Q. ‘Invasive Species Specialist group’ (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organizations?

(a) The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(b) The United Nations Environment Programme
(c) The United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development
(d) The World Wide Fund for Nature

Answer: (a) The International Union for Conservation of Nature

International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • IUCN is a membership union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations.
  • Created in 1948, it is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
  • It is headquartered in Switzerland.
  • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.
    • It uses a set of quantitative criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of species. These criteria are relevant to most species and all regions of the world.
    • The IUCN Red List Categories define the extinction risk of species assessed. Nine categories extend from NE (Not Evaluated) to EX (Extinct). Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be threatened with extinction.
    • It is recognized as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity.
    • It is also a key indicator for the SDGs and Aichi Targets.
  • In 1980, partnering with the UNEP and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the IUCN published the World Conservation Strategy, a document which helped define the concept of ‘sustainable development’ and shaped the global conservation and sustainable development agenda.
  • In 1992, in light of the growing environmental concerns, the United Nations granted official observer status to the IUCN.
  • Currently, the IUCN is the biggest and most diverse environmental network.
  • The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.

Q. Consider the following ‘fauna :

  1. Lion-tailed Macaque
  2. Malabar Civet
  3. Sambar Deer

How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (b) Only two

Lion-tailed Macaque
  • The Lion Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) is an old world monkey native to the western ghats of Southern India.
  • The life expectancy for a wild lion-tailed macaque is 20 years while it is 30 years in captivity.
  • The lion-tailed macaque is diurnal in nature, as in being active solely during daylight hours.
  • Preferring rainforest environments it is a good climber, spending most of its time in the upper reaches of a tropical rainforest.
  • Its habitats consist of rainforest regions of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • Unlike other macaques, lion-tails avoid humans as much as possible.
  • They form hierarchical groups of about 20 members. These groups fiercely defend their territories with loud cries and if necessary, brawling aggressively.
  • The diet of the lion-tailed macaque consists of fruits, leaves, buds, and insects. However, they diversify their diets in the event of environmental change or scarcity. They are also known to feed on fruits seeds, shoos, flowers and other parts of non indegenous plants.
  • As per the assessment carried out by the International Unit for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) it was reported that 3000-3500 of the lion-tailed macaque population was dispersed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Its red list categories it as ‘endangered ‘.
  • Silent Valley has the largest number of lion tailed macaque in South India.
  • Founds in the Kudremukh and Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.
  • Their population range is becoming significantly limited due to spread of agriculture and commercial farming for tea, coffee. Construction of new dams and irrigational facilities are also a factor in their decline.
Lion-tailed Macaque
Malabar Civet
  • The Malabar large spotted civet is one of the world’s rarest mammals.
  • Malabar Civet is a nocturnal and elusive animal.
  • It is endemic to Western Ghats of India.
  • Civetone extract from the scent gland used in medicine, and in perfumes.
  • Habitat
    • Wooded plains and hill slopes of evergreen rainforests
    • Lowland forests, lowland swamp and riparian forests in the coastal plain districts of the Western Ghats
  • Major Threats
    • Habitat destruction and Hunting.
    • Deforestation.
    • Commercial Plantations .
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972: Schedule I
    • CITES: Appendix III
Malabar Civet
Sambar Deer
  • Sambar, a large deer species native to Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, is listed as vulnerable due to hunting, insurgency, and habitat exploitation.
  • It is known for its large antlers, shaggy coat and small mane, and is found in a variety of habitats near water sources.
  • It inhabits a variety of habitats including tropical dry forests, tropical seasonal forests, subtropical mixed forests, montane grasslands, and tropical rainforests. The sambar prefers the dense cover of deciduous shrubs and grasses, and is often found near water sources.
  • Sambar are nocturnal or crepuscular animals, and the males live alone for much of the year, while the females live in small herds of up to 16 individuals.
  • They often congregate near water and are good swimmers. They are generally quiet animals, but can make short, high-pitched sounds when alarmed. They communicate by scent marking and foot stamping, which is an unusual pattern for deer.
  • The sambar is an important prey species for large carnivores such as the tiger, dhole, and crocodiles.
Sambar Deer

Q. Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?

