Consider the following statements regarding Gambusia fish: It is used ...
The correct answer is option 'A': 1 only.
Explanation:
1. It is used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae:
Gambusia fish, also known as mosquito fish, is widely used as a biological control agent for controlling mosquito larvae. These fish are voracious predators and feed on mosquito larvae, thus reducing the population of mosquitoes in the water bodies where they are introduced. This method of mosquito control is environmentally friendly and does not involve the use of chemical pesticides, making it a preferred option in many regions.
2. It is native to the Indian Ocean:
This statement is incorrect. Gambusia fish is not native to the Indian Ocean. It is native to North America, specifically the southern United States and northern Mexico. It was introduced to various parts of the world, including many countries in Asia and Africa, for mosquito control purposes. The fish has been successfully established in these regions and has shown effectiveness in reducing mosquito populations.
In conclusion, the correct statement is only statement 1, which states that Gambusia fish is used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae. The second statement, stating that it is native to the Indian Ocean, is incorrect.
Consider the following statements regarding Gambusia fish: It is used ...
Recently, various government and non-governmental organisations in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab have released Gambusia fish into local water bodies to address a mosquito menace.
- It is known as mosquito fish, is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae.
- It is native to the waters of the south-eastern United States.
- It has been a part of mosquito-control strategies for over a century in various parts of the world, including India.
- A single full-grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day.
- Also, it has been part of various malaria control strategies in India since 1928, including the Urban Malaria Scheme.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature declare Gambusia one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world.
Key points about Malaria
- It is a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite.
- The parasite can be spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
- Transmission
- The plasmodium parasite is spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are known as "night-biting" mosquitoes because they most commonly bite between dusk and dawn.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
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