{"id":91971,"date":"2025-06-01T11:10:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T11:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/?p=91971"},"modified":"2025-06-01T11:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T11:10:23","slug":"if-rainforests-and-tropical-forests-are-the-lungs-of-the-earth-then","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/if-rainforests-and-tropical-forests-are-the-lungs-of-the-earth-then\/","title":{"rendered":"“If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then"},"content":{"rendered":"

“If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.” Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement ?<\/p>\n

[amp_mcq option1=”The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff, subsoil percolation and evaporation.” option2=”Algae form the nutrient base upon which fish, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, reptiles and mammals thrive.” option3=”Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining sedimentation balance and soil stabilization.” option4=”Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.” correct=”option4″]<\/p>\n

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This question was previously asked in<\/div>\n
UPSC IAS – 2022<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Download PDF<\/a>Attempt Online<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe correct option is D. The analogy “wetlands function as its kidneys” best reflects the function where aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.
\n<\/section>\n
\nThe kidney’s primary function is to filter waste products from the blood. Wetlands act similarly by filtering pollutants, sediments, and excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff) from water as it flows through them. This purification process prevents these substances from entering larger water bodies. The absorption of heavy metals and excess nutrients by aquatic plants and microbial action within the wetland are key mechanisms for this filtering and purification function.
\n<\/section>\n
\nOther vital functions of wetlands include groundwater recharge, flood control, shoreline stabilization, and providing habitat for diverse species. However, the filtering of water is the function most directly analogous to the function of kidneys in the human body.
\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.” Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement ? [amp_mcq option1=”The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff, subsoil percolation and evaporation.” option2=”Algae form the nutrient base upon which fish, crustaceans, molluscs, … <\/p>\n

Detailed Solution“If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1092],"tags":[1108,1367,1136],"class_list":["post-91971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-upsc-ias","tag-1108","tag-ecology","tag-environment-and-ecology","no-featured-image-padding"],"yoast_head":"\n"If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The correct option is D. The analogy "wetlands function as its kidneys" best reflects the function where aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients. The kidney's primary function is to filter waste products from the blood. Wetlands act similarly by filtering pollutants, sediments, and excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff) from water as it flows through them. This purification process prevents these substances from entering larger water bodies. The absorption of heavy metals and excess nutrients by aquatic plants and microbial action within the wetland are key mechanisms for this filtering and purification function.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/if-rainforests-and-tropical-forests-are-the-lungs-of-the-earth-then\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\""If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The correct option is D. The analogy "wetlands function as its kidneys" best reflects the function where aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients. The kidney's primary function is to filter waste products from the blood. Wetlands act similarly by filtering pollutants, sediments, and excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff) from water as it flows through them. This purification process prevents these substances from entering larger water bodies. 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