(a) Butterflies
(b) Dragonflies
(c) Honeybees
(d) Wasps

Answer: (c) Honeybees

Honeybees
  • A honey bee is a eusocial flying insect within the genus Apis of the bee clade, all native to mainland Afro-Eurasia.
  • Honey bees are known for their construction of perennial colonial nests from wax, the large size of their colonies, and surplus production and storage of honey, distinguishing their hives as a prized foraging target of many animals, including honey badgers, bears and human hunter-gatherers.
  • The best known honey bee is the western honey bee, (Apis mellifera), which was domesticated for honey production and crop pollination.
  • Honeybees are important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They live on stored honey and pollen all winter and cluster into a ball to conserve warmth.
  • All honeybees are social and cooperative insects. Members of the hive are divided into three types.
    • Workers forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean, and circulate air by beating their wings. The queen’s job is simple—she lays the eggs that will spawn the hive’s next generation of bees. There is usually only a single queen in a hive. If the queen dies, workers will create a new queen by feeding one of the worker females a special food called “royal jelly.” This elixir enables the worker to develop into a fertile queen.
    • Queens regulate the hive’s activities by producing chemicals that guide the behavior of the other bees. Male bees are called drones—the third class of honeybee. Several hundred drones live in each hive during the spring and summer, but they are expelled for the winter months when the hive goes into a lean survival mode.
  • There are 2 types of dances performed by bees:
    • The Round Dance and
    • The Tail-wagging or Waggle Dance
  • For food sources 25 to 100 metres from the hive or closer, the round dance is used. The round dance provides no directional cues.
  • The waggle dance takes the place of the round dance as the distance to the food source increases. The waggle dance tells the direction and amount of energyneeded to reach the food source.
  • The amount of energy spent (or distance) is represented by the time required to complete one circuit.
    • For a food source which is 200 metres away, a bee might dance 8–9 circuits in 15 seconds, 4-5 in 15 seconds for a source that is 1000 metres away, and 3 circuits in 15 seconds for a source that is 2000 metres away.
Wasps
  • A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder.
    • The wasps do not constitute a clade, a complete natural group with a single ancestor, as bees and ants are deeply nested within the wasps, having evolved from wasp ancestors. Wasps that are members of the clade Aculeata can sting their prey.
  • Wasps are distinguishable from bees by their pointed lower abdomens and the narrow “waist,” called a petiole, that separates the abdomen from the thorax.
  • The most commonly known wasps, such as yellowjackets and hornets, are in the family Vespidae and are eusocial, living together in a nest with an egg-laying queen and non-reproducing workers.
  • Most wasps are actually solitary, non-stinging varieties. And all do far more good for humans by controlling pest insect populations than harm.
  • Wasps live all over the world on every continent except Antarctica.
  • Their venom contains a pheromone that makes other wasps more aggressive when they smell it.
  • Wasps can repeatedly attack because their stinger is not barbed like those of bees.
  • In later summer, young fertilized queens will burrow into an old log or inside other structures where they hibernate as all other wasps die off. In the spring, these queens start new colonies.
  • The largest wasp in the world is the tarantula hawk, which can reach 2.7 inches in length. Tarantula hawks deliver a painful sting and have wingspans that can reach 4.5 inches.
Wasp
Dragonflies
  • A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonflies are known.
    • Arriving on the scene around 300 million years ago, dragonflies were one of the first insects to inhabit this planet.
  • Dragonflies are flat-out terrifying. They don’t simply chase down their prey; they snag them from the air with calculated aerial ambushes. Dragonflies can judge the speed and trajectory of a prey target and adjust their flight to intercept prey.
  • The area of an odonate’s head is composed primarily of its enormous compound eyes, which contain 30,000 facets, each bringing in information about the insect’s surroundings. Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision, with just one blind spot directly behind them. This extraordinary vision is one reason why they’re able to keep a watch on a single insect within a swarm and go after it while avoiding midair collisions with other insects in the swarm.
  • Dragonflies lay their eggs in water, and when the larvae hatch, they live underwater for up to two years. Some Lay Eggs in Saltwater.
  • Dragonflies help humans by controlling populations of pest insects, especially those that threaten us most, such as mosquitoes and biting flies. A single dragonfly can eat anywhere between 30 and hundreds of mosquitoes per day.
Dragonflies
Butterflies
  • Butterflies are the adult flying stage of certain insects belonging to an order or group called Lepidoptera. Moths also belong to this group.
  • Butterflies (and moths) are the only group of insects that have scales covering their wings, although some butterflies have reduced scales. They differ from other insects also by their ability to coil up their proboscis.
  • A butterfly undergoes a process called complete metamorphosis during its life cycle. This means that the butterfly changes completely from its early larval stage, when it is a caterpillar, until the final stage, when it becomes a beautiful and graceful adult butterfly. The butterfly life cycle has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
  • Butterflies are cold-blooded, meaning they cannot regulate their own body temperature. As a result, their body temperature changes with the temperature of their surroundings.
  • Mating
    • A male butterfly has several methods of determining whether he has found a female of his own species. One way is by sight. The male will look for butterflies with wings that are the correct color and pattern. When a male sights a potential mate it will fly closer, often behind or above the female. Once closer, the male will release special chemicals, called pheromones, while it flutters its wings a bit more than usual.
    • The male may also do a special “courtship dance” to attract the female. These “dances” consist of flight patterns that are peculiar to that species of butterfly. If the female is interested she may join the male’s dance. They will then mate by joining together end to end at their abdomens. During the mating process, when their bodies are joined, the male passes sperm to the female. As the eggs later pass through the female’s egg-laying tube, they are fertilized by the sperm. The male butterfly often dies soon after mating.
butterfly and a moth

