Bio-Diversity-2 - UPSC MCQ

Explanation: As per Forest ministry guideline “Biosphere Reserves are special entities (sites) for how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s needs”. Biosphere reserve- goal is to foster economic Development which is ecologically sustainable. transition zone, the outermost part of the Biosphere Reserve, is an area of active cooperation between the management and the local people, wherein activities like settlements, cropping, forestry , recreation and other economic that are in harmony with the conservation goals
Educational Objective: To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.

Explanation: ABR in situated at the southernmost end of the Western Ghats and spread over two southern states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was established in 2001. It is named after Agastya Mala peak that rises up to almost 1868 metres above sea level, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In March 2016, it was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO. 
ABR covers an area of 3,500 sq km at an altitude ranging from 100 metres to 1,868 metres above the Mean Sea Level. It covers Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries and parts of the Neyyar sanctuary in Kerala and the KalakadMundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu. Its flora mostly consists of tropical forests and is home to 2,254 species of higher plants including about 400 that are endemic. About 400 Red Listed Plants, 125 species of orchids and rare, endemic and threatened plants have been recorded from the reserve. It is also home to rare endimic animals include tiger, Asian Elephant, and NilgiriTahr. It is home to Kanikaran tribe, one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.
Educational Objective: To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.

Explanation: UNESCO has introduced the category of “Biosphere Reserve” to be nominated by the national government and remains under the sovereign jurisdiction of the state in which they are located. They are internationally recognised. 11 of the 18 biosphere reserves in India are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve - Uttarakhand,  Nokrek Biosphere Reserve - Meghalaya, Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve -Madhya Pradesh,  Simlipal Biosphere Reserve - Odisha,  Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve - Great Nicobar, Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve -Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,  Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve- Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve added in 2018 (this question was asked earlier before.) Educational Objective: To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location. World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Explanation: Similipal biosphere reserve is in Orissa. DehongDeband biosphere reserve is in Arunachal Pradesh, Nokrek biosphere reserve is in Meghalaya and Kanchenjunga biosphere reserve is situated in Sikkim.
Educational Objective:To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.

Explanation: Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal or marine ecosystems or its amalgamation. The biosphere reserve network was launched in 1971 by UNESCO, two years after the initiation of MAB- Man and the biosphere programme. Government of India established 18 biospheres in the country.

Educational Objective: To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Explanation: Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Tourism and other activities allowed in these areas.
Educational Objective: To know about the major eco sensitive zones, statutory provisions.

Explanation: Dampa Tiger Reserve, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram. Saramati peak is in Nagaland. It is located near Tuensang town with a height of 3,826 m. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is famous wildlife reserve in Tripura.
Educational Objective: to know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.

Explanation: Nokrek is the highest peak in Garo Hills. Loktaklake and Barailrange are away from eachother.
Educational Objective: to know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Explanation: A biosphere reserve is a unique concept, which includes one, or more protected areas and surrounding lands that are managed to combine both conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In India 13 states in have Biosphere Reserves and the funds allocated to them is utilized to monitor and promote bio-diversity conservation through surveys and assessment of flora and fauna. Basically Biosphere reserves are to protect larger areas of natural habitat, and often include one or more national parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses as per the IUCN Category V.
The difference between a national park and a sanctuary is that no human activity is allowed inside a national park, while limited activities are permitted within the sanctuary.
Educational Objective: To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Explanation:
Chandra Prabha - Varanasi
Kerera - Jhansi
Jaisamand - Udaipu
Nahargarh - Jaipur
Educational Objective: to know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location.World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Explanation:

1. KangerGhati National Park - Chhattisgarh
2. Nagerhole National Park - Karnataka
3. Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary - Himachal Pradesh
4. Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary - Haryana

Educational Objective: to know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location. World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Explanation:
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary Goa Kangerghat National Park Chhattisgarh Orang Sanctuary Assam Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary Orissa
Educational Objective: To know about the National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves classification, climatic characteristics of the regions and the location. World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Explanation:
In many parts of the world, natural resources are the only source of livelihood opportunities available to people. Girardiniadiversifolia (Himalayan nettle), a fibre-yielding plant, has become an important livelihood option for people living in the remote mountainous villages of the Hindu Kush Himalaya. There is a community in Khar, a hamlet in Darchula district in far-western Nepal, which produces fabrics from Himalayan nettle. The fabric and the things made from it are sold in local as well as national and international markets as high-end products.
Educational Objective: To know about the importance of flora and fauna.

Explanation: Buckthorn
It has multi-purpose medicinal and nutritional properties, and also helps in soil conservation and nitrogen fixation.
Hardy, drought-resistant and tolerant to extreme temperatures from – 43º C to + 40º C, the plant has an extensive root system which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it ideal for controlling soil erosion and preventing desertification.
National mission on buckthorn in is a part of Sub-Mission on Cold Desert Ecosystems under the Green India Mission — which is a part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
Educational Objective: To know about the importance of flora and fauna.

