Test: Issues On Environment/ Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change - 1 (2019 - 2017) - UPSC MCQ

2018-June, TheHindu

• Agricultural soils contributed to over 70% of N₂O emissions from India in 2010
• Cattle account for 80% of the ammonia production

Poultry industry recorded an excretion of reactive nitrogen compounds of 0.415 tonnes in 2016. So D: all 3 statements are correct.

As per google scholar research papers, Biomass burning is a source of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. In addition, biomass burning is a source of chemically active gases, including carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitric oxide.
These gases, along with methane, lead to the chemical production of tropospheric ozone.  So, answer should be D: 1, 2,3 and 4.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified microbeads as “unsafe” for use in cosmetic products. NGT had earlier directed the Centre to test cosmetic products containing microbeads after a plea sought ban on their use on the ground they are extremely dangerous for aquatic life and environment. So, A is the closest answer.

• Gangetic river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is found in Chambal river, says TimesofIndia.
• Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a different species. It’s found in Chilika lagoon and salt-water estuaries of Odisha, says IndiaToday. So, #2 is wrong, by elimination we are left with Answer C.

Agasthyamalai biosphere consists of Neyyar, Peppara and  Shendurney Wildlife sanctuaries and their adjoining areas. So, A is the closest match.

Sulphate aerosol particles are very good reflectors of sunlight, and it has been shown, through various climate models, that even if 1% of current incident solar radiation is reflected back in space, a very significant amount of temperature rise on earth can be offset. So, D is the closest match.

Two humped camel are called Bactrian camel, found in Central Asia’s cold deserts. So, B and D removed.
Javan rhinoceros is called lesser one-horned rhinoceros and found only on the island of Java in Indonesia. Indian rhinoceros is called greater one-horned rhinoceros. So that means second statement is false, we are left with Answer A: 1 only.

From the given options, Valley of flowers is completely in the temperate zone.

UNFCCC secretariat launched its Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2015. The following year, the secretariat launched a new pillar under its Momentum for Change initiative focused on Climate Neutral Now, as part of larger efforts to showcase successful climate action around the world

In 2012, Rio+20 (the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) was held in Brazil….Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) was launched in 2013 as a response to the call at Rio+20 to support those countries wishing to embark on greener and more inclusive growth trajectories.

"Pakhui / Pakke Tiger reserve" is in Arunachal Pradesh, so if there is a wildlife sanctuary in Pakhui, it should be in "A" for Arunachal Pradesh.

• Baigas are considered as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in the Indian Constitution and rely mostly on shifting cultivation, forest produce and fishing for sustenance, spread over forested areas of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In 2016, they became India's first community to get habitat rights. So, #2 is right.
• Under FRA Act, district level Committees have to adjudicate the rights, whereas Tribal ministry only issues guidelines. That makes #3 wrong / irrelevant. By elimination, we are left with answer A: only 1 and 2.

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), is statutory organization, was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. So #1 is wrong.
• Principal functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, (i) to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas. So last part of sentence #2 is right.
• Environment: National Green Tribunal (NGT) was set up in 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010, for the purpose of effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection. The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice. The Tribunal is mandated to make an endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing. So first part of sentence #2 is right.

Scientists are suggesting that the sixth mass extinction is underway as there is a species loss of 100-1000 every year. The normal background extinction rate is about 10-25 species per year. Habitat loss, overpopulation of humans, pollution, over-harvesting and invasive species invasion are cited as the main reasons.

Studies have shown that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide increase photosynthesis, spurring plant growth…Results showed that carbon dioxide fertilization explains 70 percent of the greening effect. [NASA 2016]

This plant is a native of Mexico, and spread throughout India It's an aggressive colonizer, common weed of wastelands, scrublands and degraded forests. Since it's mention under the head of invasive alien species so it'd reduce biodiversity in the area, Hence Option (B)

As per the timeline given on their official "About us" page: CCAC was formed in 2012 by UNEP and Ghana, Bangladesh etc. countries. So first statement is wrong.Second statement is right- they focus on Short Lived Climate Pollutants such as methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons.

As per their organizations' "About us" page: EuropeAid (DG for International Cooperation and Development) drives and oversees the overall implementation of the GCCA. So third statement is wrong. By elimination we are left with "A".

US National Research Council report on Algal Biofuel (2012) observed that
1. Algae and cyanobacteria biomass production in the U.S. desert Southwest could be perceived as a good use of low-value land by some, but as an intrusion into pristine land by others. Similarly, the use of genetically modified organisms in production systems could affect social acceptability. So this is social concern. [and it also proves statement #1 wrong.]
2. Open Algal ponds will attract insect larvae invasion and affect predator-prey balance. This is ecological concern. Hence Statement 3 is right.
3. And the report discussed challenges production and technology. Hence answer 2 and 3.

Carbon sequestration may be carried out by pumping carbon into carbon sinks of two types:
A. Natural sinks- ocean, forest, soil etc.
B. Artificial sink- depleted oil reserve, unminable mines.
So statement 1 and 2 are correct.
And deep Saline Formations in fact have highest capacity for this. So accordingly, answer is "D".

Biosparging is an in-Situ Bioremediation techniques in which we inject the air under pressure below the water table to enhance the rate of biological degradation of contaminants by naturally occurring bacteria. Hence statement 1 is right. In Google Scholar search engine is filled with academic papers on genetic engineering approaches to bioremediation. Hence 3 is also right. But not all compounds are susceptible to rapid and complete biodegradation, and bioremediation often takes longer time than other treatment processes. So, second statement unlikely to be correct. Hence, answer "C" 1 and 3 only.

The amount of oxygen required by bacteria to break down the organic matter present in a certain volume of a sample of water, is called Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). The amount of BOD in the water is a measure of the amount of organic material in the water, in terms of how much oxygen will be required to break it down biologically. Clean water would have BOD value of less than 5 ppm whereas highly polluted water could have a BOD value of 17 ppm or more.

Statement 1 is right (by common knowledge) but for the sake of reference- NCERT Class 12 biology page 30!
This eliminates "B". Second statement should be wrong because of the extreme word "drastic". This eliminates "D". Besides I'm unable to find any specific reference that mentions linkage between butterfly population vs fungus infection. Birds and spiders tend to prey on butterflies (by common knowledge) so statement 3 is a possible outcome.
Hence answer "C": 1 and 3 only.

First statement is wrong because TRAFFIC is joint program of WWF and IUCN and Second statement is correct because verbatim given in the organization's official page.

NCERT Class 11: India- Physical Geography.
A. Page 17: The Eastern and Western Ghats Meet at Nilgiri hills.
B. Page 16: Nilgiri hills are in Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
Now, If there is a place serving as Ecological link between Eastern and Western Ghats, then most likely it ought to be in Tamil Nadu, than in Karnataka, because of the location. "A" is the most fitting answer because it's located in Tamil Nadu.

Gharials are river dwelling fish-eaters and their only viable population is in the Chambal Sanctuary. So "B" should be the answer.

The schedule 5 vermin- crow, fruitbat, mice and rat can be killed. Since the animals given in above MCQ are outside that list hence answer is "D".

Tiger is given as Schedule I animal. So "A" is correct.

Even if you eliminate Corbett (Uttrakhand) and Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) for climatic reasons for Lion relocation, still you're left with Sariska (Rajasthan). Sariska being a tiger reserve, would sound unfit for lion immigration. So by elimination answer would be "B". and Indianexpress report confirm it.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is planning to implement a new computerized tiger monitoring protocol in all tiger reserves of the country known as Monitoring System for Tiger, Intensive Patrolling and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES).