Environment and Ecology

241. Phreatophytes are the plants adapted to grow in

Phreatophytes are the plants adapted to grow in

[amp_mcq option1=”moist shaded places” option2=”rocky environments” option3=”arid environments” option4=”active volcanic lava” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2019
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The correct answer is C, arid environments.
Phreatophytes are plants that are adapted to arid or semi-arid environments by having very deep root systems that can reach the water table.
The term “phreatophyte” comes from the Greek words ‘phrear’ (well) and ‘phuton’ (plant). These plants rely on groundwater for survival, making them common indicators of groundwater levels in regions where surface water is scarce.

242. The National Green Tribunal, set up to deal with the expeditious dispo

The National Green Tribunal, set up to deal with the expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, was set up under the

[amp_mcq option1=”12th Five-Year Plan” option2=”11th Five-Year Plan” option3=”10th Five-Year Plan” option4=”9th Five-Year Plan” correct=”option2″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2018
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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established in India by the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The period covered by the 11th Five-Year Plan in India was from 2007 to 2012. Since the NGT Act was passed in 2010, its establishment falls within the duration of the 11th Five-Year Plan.
The key point is the year of establishment of the National Green Tribunal and the corresponding period of the Five-Year Plan. The NGT was established in 2010.
The National Green Tribunal is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. It aims for expeditious environmental justice. It is an important statutory body created to handle cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources.

243. Which of the following is/are considered as India’s green initiative(s

Which of the following is/are considered as India’s green initiative(s)?

  • 1. National Green Highways Mission
  • 2. R & D for Clean Coal Technologies
  • 3. National Green Corridor Programme

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2018
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The correct answer is D) 1, 2 and 3.
All three listed initiatives are considered India’s green initiatives aimed at environmental protection, sustainability, or promoting clean energy:
1. National Green Highways Mission focuses on developing green corridors along highways through plantations, which helps in carbon sequestration, reducing air pollution, and improving aesthetics.
2. R & D for Clean Coal Technologies aims to mitigate the environmental impact of coal-based power generation, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, by developing technologies like carbon capture and storage, and efficient combustion methods. This is a green initiative focused on reducing the environmental footprint of a major energy source.
3. National Green Corridor Programme (or Green Energy Corridor) facilitates the transmission of renewable energy (like solar and wind power) from generation rich areas to load centres, enabling greater integration of clean energy into the grid.
India has undertaken numerous initiatives under national missions and policies to promote sustainable development, renewable energy, pollution control, and environmental conservation. These three programs align with the broader goals of reducing carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability.

244. Which of the following statements about biodiversity hot spots is/are

Which of the following statements about biodiversity hot spots is/are correct?

  • Biodiversity hot spots are identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
  • Biodiversity hot spots are defined according to their vegetation.
  • In India, Eastern Ghats and Western Himalaya are the biodiversity hot spots.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”3 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3″ option4=”1 only” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
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Biodiversity hotspots were originally identified by Norman Myers and are primarily promoted and defined by Conservation International (CI). While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a major global conservation organization and works extensively in areas that overlap with hotspots, the formal identification and list of the 36 biodiversity hotspots are associated with CI, not IUCN (Statement 1 is debated, but often considered correct in some contexts as IUCN is a key partner in global conservation efforts and uses the concept. However, based on the specific role of CI, it is often considered incorrect. Let’s examine other statements). Hotspots are defined by two strict criteria: they must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics (0.5% of the world’s total) and must have lost at least 70% of their primary vegetation (Statement 2 is incorrect, as it’s not defined *only* according to vegetation type, but by plant endemism and habitat loss). In India, the recognised biodiversity hotspots are the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, the Himalayas, the Indo-Burma region, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands). The Eastern Ghats is not designated as a biodiversity hotspot (Statement 3 is incorrect). Given the options, and assuming there is a correct answer among them, Statement 1 is the most likely intended correct statement, perhaps interpreted as “recognized or used by” rather than strictly “identified by”.
Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high levels of endemic species that are under significant threat from habitat loss. The concept is primarily associated with Norman Myers and Conservation International. Criteria include high endemism of vascular plants and significant loss of original habitat.
There are currently 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots. These areas, while covering only 2.5% of Earth’s land surface, are home to more than half of the world’s plant species as endemics and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species as endemics.

