Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, unusual shiny clouds called nacreous clouds were seen in the skies over parts of Scotland, northern England, and the West Midlands. These rare clouds look like mother of pearl and shine with pale, rainbow-like colors during sunset and sunrise. This effect happens as sunlight bends around tiny ice crystals in the clouds, creating colors like a thin layer of oil on water does. The process that causes these colorful iridescent clouds is optical diffraction – when light waves interact with small particles and bend or spread out into spectral colors.

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As per reports, coral reefs occupy less than 0.1% of the total ocean floor area but support around 25% of all known marine species at some stage, hence critical for marine biodiversity. This highlights their huge ecological significance disproportionate to size. Climate change poses significant risk to their survival.
Coral Vita is a Dubai startup attempting to restore coral reefs by growing heat-resistant corals in a land-based lab to be eventually transplanted back to sea. Its coral farm in Dubai houses corals trimmed from Gulf waters, providing ideal conditions for them to regenerate before replanting.

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The warming oceans in Zanzibar have compelled women to shift from seaweed to climate-resilient sponge farming as a means of sustainable livelihood. Sponge farming, a relatively new business opportunity, stands out for its environmental friendliness. Sponges, living animals with intricate structures, serve as microscopic pumps that purify ocean water by removing impurities, including sewage. Unlike seaweed, sponges display remarkable resilience to climate change, require minimal maintenance, and command premium market prices. Their unique reproductive capabilities, as hermaphrodites, enable easy self-propagation, making commercial sponge farming feasible. Apart from their use in bathing and hygiene due to natural antibacterial properties, sponges contribute to combating climate change. Their skeletons break down into silicon particles, crucial for the growth of diatoms that absorb large amounts of CO2 in the ocean, thus playing a vital role in controlling the carbon cycle and reducing the greenhouse effect.

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Wandering albatrosses, the world’s largest flying birds with a 3.5-meter wingspan, face extinction due to threats like longline fishing and plastic ingestion. Climate change poses an additional risk to their nesting sites in the Southern Hemisphere. These oceanic nomads spend most of their 60-year life at sea, breeding on subantarctic islands like Marion and Prince Edward. With a vulnerable conservation status, urgent measures are needed to protect these majestic birds and their unique habitats.

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Four new emperor penguin colonies were recently discovered in Antarctica through satellite imagery. The Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, is the largest penguin species, inhabiting the Antarctic continent and sub-Antarctic islands. During breeding months (April to November), colonies are found between 66° and 78° south latitude along the Antarctic coastline. These ice-adapted birds have distinct black and white coloring with orange and yellow accents, measure around 120 cm, and weigh approximately 40 kg. They exhibit unique behaviors like huddling for warmth and are capable of diving to depths of 550 meters. Conservation status: Near Threatened.

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The endangered Forest Owlet, Athene blewitti, was recently sighted three times in the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Initially described in 1873, it was considered extinct after 1884 but rediscovered in 1997. Endemic to central India, it’s observed in various states. Inhabiting diverse ecosystems, it’s small, stocky, with distinctive features. Diurnal and hunting during the day, it preys on rodents, reptiles, and insects. With an IUCN Red List status of Endangered and CITES Appendix I, conservation efforts are crucial.

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Sculptures made from the invasive lantana camara plant recently gained attention at a Bengaluru exhibition. Native to the American tropics, it was introduced to India during the colonial period. Despite its adaptability to climate changes, lantana camara is among the world’s top ten invasive species, causing significant concern in India. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is heavily impacted by its invasion, making it one of the largest affected areas.

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China recently opened its fifth Antarctic research station, the Qinling facility on Inexpressible Island in the Ross Sea. Demonstrating a commitment to scientific exploration in the region, the station will focus on diverse research, including biological oceanography, glaciology, and marine ecology. The inauguration underscores China’s active role in advancing polar research and understanding the complexities of Antarctica’s ecosystems.

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A team of conservationists led by the University of Portsmouth discovered the nesting site of the Cantor’s giant softshell turtle on the banks of the Chandragiri River in Kerala, India. The discovery is the first-ever nesting evidence and discovery of a breeding population of this critically endangered species. The Cantor’s giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) is a native to the rivers of south and Southeast Asia. It is known for its rarity and secretive nature.

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Recently, 40 spotted deer were relocated from Mysuru Zoo to Kali Tiger Reserve’s Panasoli range. The spotted deer, or chital, are native to the Indian subcontinent and are prevalent in Indian forests. They inhabit subtropical grasslands and forests, with a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, standing at 35 inches tall and weighing 187 pounds. Only males have antlers, and they live in social herds of 10 to 50 individuals. The species is categorized as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.