Insights Mock Environment 1 Flashcards
This was the first paper on Environment which was taken by me, therefore most questions are covered here itself. Score- 54
homeostasis
constancy of its internal environment (a process called homeostasis) despite varying external environmental conditions that tend to upset its homeostasis.
Plants, _______have mechanisms to maintain internal temperatures.
do not
majority (99 per cent) of animals and nearly all plants _____maintain a constant internal environment. Their body temperature changes with the ambient temperatur
cannot
main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions.
Since small animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume, they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside; then they have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism. This is the main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions.
aestivation
prolonged torpor or dormancy
desiccation
removal of moisture from something
Some snails and fish go into aestivation to avoid
summer–related problems-heat and dessication
Under unfavourable conditions many zooplankton species in lakes and ponds are known to enter
diapause, a stage of suspended development.
special photosynthetic pathway (CAM) t
enables the (of desert) stomata to remain closed during day time
Allen’s rule
animals adapted to cold climates have shorter limbs and bodily appendages than animals adapted to warm climates.
Bergmann’s rule
ecogeographical rule that states that within a broadly distributed taxonomic clade, populations and species of larger size are found in colder environments, while populations and species of smaller size are found in warmer regions.
Gloger’s rule
within a species of endotherms, more heavily pigmented forms tend to be found in more humid environments, e.g. near the equator
Gause’s law
Georgy Gause that two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist at constant population values.
Amensalism
one species is harmed whereas the other is unaffected.
interaction where one species is benefitted and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed
commensalism
\+ + - - \+ - \+ - \+ 0 - 0
Mutualism Competition Predation Parasitisim Commensalism Amensalism
Secondary productivity
Secondary productivity is defined as the rate of formation of new organic matter by consumers.
Primary production
Primary production is defined as the amount of biomass or organic matter produced per unit area over a time period by plants during photosynthesis.
detritus
waste or debris of any kind
fragmentation.
Detritivores (e.g., earthworm) break down detritus into smaller particles. This process is called fragmentation.
catabolism.
Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade detritus into simpler inorganic substances.
Humification
leads to accumulation of a dark coloured amorphous substance called humus that is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate
Being colloidal in nature it serves as a reservoir of nutrients
Hummus
The humus is further degraded by some microbes and release of inorganic nutrients occur by the process known as
mineralisation
detritus food chain (DFC)
detritus food chain (DFC) begins with dead organic matter
In an aquatic ecosystem, is the major conduit for energy flow
GFC
in a terrestrial ecosystem, a much larger fraction of energy flows through the _________ than through the GFC
detritus food chain
Pyramid of energy is always
upright
The entire sequence of communities that successively change in a given area are called .
sere(s)
The gradual and fairly predictable change in the species composition of a given area is called
ecological succession
mesic conditions
containing a moderate amount of moisture
The species that invade a bare area are called
pioneer species
The term Biodiversity was popularized by the socio-biologist
Edward Wilson.
Biodiversity
Genetic diversity: Species diversity
Ecological diversity:
The Kuttanad Below Sea-level Farming System (KBSFS) is being practiced in the Indian state of:
Kerala
Karadpadnams, Kayla and Kari?
The rice fields in Kuttanad which are popularly known as “Puncha Vayals” exist in three landscape elements: Karapadam (upland rice fields), Kayal (wetland rice fields) and Kari (land buried with black coal like materials).
The __________ has been considered as a Globally Important Agriculture Heritage System (GIAHS) by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
ecology of Kuttanad
Population is a
group of organisms usually of the same species, occupying a defined area during a specific time
__________ zone of junction between two or more diverse ecosystems.
Ecotone
grassland, estuary and river bank
edge effect.
Sometimes the number of species and the population density of some of the species is much greater in this zone than either community. This is called edge effect.
In order for biomagnification to occur, the
pollutant must be: long-lived, mobile, soluble in fats, biologically active.
boreal forest?
evergreen plant species such as Spruce, fir and pine trees.