245. Which one of the following statements about air pollution caused by di

Which one of the following statements about air pollution caused by diesel engines is correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It produces large quantity of carbon monoxide at lower and high temperatures” option2=”It produces large quantity of nitrogen oxides at lower and high temperatures” option3=”It produces large quantity of carbon monoxide at lower temperature and nitrogen oxides at high temperature” option4=”It produces large quantity of nitrogen oxides at lower temperature and carbon monoxide at high temperature” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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Combustion in diesel engines produces various pollutants, including Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). CO is a product of incomplete combustion and is more prevalent when combustion temperatures and efficiency are lower, such as during engine start-up, idling, or low load conditions (lower temperatures). Nitrogen oxides (primarily NO and NO2) are formed at high temperatures and pressures when nitrogen and oxygen in the air react. Therefore, NOx production is significant at high engine loads and speeds, where combustion temperatures are high. Statement C correctly reflects this pattern: higher CO production at lower temperatures and higher NOx production at high temperatures.
Diesel engines produce more CO under conditions of incomplete combustion (often at lower temperatures) and more NOx under conditions of high temperature and pressure (often at high engine loads).
Diesel engines are also significant emitters of particulate matter (PM) and unburnt hydrocarbons (HC), particularly under rich-burn conditions or at lower temperatures. NOx formation is highly sensitive to temperature and the availability of oxygen and nitrogen; high temperatures break the strong N2 bond, allowing reactions with oxygen. CO formation is limited by insufficient oxygen or incomplete mixing, which is more likely at lower temperatures or during transient operation.

246. The term Biomagnification is referred to as

The term Biomagnification is referred to as

[amp_mcq option1=”increase in the body weight” option2=”uncontrolled growth of harmful organisms” option3=”accumulation of increasing amount of non-degradable pollutant through food chain” option4=”increase in the number of bacteria in a culture medium” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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Biomagnification is the process whereby the concentration of certain substances, such as heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants, increases in organisms at successively higher levels of a food chain. This happens because these substances are often non-degradable or slowly degradable and accumulate in the tissues of organisms. As one organism consumes multiple organisms from lower trophic levels, the pollutant concentration in its body increases. Option A is incorrect as it refers to body size, not pollutant concentration. Option B describes phenomena like algal blooms, often linked to eutrophication, not biomagnification. Option D describes microbial growth. Option C accurately defines biomagnification as the increasing accumulation of non-degradable pollutants through the food chain.
Biomagnification is the increase in concentration of pollutants in organisms at higher trophic levels due to their persistence and accumulation in tissues as they are transferred up the food chain.
Examples of substances that biomagnify include DDT, PCBs, and heavy metals like mercury and lead. These substances can have significant toxic effects on organisms at higher trophic levels, including humans who consume contaminated fish or meat. Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of a substance in an organism, while biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration across successive trophic levels.

247. The ecological niche of an organism relates to

The ecological niche of an organism relates to

[amp_mcq option1=”specific habitat of the organism” option2=”symbiotic relationship with other organisms” option3=”diverse occurrence of a species under different conditions” option4=”its interaction with all other organisms” correct=”option4″]

