Species: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: The Gharial is critically endangered. Once found across the Indian subcontinent, its population has drastically declined due to habitat loss, reduction in prey species, entanglement in fishing nets, and water pollution. It is now confined to a few river systems, especially in the Chambal River. The Gharial is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List.

Option 2 is correct: The Leatherback turtle is the largest species of sea turtle and is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. The species faces numerous threats, including accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction (especially nesting sites), and illegal hunting. It is found along India’s coasts, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of the Tamil Nadu coast. However many subpopulations (such as in the Pacific and Southwest Atlantic) are Critically Endangered.

Option 3 is correct: The Swamp deer (also called the Barasingha) is endangered. It is found in wetland areas in parts of In-dia, such as Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. Habitat destruction, hunting, and the drainage of wetlands have contributed to its population decline. Note: According to UPSC Answer Key Option C is correct

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: Star Tortoise (Geochelone ele-gans) is naturally found in India. It is a species of tortoise that inhabits the dry forests and scrublands of India, particularly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Tamil Nadu. It is easily recognizable due to the star-like patterns on its shell. The species is endangered due to habitat loss and illegal trade. There is a huge international demand for these animals as exotic pets which threatens their survival.

Option 2 is correct: Monitor lizards are found in India and are widespread across the country. Several species, including the Indian monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis), can be found in forests, grasslands, and even near human settlements. These lizards are known for their size, strength, and scavenging habits.

Option 3 is correct: Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania) is naturally found in India, specifically in the grasslands of Assam. It is a critically endangered species and is the smallest wild pig in the world. The Pygmy hog’s population has been reduced due to habitat destruction, especially the loss of grasslands in the region.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The Spider monkey is not naturally found in India. It is native to Central and South America, specifically the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin.

Explanation

Mammals are warm-blooded animals with hair and vertebrates, or backbones. Unlike other classes of animals, female mammals produce milk to nourish their young. Almost all mammals give birth to live young (except for the platypus and echidna, which lay eggs). Statements 1 is correct: Dugong belongs to the order Sirenia and is a marine mammal found in warm coastal waters. The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is the sea cow found in Indian waters. They are herbivorous and are known for their gentle nature. They give birth to live young and nurse them with milk, characteristic of mammals. They are found in over 30 countries and in India are seen in the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Sea Horse is not a mammal but a fish, part of the genus Hippocampus. Despite its name, the sea horse is a small marine creature, known for its unique horse-like head and upright swimming posture. It is an ectother-mic species (cold-blooded) and lays eggs, unlike mammals which give birth to live young Statements 3 is correct: Sea Lion is a mammal. It belongs to the family Otariidae and is a type of pinniped (a group of fin-foot-ed mammals). Sea lions are marine mammals that live in coastal areas and are known for their external ear flaps and ability to "walk" on land using their front flippers.

Explanation

Bio-fertilizers are living or biologically active products or microbial inoculants of bacteria, algae and fungi (separately or in combination) which are able to enrich the soil with nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter etc.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Agaricus refers to a genus of fungi, commonly known for species like Agaricus bisporus, the common button mushroom. While it is used in culinary and medicinal contexts, it is not used as a biofertilizer. They are not involved in nitrogen fixation or other activities that promote soil fertility, which are characteristic of biofertilizers.

Statement 2 is correct: Nostoc is a genus of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that can fix atmospheric nitrogen. It is often used as a biofertilizer because of its ability to enhance soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize. Nostoc is commonly found in rice paddies and is used to improve nitrogen content in the soil, especially in organic farming.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Spirogyra is a genus of green algae that primarily plays a role in freshwater ecosystems. While it is important for oxygen production and can contribute to the aquatic environment, it is not used as a biofertilizer. Unlike Nostoc, Spirogyra does not have significant nitrogen-fixing capabilities.