Q. Consider the following statements :

  1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
  2. Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.
  3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
  4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.

How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
{b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (d) All four

Mushrooms
  • A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source.
  • Medicinal mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake, and reishi have been found to have antitumor and immunostimulant properties. Men will probably reap health benefits simply from adding shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms—good sources of B vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants—to the diet.
  • Psychoactive properties mean a drug or other substance that affects how the brain works and causes changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior. Examples of psychoactive substances include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, marijuana, and certain pain medicines. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical in certain mushrooms known as magic mushrooms. Eating mushrooms that contain psilocybin can have a variety of effects, ranging from euphoria to hallucinations. Individuals use psilocybin as a recreational drug. It can provide feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion that are common to hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).
  • Recently, an increasing number of mushrooms have been found to contain insecticidal compounds.
  • Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. Panellus stipticus is one of the brightest-glowing bioluminescent mushrooms on Earth. These flat fungi, which look like a collection of tiny fans growing on sticks, are a dull shade of yellow-beige during the day, but they transform into dazzling decorations after dark. A mushroom documentation project in the forests of Northeast India has revealed not only 600 varieties of fungi, but also led to a new discovery: a bioluminescent or light emitting variety of mushroom. The new species — named Roridomyces phyllostachydis — was first sighted on a wet August night near a stream in Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district and later at Krang Shuri in West Jaintia Hills district.

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels :

  1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground.
  2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground.
  3. They are omnivorous.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (a) Only one

Indian squirrels
  • Indian squirrels, like many squirrel species, are primarily arboreal creatures, which means they live in trees. They build nests, often called dreys, in trees, not burrows in the ground.
  • Squirrels do have a behavior known as “caching” where they store their food materials like nuts and seeds. Some species, like the Eastern Gray Squirrel, do cache food in the ground. However, not all Indian squirrels display this behavior. For instance, Indian giant squirrels, have been observed to not store food, relying on the abundant food in their habitat.
  • Indian squirrels, like most squirrels, are primarily herbivorous, meaning their diet consists mainly of a wide variety of plants, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi, and green vegetation. However, they also eat insects and other small animals when the opportunity arises, so they could be considered omnivorous in a broad sense.
Indian squirrels

Q. Consider the following statements :

  1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water.
  2. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water.
  3. Some microorganisms can grow in highly acidic environment with a pH below 3.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (c) All three

Notes:
  • A thermophile is an organism, a type of extremophile, that thrives at relatively high temperatures, between 41 and 122 °C.  Most thermophiles live at temperatures between 60 and 80 ° C. Thermophiles are capable of growing, carrying out metabolic processes, and reproducing at these extreme temperatures. One thermophile, Pyrolobus fumarii, has been found at temperatures of 113° C /235° F, which is hotter than the boiling point of water.
  • Psychrophiles are organisms capable of growth and reproduction in cold temperatures and are often xerophilic and halophilic as well.  Some microbes will cease growing at 00C or even higher while others continue to grow below the freezing point of food.   Growth rate below 00C is very slow. The reported minimum growth of microorganism varying from 100C to – 100C.  But for practical cases, the lower limit of growth for bacteria, yeast or moulds can take as -70C.
  • Acidophiles are microorganisms that show optimal growth in highly acidic environments. These are of two types. The extreme acidophiles dwell in environments with a pH value <3, and moderate acidophiles grow optimally in conditions having pH values ranging between 3 and 5.

Q. Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?