Explanation: Insectivorous plants prey insects because most of the insectivorous plants grow in those area where there is deciet of nitrogen in nutrients so they catch insect to full its need of nutrients.
Educational Objective:To know about the importance of flora and fauna.

Explanation:
Pitcher plants are several different carnivorous plants which have modified leaves known as pitfall traps—a prey-trapping mechanism featuring a deep cavity filled with digestive liquid. The traps of what are considered to be "true" pitcher plants are formed by specialized leaves. The plants attract and drown their prey with nectar.
Educational Objective: to know about the importance of flora and fauna.

Explanation: Taxuswallichiana, the Himalayan yew, is a species of yew, native to the Himalaya and parts of south-east Asia. The species has a variety of uses in traditional medicine. It is currently classified as endangered by the IUCN.
Educational Objective: to know about the importance of flora and fauna. Important flora which are in the news.

Explanation: Red Sanders (a tree) has a highly restrictive distribution in the South Eastern portion of Indian peninsula (Eastern Ghats of South India) to which it is endemic. It occurs in the forest formation which is classified as “Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests” t is generally found at altitudes of 150 – 900 m. It grows on dry, hilly, often rocky ground, and occasionally found on precipitous hill sides also. It prefers lateritic and gravelly soil and cannot tolerate water logging.
Educational objective: to know about the importance of flora and fauna.

Explanation:
Spirogyra and Ulothrix are green algae not blue algae. The chamelean can see in both the direction forward and backward at the same time.
Educational Objective: To know about the ecological niche of species, importance to human.

Explanation: Scientists at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have discovered a new species of banana from a remote tropical Krishna Nalah rain forest on the Little Andaman islands. The new species is about 11 metres high, whereas as the usual banana species is about three to four meters high. The fruit pulp is orange in colour, distinctive from the white and yellow color of regular bananas. Hence (a) is the correct answer.
Educational Objective: To know about the newly discovered species and locations associated with it.

Explanation: Root Bridge Living root bridges (also known as Jing KiengJri) are the aerial bridges that are built by weaving and manipulating the roots of the Indian rubber 
tree.

• A root bridge uses traditional tribal knowledge to train the roots of the Indian rubber tree (found in abundance in the area) to grow laterally across a stream bed resulting in a living bridge of roots.
• It spans between 15 and 250 feet and is built over centuries.
• They have been serving as connectors for generations in the Indian state of Meghalaya.
• The bridges are primarily a means to cross streams and rivers. They have also become world-famous tourist attractions. The two most popular tourist spots are- Riwai Root Bridge and Umshiang Double Decker Bridge.

Educational Objective: to know about the natural vegetation and its importance on human life.

Explanation: Tobacco, cocoa and rubber were originally domesticated or cultivated in the ‘New World’ (America) and introduced into the ‘Old World’ (Asia and Africa). Cotton and Wheat are being cultivated in India since very ancient times. People of Mehrgarh (Baluchistan, Pakistan) cultivated Cotton during Neolithic age. Wheat was cultivated by people of Harappan civilisation and Vedic Aryans
Educational Objective: To know about the different vegetation.

Explanation: The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a notification dated December 15, 2016 inviting objections and suggestions from the stakeholders on completely banning of 12 pesticides/insecticides and phasing out of 6 pesticides/insecticides.
These pesticides include: Benomyl, Carbaryl, Diazinon, Fenarimol, Fenthion, Linuron, MEMC, Methyl Parthion, Sodium Cyanide, Thiometon, Tridemorph, Trifluralin, Alachlor, Dichlorvos, Phorate, Phosphamidon, Triazophos and Trichlorfon. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Educational Objective: To know chemicals used as pesticides in agriculture.

Explanation: Conservation Agriculture (CA) aims to achieve sustainable and profitable agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods. CA observes three main principles

• Minimal soil disturbance – (i.e. no tillage) through direct seed and/or fertilizer placement.
• A permanent soil cover - (at least 30 percent) with crop residues and/or cover crops.
• rotation of crops / Species diversification -through varied crop sequences and associations involving at least three different crops.

Explanation: Carbon sequestration is the process of capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate global warming and to avoid dangerous impacts of climate change. Soil is one of the largest reservoirs, where carbon could be restored. So, methods of soil conservation help in carbon sequestration.
Contour bunding involves the construction of banks along the contours. Terracing and contour bunding which divide the hill slope into numerous small slopes, check the flow of water, promote absorption of water by soil and save soil from erosion. Hence, statement 1 is correct Relay cropping: Relay cropping involves growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting of the second crop after the first one has reached its reproductive stage. It saves soil from erosion. Hence, statement 2 is correct
Zero Tillage farming is the method of farming in which there is no tilling involved. Here, the soil is left undisturbed except to place the seeds in the desired position to germinate. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Educational Objective: To know about methods that help in carbon sequestration in soil.