Environment and Ecology: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

This increasing concentration of a toxic substance as it moves up the food chain is known as biomagnification. Predators at the highest trophic levels like hawks suffer the most severe effects, including reproductive issues, weakened immune systems, and neurological damage due to the high pesticide load. When a chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide like DDT enters the food chain, it accumulates in fatty tissues through bioaccumulation. As predators consume contaminated prey, the pesticide concentration increases, peaking in top predators due to biomagnification. Thus in the above food chain--Food crop Rat Snake Hawk--the hawk experiences the highest pesticide concentration.

Explanation

Biodiversity hotspot concept is promoted by Conservation international. Each biodiversity hot spot represents a remarkable universe of extraordinary floral and faunal endemicity struggling to survive in rapidly shrinking ecosystems. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

Species endemism: It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics, and Degree of threat: It has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect:

Biodiversity hotspots aren’t limited to tropical regions; examples include the Mediterranean Basin and California Floristic Province. While India is home to significant biodiversity but it has only three recognized hotspots. These hotspots are the Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Western Himalayas are not considered as a separate biodiversity hotspot.

Explanation

Statements 1 is correct: India lacks sufficient alternative technologies, such as those for renewable energy and waste management, which are essential for mitigating global warming. This gap hampers the country’s ability to address climate change effectively. Statements 2 is correct: As a developing country, India faces challenges in investing significant funds into research and development due to its economic constraints.

Statement 3 is incorrect: It is not accurate to claim that developed countries have primarily set up polluting industries in India. Developed countries have shifted some industries to developing nations due to lower environmental regulations and labor costs (a process known as carbon leakage) but this is not a dominant factor in India’s overall emissions. India has strict environmental regulations such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) norms.

Explanation

The Earth’s atmosphere contains gases and particles that contribute to the greenhouse effect, trapping heat and leading to global warming. These gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, while particles like soot can alter solar radiation balance and reduce the reflectivity of surfaces like ice and snow, further influencing climate change.

Option (d) is correct:

Soot directly contributes to warming by absorbing sunlight and reducing the reflectivity of snow and ice. Sulphur hexafluoride is a potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential. Water vapour is the most significant greenhouse gas and amplifies the warming effect through feedback mechanisms. Other gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect and cause global warming are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Ozone and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Explanation

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was drawn up at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992. This conference, also known as the Earth Summit, set the foundation for global cooperation on climate change and sustainable devel-opment.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Bhitarkanika National Park is well-known for its population of Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), which are the largest living reptiles in the world. The park is located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha and is home to a significant number of these crocodiles. It also has rich biodiversity, including mangroves and various bird species.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Desert National Park is well-known for being a habitat of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, a large bird species. The National Park is located in Jaisalmer and Barmer district of Rajasthan.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is known for its population of Nilgiri Tahr, not the Hoolock Gibbon. The Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is found in parts of Northeast India and in the forests of Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, not in Kerala.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: National Parks in India are designated under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and their boundaries are clearly defined by legal statutes. This is done to ensure strict protection and conservation of biodiversity, and no human activity is allowed within the park unless specifically authorized.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Biosphere Reserves, designated under the Man and Biosphere Reserves Programme of UNESCO started in 1971 by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Biosphere Reserves are established to conserve biodiversity in its entirety, not just a few specific species. These reserves focus on both species and ecosystems in a sustainable manner, including human communities. They aim for ecological conservation, research, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Statement 3 is correct: In Wildlife Sanctuaries, human activity and biotic interference are allowed in certain circumstances, like grazing or collection of non-timber forest products, as long as they do not harm the wildlife or environment. The level of interference is regulated based on the sanctuary’s management plan.

Explanation

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of wet-lands worldwide. It promotes the ecosystem approach to con-serve wetland sites while ensuring their sustainable use, aiming to preserve ecosystem services like flood regulation, water purification, and biodiversity habitat, while benefiting local communities economically and socially. The Convention’s mission is to support the conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, national, and international efforts to achieve sustainable devel-opment globally. The Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. India became a party to the convention and has since designated several wetlands as Ramsar sites to protect and sustainably manage these ecologically important areas.

Explanation

In the Greendex 2009 report, India was ranked top in the world. The Greendex is a measure of consumer environmental behaviors, which was created by the National Geographic Society in collaboration with the international polling firm GlobeScan. The score reflects how environmentally responsible the population of a country is based on their consumer behavior, such as their attitudes and actions towards sustainability, including energy usage, waste management, and preferences for eco-friendly products. India’s top rank in Greendex 2009 highlighted the eco-friendly practices and sustainable consumption behaviors prevalent among Indian consumers compared to other nations.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is released during rice cultivation as flooded paddies create anaerobic conditions, promoting methane-producing micro-organisms. This makes rice farming a major source of methane emissions.

Statement 2 is correct. Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, is emitted when nitrogen fertilizers in soil undergo denitrification, converting unused nitrate into nitrous oxide. This gas escapes into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. v v v