Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A rare case of scrub typhus has been reported in Gujarat’s Narmada district, believed to be transmitted through insect bites. A 51-year-old tribal woman from Dediyapada, displaying symptoms like fever, swelling, headache, recovered after treatment at Surat hospital.
Doctors confirmed scrub typhus infection, which can be fatal without medical care. The disease is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria from bites of larval mites or ‘chiggers’. Gujarat has prepared guidelines for tackling the disease that sees outbreaks after monsoons in UP, Bihar and Odisha. This first case has highlighted risks of neglecting flu-like symptoms after rural insect bites.

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The draft text on the Santiago Network has been adopted by the Parties and sent to the Conference of the Parties and Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.
The collaborative framework aims to connect vulnerable developing countries with technical support and resources to effectively address and manage loss and damage caused by climate change. The waste sector has seen the launch of LOW Methane, an initiative to drastically amplify global action to reduce methane emissions from the waste. It aims to deliver at least one million tonnes of annual waste sector methane reductions well before 2030.

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The brand name of the environmental label provided under the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme, recently launched by the environment ministry, is PRAMAAN. This label is designed to inform both domestic and international consumers about the origin and source of forest and tree-based products. The certification scheme, which includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification, aims to encourage sustainable forest management and agro-forestry practices. The PRAMAAN label plays a crucial role in addressing concerns regarding deforestation and illicit timber trade, thereby enhancing the marketability and export potential of India’s wood-based products.

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Recently, a cheetah named Shaurya died in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district. Shaurya was a seven-year-old cheetah from Namibia. With Shaurya’s death, 13 of the original 20 cheetahs that were imported from Africa remain. Since March 2023, seven adult cheetahs and three cubs born in India have died in the park. Some experts believe that heavy rain, extreme heat, and humidity may have contributed to the deaths. Others say that the radio collars on the cheetahs could be killing them. The pathogens that aggravate the wounds under the collars could be new to the African cheetahs or to Indian conditions.

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The Odisha government, having successfully relocated deer from Cuttack, plans to introduce Sambar and Gaur (bison) in the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary. Located in the Khurda district, it marks the northeastern boundary of the Eastern Ghats. Designated as a sanctuary in 1982, the area hosts various endangered wildlife and birds. With a tropical climate, the sanctuary experiences distinct seasons—summer, rainy, and winter. The diverse flora includes Dhaman, Bankapasia, Jamu, Gandhana, Kansa, Kusum, Marua, Sidha, Karanja, and Thorny bamboo. Fauna in the sanctuary comprises elephants, Chital, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Monkey, Pangolin, Sloth Bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, and other mammals.

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A new plant species, ‘Andrographis theniensis,’ was discovered in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district in the Western Ghats. Named after its location, the plant closely resembles Andrographis megamalayana, featuring glabrous leaves and stems, a nine-veined lower lip, pale yellowish sparse hair on the middle lobe, and yellow anther. Andrographis, a tropical Asian genus, is known for treating various ailments in traditional medicine systems. With nearly 25 species in India, it holds significance for its medicinal uses against cold, cough, fever, and more.

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Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose or the Pink Lake, is located north of the Cap Vert peninsula in Senegal. Threatened by pollution and mining, its waters, primarily sourced from the sea, are home to halophilic green algae, Dunaliella salina. The algae’s red pigments give the lake its distinctive pink color. A popular tourist destination, the Pink Lake’s unique hue comes from the alga’s salt-resistant qualities, supported by carotenoid pigments rich in vitamins and trace elements.

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In a recent Central Coast discovery, Hercules, the largest male funnel web spider ever recorded, made headlines. Measuring 3.1 inches, it boasts fangs capable of penetrating human nails, ranking as the world’s most venomous arachnid. This marks the first male of such magnitude. Male funnel webs are deadlier than females, and they inhabit forested regions and gardens across Sydney, Australia, extending from Newcastle to the Blue Mountains. The warm and humid climate along Australia’s east coast serves as an ideal breeding ground.

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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 Geological Institute of Israel discovered an unknown underwater canyon near Cyprus dating back to the Messinian Event, also known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). Lasting from approximately 6 to 5.3 million years ago, MSC occurred when the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea was cut off, leading to a severe drying up of the Mediterranean. The resulting large canyon, deeper than the Grand Canyon, formed as water evaporated, leaving behind salt deposits and causing a deadly increase in salinity. The MSC concluded with the Zanclean flood, restoring the connection with the Atlantic.