted at Vadinar and Sikka in the Gulf of Kutch. In recent years, such coastal regions have seen rapid industrialisation. The researchers measured the levels of heavy metals in various species of red, brown and green algae, in seawater and sediments and found that iron, manganese and zinc concentrations were generally high in all the algae species. Large amounts of cadmium and zinc were also found.

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Andhra Government has identified around 100 acres of land near Simhachalam for setting up India’s first exclusive Centre for Mangroves and Coastal Ecology under the Institute of Forest Biodiversity which is under the aegis of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

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Hangul or Kashmir Stag was once found in thousands are now left only about 150 in numbers and that too mainly concentrated in Dachigam National Park. The mammoth decrease in population is likely to place the species in the list of “critically endangered” by IUCN.

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Coal ash, also referred to as coal combustion residuals or CCRs, is produced primarily from the burning of coal in coal-fired power plants. Fly Ash, a very fine, powdery material composed mostly of silica made from the burning of finely ground coal in a boiler.

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Many green house gases, including water vapor (the most important), ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, are naturally present in the atmosphere. Other GHGs are synthetic chemicals that are emitted only as a result of human activity.

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Potassium permanganate is a point-of-entry treatment method that oxidizes dissolved iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide into solid particles that are filtered out of the water. It can also be used to control iron bacteria growth in wells.

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Heliophytes are sun loving plants. These are those that require full exposure to sun for their development. Example- mullein, ling, thyme and soft velcro, white clover, and most roses

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Nuclear waste is the waste released from the nuclear reactor. It is the radioactive waste that does not decay for a long period of time. It can be stored underwater temporarily. For its long term safe storage it is to be stored in deep geological formations

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Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh where Asian elephants can be found. It is covered by southern tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests. It is also rich with important floras i.e. Albizia amara, Acacia, Lagerstroemia, Ficus, bamboo.

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Planting less trees does not lead to decline in forest until there is deforestation. Increasing deforestation and soil erosion makes the land brazen and thus can lead to decline in forest.