Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
Some of the Environmentally Sensitive Places are as follows:
1. Religious and historic places
2. Archaeological monuments/sites
3. Biosphere reserves
4. Airport
5. Natural lakes, swamps Seismic zones tribal Settlements
6. Hill resorts/mountains/ hills

Notes:
Xerosere is a type of plant succession which is limited by water availability. Xerosere originates on rock surfaces which are in an unweathered state. There are different stages in a xerarch succession.

Notes:
Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is one of the initial nine tiger reserves constituted at the time of
inception of the Project Tiger Scheme in the year 1973.

Notes:
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called green house gases. Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) are used to compare the abilities of different green house gases to trap heat in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is used as the base for all the calculations, so its global warming potential is 1.2. The higher the GWP, the more heat the specific gas can keep in the atmosphere. Fluorinated gases : Chlorofluorocarbons, Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride : are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that have highest heat trapping abilities. These gases are 1,000; 10,000 even 20,000 times more powerful than Carbon dioxide (CO2) at trapping heat and many can stay in our atmosphere for thousands of years.

Notes:
A Red Data Book contains lists of species whose continued existence is threatened. Species are classified into different categories of perceived risk. It documents rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, as well as other living organisms in an area, region or country.

Notes:
Phenotype refers to a set of observable characteristics of an individual or group resulting from the interaction of its genotype with its environment. Gene pool refers to the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.

Notes:
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet’s atmosphere warms the planet’s surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere. It caused by the presence of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and certain other gases in the air.

Notes:
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968. This park is known for high density of Tigers. The park derives its name from the most prominent hillock of the area, which was said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on Lanka (Ceylon).

Notes:
The Heard and McDonald Islands are located in the sub-Antarctic region and serve as external territories of Australia. These volcanic islands, discovered in the 1850s by American mariners John Heard and William McDonald, were proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. These islands, recognized for their unique wildlife and geology (including active volcanoes), are considered one of the world’s most remote places. Initially claimed by the UK in 1910, they were transferred to Australia in 1947, hence, the land boasting the highest mountain under Australian sovereignty.

Notes:
Vjetrenica Cave, positioned in Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, boasts remarkable biodiversity. As the world’s most biodiverse grotto, it houses over 200 animal species, with 90 troglobionts, creatures that live specifically in caves. The gem of nature spans 7,014 meters, augmented by four rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. Named for the chilling winds emanating from its entrance, it maintains a constant 11 degrees Celsius temperature. Chronologically, its first mention was in 77 A.D by Pliny the Elder, and it has been a protected sanctuary since 1950. This haven for cave-dwelling animals also features unique species, including bacteria and fungi.