These soils are acidic
percentage of forest cover to the total area of State
Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%).
ISFR 2019 is the ________ report in the series.
16th
In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area,
Madhya Pradesh
The extent of bamboo bearing area of the country has been estimated
16.00 million hectare.
According to India State of Forest Report 2019, an increase of _________ in mangrove cover has been observed as compared to the previous assessment of 2017.
54 sq Km
Top three states showing mangrove cover increase are
Gujarat (37 sq km) followed by Maharashtra (16 sq km) and Odisha (8 sq km)
Neuston
unattached organisms which live at the air-water interface
Periphyton
organisms which remain attached to stems and leaves of rooted plants.
Plankton i
group which includes both microscopic plants (phytoplankton) and animals
(zooplankton) found in all aquatic ecosystems, except certain swift moving waters.
Nekton:
This group contains animals which are swimmers.
• The nektons are relatively large and powerful as they have to overcome the water currents.
• The animals range in size from the swimming insects (about 2 mm long) to the largest animals, the blue whale.
Benthos
he benthic organisms are those found living in the bottom of the water mass. • Practically every aquatic ecosystem contains well developed benthos.
In fresh water the average concentration of dissolved oxygen is _________ than the concentration of oxygen in an equivalent volume of air.
150 times lower
The amount of dissolved oxygen retained in water is also influenced by
temperature.
Oxygen is ________ in warm water.
less soluble
“Biodiversity Heritage Sites” (BHS)
unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine
Important Bird Areas (IBAs)
They are declared by Birdlife International.
2. Forty percent of India’s IBAs fall outside the Protected area network.
The Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (2016)”
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
IUCN identifies ________KBA sites in India but these have no legal basis.
531 KBA
Conservation reserves and community reservesact as buffer zones between established national parks
These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Forest and Plantation Development Corporation Ltd.
- It is the only CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
2 It was created in 1977 with the broad objectives of development and management of forestry plantations on the Islands.
Biosphere Reserves which ministry
The Indian National Man and Biosphere (MAB), Committee constituted by the MoEF&CC
The Ministry through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Biosphere Reserve’ provides grant-in-aid to states on 60:40 sharing basis in case of States other than NER and on 90:10 basis in case of NER States for conservation and management of the designated Biosphere Reserves.
Out of the 18 Biosphere Reserves designated nationally, so far ________have been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.
11 Biosphere Reserves
The scheme is based on twin objectives of ecological regeneration in difficult areas, and promotion of meaningful employment to ex-servicemen
Eco-Development Forces (EDF)
implemented through Ministry of Defence
Six ETF battalions are being supported by the Ministry under the EDF Scheme in the States of
Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Assam.
India is home to nearly _______ of the global tiger population.
75%
The country now has an estimated ________as per the latest census.
2967 tigers
resolve of doubling tiger numbers, made at St. Petersburg in 2010, much before the target year of _________
2022.
Highest number of tigers have found in
Madhya Pradesh (526), after that Karnataka has 524 and Uttarakhand is accommodating 442 tigers.
While ________ in Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of tigers, ________ Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu registered the “maximum improvement” since 2014.
Pench Tiger Reserve,
Sathyamangalam
__________ saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger numbers in Odisha remained constant.
Chhattisgarh and Mizoram
_________has launched the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status), a mobile monitoring system for forest guards.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
At the Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010, leaders of ________countries resolved to do more for the tiger and embarked on efforts to double its number in the wild, with a popular slogan ________
13 tiger range
‘T X 2’.
_______program of the World Bank, using its presence and convening ability, brought global partners together to strengthen the tiger agenda.
Global Tiger Initiative (GTI)
Global Tiger Initiative Council (GTIC), with its two arms
–the Global Tiger Forum and the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program.
Project Tiger, launched way back in _______has grown to more than ______amounting to almost 2.2% of the country’s geographical area.
