Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India rediscovered the rare plant Henckelia monophylla after about 189 years. The species is endemic to Arunachal Pradesh and belongs to the Gesneriaceae. It was first collected in 1836 by British botanist William Griffith in the Mishmi Hills. It is a perennial herb growing in moist forest habitats. Plants of genus Henckelia usually have upright or slightly trailing stems with simple ovate or lance-shaped leaves.

Notes:
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has advised that the Aghanashini–Vedavathi river linking project must follow World Heritage conservation norms. Aghanashini River originates from Gadihalli in Sirsi, Karnataka at about 676 m in the Western Ghats. Its name means “Remover of Sins” and it is one of the few free-flowing rivers. It has a catchment area of about 1449 sq km and flows around 117 km. It drains into the Arabian Sea at Tadri in Karnataka.

Notes:
Telangana Government has started rehabilitation and relocation of tribal families from Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) to balance tribal development and wildlife conservation. Amrabad Tiger Reserve is located in the Nallamala Hills of Eastern Ghats in Telangana. It was earlier part of Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve before Andhra Pradesh–Telangana bifurcation (2014). The reserve has rugged terrain, deep valleys, and dense forests, supporting rich biodiversity. Krishna River and its streams flow through the reserve, feeding Srisailam Dam and Nagarjunasagar Dam. The Chenchu tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), is the main community residing inside the reserve.

Notes:
A new frog species named Nyctibatrachus kali (Kali Night Frog) has been discovered. It is found in Kali Tiger Reserve. The name comes from the nearby Kali River, after which the reserve is also named. It is a cryptic species, meaning it looks very similar to other frogs. It resembles the Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara) discovered in 2014. Its sound is unique and similar to wood-chopping noise in forests. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India stayed a Rajasthan government notification that had altered the boundaries of the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, which had freed 732 hectares along the Chambal River. The Chambal River is a perennial river originating from Janapav Hills, south of Mhow town near Indore, along the southern slopes of the Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh. It flows in a north-northeasterly direction through Madhya Pradesh, passes through Rajasthan briefly, forms part of the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and then turns southeast to join the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
Blackbuck have been reintroduced into their natural habitat at Rampur grassland in Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, supporting conservation efforts. The sanctuary is located in the northern part of Mahasamund district in Chhattisgarh. It derives its name from the Bar and Nawapara forest villages situated within its core area. The sanctuary’s water sources are mainly tributaries of the Mahanadi River. The Balamdehi River forms its western boundary, while the Jonk River forms its northeastern boundary.

Notes:
Calamaria garoensis is a newly discovered species of burrowing reed snake identified in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya. It is currently endemic to the Garo Hills, indicating a restricted geographical distribution. It belongs to the genus Calamaria, known for small, secretive, and burrowing snakes. Reed snakes are non-venomous, slender, and fossorial (adapted to underground life). They are typically brown, reddish, or blackish in appearance.

Notes:
The Gauhati High Court directed the Assam government to respond to a petition regarding tree felling in the sanctuary without central forest clearance. Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the eastern fringe of Guwahati city, Assam. It was formed by merging South Amchang Reserve Forest, Amchang Reserve Forest, and Khanapara Reserve Forest. The sanctuary extends from the Brahmaputra River in the north to the forested hills of Meghalaya in the south.

Notes:
Scientists at CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine demonstrated that Apis mellifera can survive sub-zero temperatures, reducing the need for seasonal hive migration. Apis mellifera is the most widely distributed and domesticated honey bee species globally. It is commercially important for honey, wax, propolis production, and crop pollination. It is native to Europe, West Asia, and Africa, it has been introduced worldwide since the 17th century. It thrives in habitats with abundant flowering plants such as meadows, forests, and gardens. It can adapt to diverse environments including grasslands, deserts, and wetlands with adequate resources.

Notes:
The rare, thread-legged assassin bug Myiophanes kempi was recently rediscovered in the limestone caves of the Andaman Islands after nearly a century-long gap. British entomologist William Edward China first described the species in 1924 after finding it in the Siju Cave of Meghalaya. It is a member of the Reduviidae family, a group of insects popularly known as assassin bugs due to their predatory nature. The insect is a specialized cave-dweller that spends its entire lifecycle in complete darkness within subterranean ecosystems. It features a slender body and elongated legs that are specifically adapted for navigating and surviving in cave environments.