(a) Fishing cat
(b) Orangutan
(c) Otter
(d) Sloth bear

Answer: (b) Orangutan

Orangutan
  • Orangutans are great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. They are now found only in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, but during the Pleistocene they ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China.
  • The most arboreal of the great apes, orangutans spend most of their time in trees. They have proportionally long arms and short legs, and have reddish-brown hair covering their bodies. Adult males weigh about 75 kg (165 lb), while females reach about 37 kg (82 lb). Dominant adult males develop distinctive cheek pads or flanges and make long calls that attract females and intimidate rivals; younger subordinate males do not and more resemble adult females.
  • Orangutans are the most solitary of the great apes: social bonds occur primarily between mothers and their dependent offspring.
  • Fruit is the most important component of an orangutan’s diet; but they will also eat vegetation, bark, honey, insects and bird eggs.
  • They can live over 30 years, both in the wild and in captivity.
  • Orangutans are among the most intelligent primates. They use a variety of sophisticated tools and construct elaborate sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage.
Fishing cat
  • The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia.
  • Since 2016, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Fishing cat populations are threatened by destruction of wetlands and have declined severely over the last decade.
  • The fishing cat lives foremost in the vicinity of wetlands, along rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, in swamps, and mangroves.
  • The fishing cat is the state animal of West Bengal.
  • In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats.
  • The fishing cat is nocturnal and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.
  • It is capable of breeding all year round but in India its peak breeding season is known to be between March and May.
  • Protection Status:
    • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. Despite multiple threats, the Fishing Cat was recently downlisted to “Vulnerable” from “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List species assessment.
    • CITES: Appendix II
    • Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • Conservation Efforts:
    • Earlier, Chilika Development Authority had declared its intent to adopt a five year action plan for fishing cat conservation in Chilika.
    • In 2021, the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance initiated a study of the bio-geographical distribution of the fishing cat in the unprotected and human-dominated landscapes of the northeastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
    • The Fishing Cat Project, launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal.
    • In 2012, the West Bengal government officially declared the Fishing Cat as the State Animal and the Calcutta Zoo has two big enclosures dedicated to them.
    • In Odisha, many NGOs and wildlife conservation Societies are involved in Fishing Cat research and conservation work.
Otter
  • Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.
  • The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates.
  • Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their seal-like abilities for holding breath underwater. Most have sharp claws on their feet and all except the sea otter have long, muscular tails.
  • The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest.
  • Several otter species live in cold waters and have high metabolic rates to help keep them warm. Eurasian otters must eat 15% of their body weight each day, and sea otters 20 to 25%, depending on the temperature.
  • Feeding
    • For most otters, fish is the staple of their diet. This is often supplemented by frogs, crayfish and crabs. Some otters are experts at opening shellfish, and others will feed on available small mammals or birds. Prey-dependence leaves otters very vulnerable to prey depletion. Sea otters are hunters of clams, sea urchins and other shelled creatures. They are notable for their ability to use stones to break open shellfish on their bellies.
Sloth bear
  • The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent.
  • It feeds on fruits, ants and termites.
  • It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation.
  • It has also been called “labiated bear” because of its long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects. It has a long, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and long, sickle-shaped claws. It is lankier than brown and Asian black bears.
  • Sloth bears breed during spring and early summer and give birth near the beginning of winter. When their territories are encroached upon by humans, they sometimes attack them. Historically, humans have drastically reduced these bears’ habitat and diminished their population by hunting them for food and products such as their bacula and claws. Sloth bears have been tamed and used as performing animals and as pets.

Q. Consider the following statements :

Statement-I : Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.
Statement-II : Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.

Which one of the following is correct in respect “of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

Notes:
  • Carbon markets, also known as emissions trading systems or cap-and-trade systems, are mechanisms that put a price on carbon emissions. They create economic incentives for reducing emissions by allowing entities to buy and sell carbon credits. This helps to create a market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has been adopted by many countries and regions as a strategy to mitigate climate change.
  • Carbon markets are a mechanism designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon. They create a market for buying and selling carbon credits, which represent the right to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases. In carbon markets, companies or entities that emit fewer greenhouse gases than their allotted limit can sell their excess credits to those who exceed their limit. This allows for a more efficient allocation of emission reduction efforts. While carbon markets involve financial transactions and can transfer resources from the private sector to the state. Instead, they facilitate the exchange of emission allowances between entities, which can include both private and public entities.

