Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

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Of all the gases which contribute to the Greenhouse effect, Water vapour is the biggest overall contributor. It controls the Earth’s temperature. It probably accounts for about 60% of the warming effect.

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Ozone is a natural gas and an allotrope of oxygen. The ozone layer is very important because it protects us from the harmful ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. The ozone layer is present in Stratosphere at a height ranging from 15 to 30 cm.

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There are 8 missions contained in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change which are as follows: National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for Green India, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change and National Bio-Energy Mission.

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The lakes which have low primary productivity as a result of low nutrient content are known as Oligotrophic Lake. These lakes have very low algal production therefore they often have very clear waters, with high drinking-water quality.

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Nagavara lake is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Bengaluru is known for several lakes formed from natural and man-made sources. Nagavara lake is among the prominent lakes in the city. 

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Lichens are used as air pollution indicators, especially of the concentration of Sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. If air is very badly polluted with sulphur dioxide there may be no lichens present, just green algae may be found. If the air is clean, shrubby, hairy and leafy lichens become abundant.

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Around the world, there is an increasing trend in areas of land, surface waters and groundwater affected by contamination because of one reason or other. However in the last three decades a special interest in the world has aroused by the potential of using the biological methods in the waste water treatment. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) constitutes an important part of an aquatic ecosystem. Water hyacinth as a very promising plant with tremendous application in wastewater treatment is already proved. Water hyacinth is used to treat waste water from dairies, tanneries, sugar factories, pulp and paper industries, palm oil mills, distilleries, etc.

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The Vikramashila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) resides in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, covering about 50 km along the Ganges. It holds the distinction of being India’s only sanctuary for its national aquatic animal, the Gangetic dolphin. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Control (MoEFCC) declared the Gangetic dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal of India and launched the Ganges River Dolphin Conservation Programme in 1997 – a testament to its dedication to preserving this unique species.

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In any ecosystem, there is conversion of inorganic into organic material with the help of the radiant energy of the sun by the autotrophs; consumption of the autotrophs by heterotrophs; decomposition and mineralisation of the dead matter to release them back for reuse by the autotrophs, these events are repeated over and over again. There is unidirectional movement of energy towards the higher trophic levels and its dissipation and loss as heat to the environment.

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The Great Dividing Range, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Wet Tropics of Queensland, exhibits an exceptional display of natural beauty, diverse species, and is soaked in evolutionary history. This region preserves the ancient Gondwanan forest of 50-100 million years ago, and is significant in deciphering the evolution of Australian flora and fauna. The range hosts over 400 threatened or rare species and indigenous communities have resided here for over 5,000 years. The highest Australian waterfall, Wallaman Falls, the 13 primary river systems, and multiple national parks are also part of this geography.