Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Global hectare used as a measurement of biocapacity of the entire earth. One global hectare is a measurement of the average biocapacity of all hectare measurements of any biologically productive areas on the planet earth.

Notes:
Namami Gange mission is run by the Central
Government in five states namely
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Bihar and West Bengal. It is managed by West Bengal Forest Department for
sustaining the biodiversity of the Ganga river ecosystem along with its
purification.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Forests are home to a large number of plants and animals. They are the “green lungs” and serve as water purifying systems of nature. In a forest, there are various types of interactions that occur between the living and the non-living components. The oxygen released during photosynthesis is used by the animals for respiration. In this way, plants and animals help in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Therefore, forests can be considered as a dynamic living entity.

Notes:
Carbon monoxide inhibits the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to body tissues including vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it combines with the oxygen carrying haemoglobin of the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Once combined with the haemoglobin, that haemoglobin is no longer available for transporting oxygen.

Notes:
Jim Corbett believed in the conservation of the ecosystem and wildlife, especially tigers and that is why Jim Corbett National Park was chosen as the venue for the inauguration of ‘Save the tigers’ project in India. Project tiger was launched in 1973. Basic intention of Project Tiger is to maintain the ecological balance of nature and conserve extant ecosystems. The project seeks to establish a natural link between the wildlife & flora of national parks and sanctuaries and the humans living on their peripheries.

Notes:
Mylo is a leather-like material made from mycelium, the underground root structure of mushrooms. Mylo is a sustainable alternative to leather because it can be grown without polluting substances. It is also more sustainable than synthetic leathers, which are usually made from petroleum-derived inputs.
Mylo is grown in a controlled indoor environment. The growing process is designed to be low impact and takes less than two weeks. It emits fewer greenhouse gases and uses less water and resources than animal-based leather.
Mylo is 80% bio-based and is completely biodegradable and compostable. However, when extra durability is needed, the mushroom leather is reinforced with polyurethane, which decreases its biodegradability.

Notes:
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) uses a color-coded alert system for weather events. A green alert indicates no action is required. A yellow alert signals potential rainfall of 6-11 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert indicates heavy rainfall of 6-20 cm. A red alert warns of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in a 24-hour period.