Q. Consider the following statements :

Once the Central Government notifies an area as a ‘Community Reserve’

  1. the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest
  2. hunting is not allowed in such area
  3. people of such area are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce
  4. people of such area are allowed traditional agricultural practices

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (b) Only two

Community Reserve
  • Any community or private land may be designated by the State Government as a Community Reserve provided the inhabitants of that community or the person concerned consent to provide such areas for the preservation of the local flora and fauna as well as their customs, cultures, and practises.
  • The State Government may designate the area as community land by notification if a community or a single person has offered to volunteer to conserve wildlife and its habitat.
    • The creation of such a place attempts to preserve biodiversity while simultaneously enhancing the socioeconomic circumstances of the local population.
  • Once forest land has been declared as a community reserve, it goes from being governed by local village councils to coming under the forest department.
  • “After a forest has been made into a community reserve, people cannot hunt there, nor can they use it for agricultural practices.
  • The Reserve is managed by a community reserve management committee.
  • Community reserves fall under protected areas, along with marine protected areas, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and conservation reserves, according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972.
  • The provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WLPA) apply to an area once it has been declared a community reserve.
    • Section 33 of the WLPA passes the authority of the sanctuary to the chief wildlife warden.
  • Within the Community Reserve, no changes to the way land are used are permitted unless they are authorised by a resolution that has been approved by both the State Government and the Management Committee.

Q. Consider the following statements :

Statement-I : Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II : Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Marsupials
  • Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsupials are endemic to Australasia, Wallacea and the Americas.
  • A distinctive characteristic common to most of these species is that the young are carried in a pouch.
  • Living marsupials include opossums, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, wallabies, and bandicoots among others, while many extinct species, such as the thylacine, are also known.
  • They give birth to relatively undeveloped young that often reside in a pouch located on their mothers’ abdomen for a certain amount of time.
  • Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur on the Australian continent (the mainland, Tasmania, New Guinea and nearby islands). The remaining 30% are found in the Americas—primarily in South America, thirteen in Central America, and one species, the Virginia opossum, in North America, north of Mexico.
Marsupials
Marsupials Animal

Q. Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution :

  1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world.
  2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution.
  3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (c) All three

Notes:
  • Gold mining is poisoning Amazon forests with mercury. To separate the gold, miners mix liquid mercury into the sediment, which forms a coating around the gold.
  • Fly ash generated by TPPs is one of the ways mercury is released into the environment. Fly ash is usually disposed in ash ponds in the form of ash slurry, forming an aquatic ecosystem of its own. Coal-based TPPs are the major source of mercury – the ninth most toxic element found on earth — emissions into the environment. Mercury contributed over 80 per cent of emissions released by the TPPs, according to 2016 estimates by Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Science and Environment.
  • Acute or chronic mercury exposure can cause adverse effects during any period of development. Mercury is a highly toxic element; there is no known safe level of exposure. To date, there are no universal diagnostic criteria for mercury overload.
Mercury Pollution
  • Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
  • Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can cause serious health problems in humans and animals.
  • It is released into the environment from natural sources, such as volcanoes, and from human activities, such as gold mining and coal burning.
  • Mercury occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, but human activities, such as mining and fossil fuel combustion, have led to widespread global mercury pollution. Mercury emitted into the air eventually settles into water or onto land where it can be washed into water. Once deposited, certain microorganisms can change it into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish.
  • Almost all people in the world have at least trace amounts of methylmercury in their tissues, reflecting its pervasive presence in the environment. Some communities eat significantly more quantities of fish than the general population, and thus may be exposed to much greater mercury contamination than the general population.
  • Minamata Disease: 
    • A disorder caused by methylmercury poisoning that was first described in the inhabitants of Minamata Bay, Japan and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste.
      • The disease is characterized by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, and both hearing and visual loss.
    • Methylmercury is very different from ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.
Minamata Convention on Mercury
  • The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.
  • It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.
  • Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle is one of the key obligations under the Convention.
  • The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
  • The Convention covers all aspects of the life cycle of mercury, controlling and reducing mercury across a range of products, processes and industries. This includes controls on:
    • mercury mining
    • the manufacture and trade of mercury and products containing mercury
    • disposal of mercury waste
    • emissions of mercury from industrial facilities.
  • Countries that have ratified the Convention are bound by international law to put these controls in place.
    • India has ratified the Convention.

