Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

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Sholas are the local name for patches of stunted tropical montane forest found in valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher montane regions of South India.

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Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe methyl mercury poisoning. It is caused by eating large quantities of fish and shellfish polluted by methyl mercury in factory wastewater. The disease is named after Minamata city in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, where it was first discovered in 1956.

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Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment, such as the interactions organisms have with each other and with their abiotic environment. Topics of interest to ecologists include the diversity, distribution, amount (biomass), number (population) of organisms, as well as competition between them within and among ecosystems.

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An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. Because of its role as a greenhouse gas Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been described as “the leading pollutant” and “the worst climate pollution”. Other examples include carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicle exhaust, or the Sulphur dioxide released from factories.

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Green House Effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric green house gases and is re-radiated in all directions. It results an increase in average temp of the planet.

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Photosynthesis in plants converts radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose (sugar) using electrons and protons from water. Plants take in water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight and turn them into glucose and oxygen. Water (6H2O) + Carbon Dioxide (6CO2) + Sunlight (Radiant Energy) = Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen (6O2).

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Lichens are found in both nature and in human-made environments, including rocks, trees, barren earth, metal and concrete. They are sensitive to air pollution because they receive all nutrients from the atmosphere, which makes them valuable as indicator species. The presence of sulphur dioxide force them to perish.

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Green undecomposed material used as manure is called green manure. It is obtained in two ways: (a) growing green manure crops usually belonging to leguminous family and incorporating into the soil after sufficient growth or (b) by collecting green leaf from plants grown in wastelands, field bunds and forest. The most important green manure crops are sunnhemp, dhaincha, etc.

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The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills, in Nilgiri District, about 150 km north-west of Coimbatore city in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India. The sanctuary is a haven for Bengal Tigers and Indian Leopards and other threatened species.

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Loktak lake is located near Moirang in Manipur. It is the largest freshwater lake in North -East India. It is famous for the phumdis floating over it. Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world, floats over the Loktak Lake.