Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
Wildlife corridor or Green corridor is an area of habitat which connects wildlife populations separated by human activities. Wildlife corridors may be both natural or created. These corridors help animals that move between isolated patches on a daily basis and also those that migrate between habitats seasonally.

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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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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, non-flammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants. Because CFCs contribute to?ozone?depletion in the upper atmosphere, the manufacture of such compounds has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol.

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Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of undesirable heat to water thereby making it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. The change in ambient temperature of water decreases oxygen supply and affects ecosystem composition.

Notes:
The glorious Pin Valley National Park is located in the cold desert area of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Predesh and is home to more than 20 species of animals and birds, including the endangered Snow Leopard. Wildly furious but majestic Pin River flows right through it. The park is located in the desert habitat of the Spiti Valley, within the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, in the Himalayas region.

Notes:

• Bandipur National Park, established in 1973 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in the south Indian state of Karnataka.
• The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat.
• Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam.
• Rohla National Park in Kulu, Himachal Pradesh, is known for snow leopards.

Notes:
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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Ecological sanitation is a sustainable system for handling human excreta, using dry composting toilets. This is a practical, hygienic, efficient and cost-effective solution to human waste disposal. With this composting method, human excreta can be recycled into a resource (as natural fertiliser), which reduces the need for chemical fertilisers.

Notes:

• The Asian Waterbird Census is conducted in January each year and is coordinated by the Wetlands International South Asia and the Bombay Natural History Society in india.
• It is an integral part of the global waterbird monitoring programme, the International Waterbird Census (IWC), coordinated by Wetlands International.
• It was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent and since has grown rapidly to cover major region of Asia.
• It is the longest-running citizen science initiative.
• Under this initiative, systematic counting and monitoring of waterbirds is undertaken to study trends and condition of wetlands, covering hundreds of sites.

Notes:
The Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world’s largest coral reef system, spanning 2,300 kilometers and covering 344,400 square kilometers. It is home to 10% of the world’s fish species, 400 types of coral, and six of the seven species of marine turtles. The reef is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, with the widest sections reaching up to 65 kilometers. It is visible from space and supports a diverse array of marine life, including whales, dolphins, and sharks. The reef has been listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World since 1997. Despite its natural beauty, the reef faces threats from climate change, coral bleaching, and pollution, with UNESCO recommending it for the In Danger list due to these impacts.