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The ecological niche of an organism is its functional role and position within an ecosystem. It encompasses not just where an organism lives (habitat, A), but also how it interacts with other organisms (biotic interactions) and the environment (abiotic conditions), its resource use, and its position in the food web. While A, B, and C touch upon aspects related to the niche (habitat is part of the environment it occupies, symbiotic relationships are a type of interaction, and occurrence under different conditions relates to the range of its niche), option D, “its interaction with all other organisms,” best represents the biotic aspect of its functional role within the community, which is a crucial component of the ecological niche, especially in the context of Elton’s definition (the animal’s place in the biotic environment). Although a complete definition includes abiotic interactions and resource use, among the given options, D is the most comprehensive in describing the organism’s role within the living part of the ecosystem.
The ecological niche is the functional role or ‘profession’ of an organism in an ecosystem, including its interactions with other organisms and the environment, and its resource use.
Ecological niche is a complex concept with different definitions. Hutchinson defined it as an “n-dimensional hypervolume” representing the range of environmental conditions and resources within which a species can survive and reproduce (fundamental niche) or actually does so in the presence of competitors and predators (realized niche). Elton’s definition focused on the organism’s place and role in the community. Option D aligns well with the role aspect and biotic interactions emphasized in some definitions.

248. Study of a single species and the environmental factors in its habitat

Study of a single species and the environmental factors in its habitat is called

[amp_mcq option1=”Genecology” option2=”Synecology” option3=”Autecology” option4=”Ethology” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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The correct answer is C) Autecology.
Autecology is the branch of ecology concerned with the study of the ecological relationships of a single species or population with its environment. It focuses on how an individual species interacts with the biotic and abiotic factors in its habitat, including its adaptations, physiological responses, life cycle, and population dynamics.
A) Genecology is the study of the genetic composition and evolutionary history of plant populations in relation to their ecological environments.
B) Synecology is the study of ecological relationships within biological communities, focusing on the interactions among different species and the structure and function of entire ecosystems.
D) Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, usually in natural conditions.

249. NPP (Net Primary Productivity) is highest for

NPP (Net Primary Productivity) is highest for

[amp_mcq option1=”tropical forests” option2=”swamps” option3=”reefs” option4=”woodland and shrub land” correct=”option2″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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The correct answer is B) swamps.
Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is the rate at which producers (like plants) accumulate biomass, equal to Gross Primary Productivity minus the rate of respiration. Ecosystems with high light availability, abundant water, warmth, and nutrient-rich conditions tend to have high NPP. Among the given options, tropical forests, swamps, and reefs all have very high NPP per unit area. However, swamps and marshes (a type of wetland) are consistently cited in ecological studies as having among the highest rates of NPP globally, often exceeding tropical forests and reefs due to high nutrient availability from water flow and decomposition under saturated conditions.
Typical NPP values (in g Carbon/m²/year) for these ecosystems can range widely:
* Tropical forests: 1000-3500
* Swamps and Marshes: 800-3500
* Algal beds and reefs: 1000-2500
* Woodland and shrub land: 200-2000
While the ranges overlap, many ecological sources point to swamps/marshes and estuaries as having the absolute highest peak NPP values per unit area.

250. Presence of ozone in the atmosphere is important because it absorbs

Presence of ozone in the atmosphere is important because it absorbs

[amp_mcq option1=”ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B radiations” option2=”ultraviolet-B radiations only” option3=”infrared-B radiations only” option4=”outgoing ultraviolet-B radiations and incoming ultraviolet-A radiations” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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The correct answer is A) ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B radiations.
Ozone (O₃) in the stratosphere forms the ozone layer, which is crucial for life on Earth because it absorbs a significant portion of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation before it reaches the surface. While ozone is most effective at absorbing UV-B radiation (wavelengths 280-315 nm), which is particularly harmful to living organisms, it also absorbs a considerable amount of UV-A radiation (315-400 nm) and virtually all UV-C radiation (100-280 nm).
UV-A radiation is less harmful than UV-B but can still cause skin damage and premature aging. UV-B radiation is the primary cause of sunburn, skin cancer, and cataracts. UV-C radiation is the most energetic and harmful but is completely absorbed by the ozone layer and oxygen in the atmosphere. Therefore, the presence of stratospheric ozone is important for absorbing both UV-A and UV-B, reducing their intensity at the Earth’s surface.
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