1973,
50 reserves
This National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers. It encompasses a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. Rishi Ganga gorge, one of the deepest in the world, is located in this National Park. This National Park is
Nanda Devi National Park
India’s second highest mountain
Nanda Devi,
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ (IDWH)
Asian Wild Buffalo
- Dugong
- Edible Nest Swiftlet
- Jerdon’s Courser
Assistance for the Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries’ was reformulated and renamed as
‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)’ during the 11th Plan period (2007-2012).
Species under IDWH Scheme:
- Asian Wild Buffalo
- Asiatic Lion
- Brow-Antlered Deer or Sangai
- Dugong
- Edible Nest Swiftlet
- Gangetic River Dolphin
- Great Indian Bustard
- Hangul
- Indian Rhino or Great One-horned Rhinoceros 10. Jerdon’s Courser
- Malabar Civet
Marine Turtles* 13. Nicobar Megapode 14. Nilgiri Tahr - Snow Leopard
- Swamp Deer
- Vultures*
Brown-Antlered Deer of Sangai
It is a unique animal found only in Manipur
Which of the following vulture’s species of India are listed as Critically Endangered under IUCN red list?
White-rumped Vulture
- Red-headed Vulture
- Slender-billed Vulture
Which of the following species of Bustards are found in India?
Great Indian Bustard
- Lesser Florican
- Bengal Florican
- Houbara Bustard
Ramsar sites in India?
41 sites
- Asan Conservation Reserve
- Kabartal Wetland
- Lonar Lake
- Nandur Madhameshwar
International Organization Partners of Ramsar Convention?
International Union for Conservation of Nature
- Birdlife International
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA):
Government of India under Companies Act, 2013.
recommend accounting and auditing policies and
standards to be adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government.
The Authority shall have power to monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards for the companies whose securities are listed on any stock exchange in India or outside India.
India State of Forest Report 2019
There is an increase of 0.32 million hectare in bamboo bearing area as compared to the last assessment of ISFR 2017
2. increase in carbon stock
Pongamia
It is a Nitrogen fixing tree.
2. It is tolerant to water logging, saline and alkaline soils.
3. It helps in controlling soil erosion and binding sand dunes, because of its dense network of
lateral roots.
biofuels
Crops used to make biofuels are generally either high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugarbeet, and sweet sorghum), starch (such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean, rapeseed, coconut, sunflower).
First generation biofuels
First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Common first-generation biofuels include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas.
Second generation biofuels
These are produced from non-food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood). Examples include advanced biofuels like biohydrogen, biomethanol.
Third generation biofuels
These are produced from micro-organisms like algae.
Biomass gasification
is thermo-chemical conversion of solid biomass into a combustible gas mixture (producer gas) through a partial combustion.
Producer gas
can be used as a fuel in place of diesel in suitably designed/adopted internal combustion (IC) engines coupled with generators for electricity generation.
The producer gas
has a Calorific value of 1000–1200 kcal/m3.
The per capita electricity consumption in India is around
1872 kilowatt-hour (Kwh).
Sacred groves are _______ protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
not exclusively
Space Debris
Space debris encompasses both natural (meteoroid) and artificial (man-made) particles
Orbital debris
is any man-made object in orbit about the Earth which no longer serves a useful function.
Heat Wave need not be considered till the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least _______ Plains. and _____ in hilly areas
40°C
30 celcius
When the actual maximum temperature remains _______ or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, heat waves should be declared.
45°C
Ex situ conservation methods
threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care. Zoological parks, botanical gardens and wildlife safari parks serve this purpose.
In Situ conservation
Conservation in the native place.