Q. Consider the following activities :

  1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively
  2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime .
  3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters

How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (c) All three

Carbon Capture and Sequestration
  • Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a way of reducing carbon emissions, which could be key to helping to tackle global warming. It’s a three-step process, involving: capturing the carbon dioxide produced by power generation or industrial activity, such as steel or cement making; transporting it; and then storing it deep underground.
    • Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively: This is a form of Enhanced Weathering. When basalt, which is rich in magnesium and calcium, weathers, it captures CO2 from the atmosphere. This process can be expedited by grinding the basalt into a fine powder, increasing its surface area and therefore its ability to capture CO2.
    • Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime: This is often proposed as a method of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. The basic idea is that by increasing the alkalinity of the ocean, we enhance its capacity to store carbon in the form of bicarbonate ions. Lime (calcium hydroxide) reacts with CO2 in seawater to form calcium carbonate, thereby removing CO2 from the seawater and, indirectly, from the atmosphere.
    • Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters: This is known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and is a method to prevent large amounts of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. The CO2 is captured from emission sources, converted into a concentrated stream, and then injected deep into the Earth, often into depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifer formations.
  • Each of these methods has its pros and cons and is at different stages of development and deployment. But all three are indeed often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration.

Q. With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements:

  1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed.
  2. Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.
  3. Biofilters increase phosphorus as nutrient for fish in water.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None.

Answer: (a) Only one

Biofilters
  • Biofilters are a key component in the filtration portion of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS).
  • They house the nitrifying bacteria and are the primary site where biological nitrification occurs. The biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.
    • Ammonia is removed from an aquarium system through the use of a biofilter. The biofilter provides a substrate on which nitrifying bacteria grow. These nitrifying bacteria consume ammonia and produce nitrite, which is also toxic to fish. Other nitrifying bacteria in the biofilter consume nitrite and produce nitrate.
  • For healthy and fast growth of aquatic species, fish feed needs to be supplied on a regular basis. This will in turn contaminate pond water due to presence of uneaten food material, fish fecal matter, growth of algae and other microorganisms. This contaminated water needs to be treated. These are removed at the level of tank and system treatment zones otherwise it would be detrimental to the efficiency of biofilters.
  • Biofilters are used to reduce (not increase) the amount of phosphorus in water. Submerged flow biofilters, utilising a filter media were used to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from a synthetic fish farm water. The cyclic aerated/unaerated combined nutrients removal system achieved approximately 40 percent phosphorus removal, complete nitrification and 40 percent denitrification.

Q. Consider the following statements :

Statement-I : According to the United Nations ‘World Water Development Report, 2022’, India extracts more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year.

Statement-II : India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world’s population living in its territory.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Notes:
  • According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, with an estimated 251 km3 annual withdrawal from an estimated 20 million wells and tube wells, India is the world’s greatest groundwater user. This accounts for more than a quarter of the total groundwater extracted internationally.
  • India uses about 89% of this groundwater for irrigation. Major share of total groundwater extracted by India is utilized for irrigation purposes and not for drinking and sanitation purposes.

Q. Consider the following statements :

  1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
  2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Notes:
  • The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. It was adopted in 2010 and entered into force in 2014. India is a party to the Nagoya Protocol.
  • The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are local bodies established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
    • According to the Biological Diversity Act of 2002, every local body in the State shall establish a Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) within its area of jurisdiction for the purpose of promoting biological diversity conservation, sustainable use, and documentation. In other words, it can be said that, in India, the BMCs functions as the agency for the implementation of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol.
    • They are responsible for promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity within their jurisdiction.
    • The BMCs have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
  • The BMCs are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol in India. They play an important role in ensuring that the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources are shared in a fair and equitable way.
  • The BD Act gives BMCs the independent authority to charge those who collect biological resources within their territorial jurisdiction by way of collection fees. The ability of BMCs to collect fees will allow them to develop their own financial resources that they can use to carry out the objectives of the Act.

Q. Consider the following heavy industries :

  1. Fertilizer plants
  2. Oil refmeries
  3. Steel plants

Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (c) All three

Notes:
  • Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This process does not emit any greenhouse gases. Green hydrogen can be used as a fuel in place of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This can help to reduce emissions from heavy industries, such as fertilizer plants, oil refineries, and steel plants.
  • Fertilizer plants use a lot of energy to produce ammonia, which is a key ingredient in fertilizers. Green hydrogen can be used to produce ammonia without emitting any greenhouse gases. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint of fertilizer production.
  • Oil refineries use a lot of energy to heat crude oil and convert it into gasoline, diesel, and other products. Green hydrogen can be used to heat crude oil without emitting any greenhouse gases. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint of oil refining.
  • Steel plants use a lot of energy to melt iron ore and convert it into steel. Green hydrogen can be used to melt iron ore without emitting any greenhouse gases. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint of steel production.
  • Green hydrogen is a promising technology that can help to decarbonize heavy industries. It is important to continue to develop this technology and to make it more affordable so that it can be widely adopted.