UPSC Ecology & Environment Test 2 (Old Year Questions)

Ans c
In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because water availability and fire are the limiting factors.

Ans d
The Bureau initiated the Standards & Labeling programme for equipment and appliances in 2006 to provide the consumer an informed choice about the energy saving and thereby the cost saving potential of the relevant marketed product. The scheme is invoked for 21 equipment/appliances, i.e. Room Air Conditioners, Tubular Fluorescent Tube Lights, Frost Free Refrigerators, Distribution Transformers, Induction Motors, Direct Cool Refrigerator, electric storage type geyser, Ceiling fans, Color TVs, Agricultural pump sets, LPG stoves, Washing machine, Laptops, ballast, floor standing ACs, office automation products, Diesel Generating sets & Diesel pumpsets.

Ans b
Agaricus:-Agaricus is a genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide.Nostoc:-Bioinoculants are the microbial preparations that enhance the uptake of nutrients by plants from the soil, increase the avaliability of the nutrients and stimulate plant growth.There are two types of organisms which are used as inoculants: symbiotic organisms (such as Rhizobium, Synorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Nostoc, Anabaena, etc.) and non-symbiotic organisms (such as Azotobacter, Azospirilum, Beijerinckia, etc.)Spirogyra:-Spirogyra is a genus of filamentous green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is diagnostic of the genus.

Ans a
The lion- tailed macaque is one of the most endangered primates of India , confined in distribution to the rainforests of southern Western Ghats. Habitat specialists , they have adapted themselves to the evergreen environments available in the south Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Ans d
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) attempts to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. REDD+ goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
It is predicted that financial flows for greenhouse gas emission reductions from REDD+ could reach up to US$30 billion a year. This significant north-south flow of funds could reward a meaningful reduction of carbon emissions and support new, pro-poor development, help conserve biodiversity and secure vital ecosystem services.

Ans b
The ecological niche is the ecological role and space that an organism fills in an ecosystem.The ecological niche involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles that an organism does in its habitat. For example, the ecological niche of a sunflower growing in the backyard includes absorbing light, water and nutrients (for photosynthesis), providing shelter and food for other organisms (e.g. bees, ants, etc.), and giving off oxygen into the atmosphere.

Ans c

Ans c
Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of their decreasing productivity.
Mangroves-2500 Grassland-500 Lakes-500 Open Ocean-125

Ans c
Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a fungus.The term “mould” is a common name having notaxonomic significance. It is applied to a variety of fungi whichgrow as semi-microscopic organisms, and whose mycelium tends toform a loose meshwork rather than a dense tissue.

Ans b
Beryllium is used in circuit board, Hard disk drive, Motherboard, Wiring board and Connectors.So Option C is wrong.Mercury is a key part of some modern technologies, including LCD screens ,Laptop and computers so Option A is also wrong.Heptachlor is an organochlorine compound that was used as an insecticide. So Option D is also wrong.If initially we are sure about Heptachlor then we can easily eliminate A,C and D.So correct answer is B.

Ans b

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) is a term used under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that all countries that signed the UNFCCC were asked to publish in the lead up to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris, France in December 2015.

The INDCs, which lay out the blueprint for tackling climate change, emphasised eight key goals — sustainable lifestyles, cleaner economic development, reducing emission intensity of GDP, increasing the share of non-fossil fuel based electricity, enhancing carbon sink, adaptation and mobilising finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

Ans d
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides both combine with water in the atmosphere to create acid rain.

Ans a
Major Chemical Pollutants in Photochemical Smog: -1)Nitrogen Oxides(NO and NO2)2)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 3)Ozone (O3) 4)Peroxyacetyl Nitrates (PAN)

Ans b
Most viruses need a living host organism-they are more like a parasite. Viruses reproduce by sticking their DNA into living cells and their DNA “takes over” the living cell and uses the living cells’ tools to replicate the virus’ DNA and make more viruses. Bacteria that are used in decomposition need the dead animals’ flesh for food.

Ans a
A food chain is the sequence of who eats whom in a biological community (an ecosystem) to obtain nutrition.

Ans c
Punjab is the first state to report presence of uranium in drinking water in rural areas with almost 70 per cent samples sent to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) testing positive for presence of the radioactive material

Ans b
National Air Quality Index:
There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
The AQI considers eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

Ans c
All three are endangered in india and as there is no specific list(IUCN etc.) is given so option C is correct.

Ans a
Spider Monkeys live in tropical climates, specifically the evergreen forests of Central and South America. They can also be found as far north as Mexico but not in India.

Ans a
The Central Government set up the ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority’ (NGRBA) in 2009 and mandated it to take up regulatory and developmental functions with sustainability needs for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management.

The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry for the NGRBA. The authority is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. This initiative is expected to rejuvenate the collective efforts of the Centre and the States for cleaning the river.

NGRBA functions include development of a Ganga River Basin Management Plan, regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution, to maintain water quality and to take measures relevant to the river ecology in the Ganga basin states. It is mandated to ensure the maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga and abate pollution through planning, financing and execution of programmes including that of

1) Augmentation of Sewerage Infrastructure

2) Catchment Area Treatment

3) Protection of Flood Plains

4) Creating Public Awareness