Agro-biodiversity Hotspots of India
22
- Cold Desert
- Western Himalayas
- Eastern Himalayas
- Brahmaputra Valley
- Khasia- Jaintia Garo Hills
- North Eastern Hills
- Arid Weather
- Malwa Plateau and Central Hinglands
- Kathiawar
- Bundelkhand
- Upper Gangetic Plains
- Lower Gangetic Plains
- Gangetic Delta
- Chotanagpur
- Bastar
- Koratpur
- Southern Eastern Ghats
- Kaveri
- Deccan
- Konkan
- Malabar
- Islands
Rare Earth Elements
All Rare Earth elements are metals,
Rare earth elements are a group of seventeen chemical elements that occur together in the periodic table
________ is a Rare Earth Mineral which is used in night-vision goggles.
Lanthanum
National Productivity Council
It is an autonomous, multipartite, non-profit organization
2. It aims to stimulate and promote productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in
the country
Methanol
Methanol burns efficiently in all internal combustion engines, produces no particulate matter, no soot, almost nil SOX and NOX emissions.
2. Methanol can be produced from Natural Gas and Indian High Ash Coal.
China alone produces ______ of world Methanol
65%
elephant
endangered under IUCN red list
Project Elephant was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with following objectives:
- To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors 2. To address issues of man-animal conflict
- Welfare of captive elephants
The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) are fuelled by
Natural Uranium.
Light Water Reactors (LWRs) are fuelled by Low Enriched
Uranium.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) being implemented by
Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) is fuelled by Mixed Oxide (MoX) Fuel.
criteria to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot?
It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is irreplaceable.
It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. In other words, it must be threatened
Primary pollutants:
These persist in the form in which they are added to the
environment e.g. DDT, plastic.
Secondary Pollutants:
These are formed by interaction among the primary pollutants.
Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles with an upper size limit of 5mm in diameter.
- Microplastics contribute to over 80% of the ocean debris.
- The examples of primary microplastics include microbeads, plastic pellets, and plastic fibres.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards?
Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Ammonia
- Benzopyrene
__________ Act deals with the radioactive waste.
Atomic Energy
BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria in decomposing the organic wastes present in water.
Radioactivity
property of certain elements (radium, thorium, uranium etc.) to spontaneously emit protons (alpha particles) electrons (beta particles) and gamma rays (short- wave electromagnetic wave) by disintegration of their atomic nuclei (nuclides).
Alpha particles
can be blocked by a piece of paper and human skin.
Beta particles
penetrate through skin, while can be blocked by some pieces of glass and metal
Gamma rays
can penetrate easily to human skin and damage cells on its way through, reaching far, and can only be blocked by a very thick, strong, massive piece of concrete.
Pollution Index
Red cat
Orange cat
Green cat
white cat
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has developed the criteria of categorization of industrial sectors based on the Pollution Index which is a function of the emissions (air pollutants), effluents (water pollutants), hazardous wastes generated and consumption of resources.
60 and above - Red category
41 to 59 – Orange category
21 to 40 – Green category
upto 20 - White category
India ranks ______ among e-waste producing countries.
fifth
E-waste is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about
30 per cent in the
country.
Only _______ per cent of global e-waste is recycled.
20
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
- Rural areas come under its ambit - responsible - Gram panchayat
- responsibility of the waste generator
- produces have to approach local bodies for formulation of the plan/ system for the plastic waste management
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been mandated to formulate the guidelines for thermoset plastic (plastic difficult to recycle)
Bio-medical waste has been classified in to
4 categories
The World Health Organization (WHO) has fixed ______ as the safe noise level for a city.
2. Metropolitan areas in India usually register an average more than ___________
45 decibels
90 decibels.
Bioventing
is the supply of air and nutrients through wells to contaminated soil to stimulate the growth of indigenous bacteria.
Biosparging
is the injection of air under pressure below the water table to increase groundwater oxygen concentrations
Bioaugmentation, Microorganisms are imported to a contaminated
site to enhance degradation process.
CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority):
- a company diverting forest land must provide alternative
land to take up compensatory afforestation. - Both National and State compensatory afforestation funds are non-lapsable
3.90% of the CAMPA fund money is to be given to the states while 10% is to be retained by the
Centre.
Chiru Goat
It has been classified as Near Threatened’ by the IUCN.
- It is the sole species in the genus Pantholops.
- It is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau.
