Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges the low lying lands. Some of the reasons which are responsible for floods are deforestation, tilling of land, etc. Afforestation is a method that can be helpful in preventing floods.

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Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006, divided developmental projects in two categories, i.e., Category A and Category B. Category A’ projects are assessed at national level by the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). Category B projects are assessed at state level.

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The screening criteria is based upon the scale of investment, type of development and location of development. The state of ecosystem as it exists prior to the project and its potential effects is known as Baseline Data.

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Micro-organisms that can live within the pore interstices of sedimentary and even igneous rocks to depths of several kilometers are referred to as Lithophiles. Some of these mico-organisms are known to live on surface rocks, and make use of photosynthesis for energy.

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The intentional release or dissemination of biological agents is known as Bio-terrorism. These agents of bio-terrorism  include bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form.

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A cryogenic storage facility which is used to archive biological samples for use in research and experiments is known as Biobank. Biobanks are an important resource in medical research which support many types of contemporary research like genomics and personalized medicine.

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An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 301-500 is considered as hazardous to human health. It denotes the severely polluted state of air. AQI values over 300 trigger health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health effects.

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Chitwan National Park in Nepal is contiguous to the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park. Adjacent to the east of Chitwan National Park is Parsa National Park. The coherent protected area of 2,075 km2 represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki, which covers an area of 3,549 km2.

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:
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.