Explanation

Lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) are endemic to India, found only in the Western Ghats. They inhabit evergreen and semi-evergreen rainforests, typically at elevations up to 1,500 meters, and are often associated with broadleaf trees. This species is of conservation importance due to its primitive traits. Despite having a relatively wide range, their habitat is small and highly fragmented. The Lion-tailed Macaque has a distinctive appearance with a dark coat, silver-white mane, long tail, and pink face. It resides in monsoon forests and disturbed habitats across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, but is absent in Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

The drastic decline in the vulture population in India is primarily attributed to the use of a veterinary drug called diclofenac. This drug was commonly administered to cattle to treat inflammation and pain. However, when vultures fed on the car-casses of cattle that had been treated with diclofenac, they suffered from kidney failure and fatal toxicity, leading to a sharp decline in their population.

Explanation

When a pollen grain moves from the anther (male part) of a flower to the stigma (female part), pollination happens and it is the first step in a process that produces seeds, fruits, and the next generation of plants. Vectors that move pollen within the flower and from flower to flower are called pollinators.

Option (d) is correct:

Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the stamens (the flower parts that produce them) to the ovule-bearing organs or to the ovules (seed precursors) themselves. There are two categories of pollinators, i.e. invertebrate pollinators which includes bees, moths, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies and verte-brate pollinators which has monkeys, rodents, lemurs, tree squirrels, bats and birds. The fruit bats (also known as megabats) and nectar-feeding bats are particularly involved in pollination. Bats are vital for the pollination of various species, including certain species of cacti, bananas, and agave plants, which rely on them for reproduction. Bees are some of the most efficient and well-known pollinators. Bees are responsible for pollinating a significant portion of the world’s food crops. Certain species of birds, particularly hummingbirds and some species of sunbirds, are also important pollinators. They feed on nectar and, in the process, move pollen from one flower to another. This form of pollination is common in plants with red or orange flowers that attract birds and require birds with long bills or beaks for feeding.

Explanation

Seabuckthorn (soil binding, rich in vitamins) is a shrub which produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry. It can be found in India above treeline in the Himalayan region, usually in arid places like the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti. Seabuckthorn grows naturally in Lahaul, Spiti, and some regions of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. Statements 1 and 3 are correct: Seabuckthorn is a soil-bind-ing plant which prevents soil-erosion, it also has commercial value, as it is used in making juices, jams, nutritional capsules etc.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While sea buckthorn has various uses, including medicinal and nutritional, it is not primarily known for being a biodiesel source. While some studies have explored its potential as a biofuel, it is not widely regarded as a primary source of biodiesel.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Sea buckthorn does not have significant commercial value for its timber. The plant is primarily valued for its fruits, oils, and medicinal properties, not for timber production.

Explanation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is an inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological species. Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda and Asiatic Wild Ass (Currently Vulnerable, but as the question is from 2012, we will consider it as Endangered) all are Endangered Species. Important species and their Conservation status are:

Species Particulars Great Indian Bustard State bird of Rajasthan Flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology. States: Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Musk Deer Habitat: J&K, Uttarakhand. Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Conservation Status: Endangered Red Panda Red panda is endemic to the temperate forests of the Himalayas. Habitat: Sikkim and Assam, northern Arunachal Pradesh. Threats: habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression. Conservation Status: Threatened Species Asiatic Wild Ass Scientific Name: Equus hemionus Also called: Asiatic Wild Ass, Asian Wild Ass, Indian onager or, Ghudkhur and Khur (Gujarati language) Habitat: Western India, southern Pakistan (i.e. provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan), Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran. Conservation Status:

IUCN: currently listed as Near Threatened (Earlier it was listed under Endangered Category)

Explanation

The Chiru, or Tibetan Antelope, is adapted to the cold, high-altitude regions of the Tibetan Plateau, steppes, and semi-desert areas. These regions are characterized by cold temperatures and sparse vegetation. Chiru is well-suited to survive in these challenging environments. It is primarily poached for its fine wool, known as Shahtoosh rather than for musk. Oryx is a type of antelope that is adapted to hot, arid, and desert regions, such as the Thar Desert in western India and regions in Africa. These antelopes are well-suited to extreme heat and dryness due to their ability to survive with very little water, and they often thrive in desert environments. It is poached for its horns and meat.