Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

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Plasticulture refers to the practice of using plastic material in agricultural applications. They are also referred to as ag Plastics. Polyethylene (PE) is mostly used by the majority of people due to its easy availability.

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Grasslands and shrubs ecosystems typically flourish in areas that receive 25 cm to 75 cm of rainfall per year. This range of rainfall is not sufficient for supporting dense forests but is adequate for grasses and shrubs. The richness and distribution of species are greatly affected by rainfall patterns and seasonality. Knowing the amount of rainfall helps in predicting vegetation type in a particular region, which is crucial for management and conservations strategies.

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PPM is an abbreviation of Parts Per Million. It is commonly used as a measure of small levels of pollutants in air, water, body fluids, etc. Parts per million is the mass ratio between the pollutant component and the solution.

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Cellulose for industrial use is mainly obtained from wood pulp and cotton. Cellulose is the major constituent of paper, paperboard, and card stock. It is also the main ingredient of textiles made from cotton, linen, and other plant fibres. It can be turned into rayon, an important fiber that has been used for textiles since the beginning of the 20th century.

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In ecology, the trophic level is the position that an organism occupies in a food chain – what it eats, and what eats it. Ecosystem represents the most complex trophic level. Each species in an ecosystem is affected by the other species in that ecosystem. There are very few single prey-single predator relationships. Most prey are consumed by more than one predator, and most predators have more than one prey. It is also marked by multi trophic interactions that involve more than two trophic levels in a food web.

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Denitrification is the biological conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, nitric oxide or nitrous oxide. It involves nitrate reduction by bacterial species such as Pseudomonas and Clostridium, usually in anaerobic conditions that ultimately produces molecular nitrogen (N2). These bacteria use nitrate as an electron acceptor instead of oxygen during respiration.

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A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, contributing to the greenhouse effect. The essential greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere include:

• Water vapor
• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Nitrous oxide
• Ozone

Here, Nitrogen is not considered a greenhouse gas.

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Manas National Park is located in the Himalayan foothills of Assam. It is also a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, and Elephant Reserve. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. Manas is famous for its population of the wild water buffalo.

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K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, is recognized globally as the largest sand island. Located in Queensland, Australia, this World Heritage-listed island covers a vast expanse of 120 kilometers. Further adding to its ecological significance, it harbors varied ecosystems ranging from rainforests to perched freshwater lakes. Notably, it serves as a habitat for a pure breed of dingoes and is home to Boomanjin Lake, the world’s largest perched lake. The island carries a historic and cultural resonance as it was once associated with the Butchulla people and used as an Allied training base during World War II.

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Purnululu National Park, situated in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, is recognized globally for the unique, cone-shaped karst formations of the Bungle Bungle Range. This World Heritage Site, covering over 239,723 hectares, houses a rich biodiversity including 150 bird species, 40 native mammals, and 81 reptile species. Notable for its indigenous cultural significance, it is also home to three of Australia’s most venomous snakes and features distinctive landmarks such as Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge, and Piccaninny Gorge.