Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, a Knob-Billed Duck was recorded for the first time at Pong Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. The Knob-Billed Duck, also known as the African Comb Duck, is named after the prominent leaf-shaped comb on the male’s bill. It is found in tropical wetlands of Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Indian subcontinent extending to Laos and southern China. It breeds in freshwater swamps and lakes in tropical regions. It is one of the largest duck species, measuring 56–76 cm in length with a wingspan of 116–145 cm. The IUCN Red List status of the Knob-Billed Duck is Least Concern.

Notes:
Recently, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new species of wild brinjal named Solanum pandeyi. The species was found in the evergreen forests of Middle Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Locally, it is known as the wild orange eggplant. The indigenous Great Andamanese tribe uses it for food and medicinal purposes. Its seeds and roots are traditionally used to treat tooth infections.

Notes:
The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, has successfully demonstrated Blue Swimmer Crab farming technology for the first time in India. Blue Swimmer Crab belongs to the Portunidae family of brachyuran crabs. It is also known as the blue crab, flower crab, or blue manna crab. The species is identified by paddle-like hind legs used for swimming and nine spines along its carapace. In India, it is found along both east and west coasts, especially in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar. It feeds on bivalves, fish, and macroalgae and usually remains buried in sand or mud.

Notes:
Senna spectabilis, a highly invasive plant, is being uprooted from the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary to restore native forest ecosystems. The cleared areas will be replanted with grasses and native forest species to improve fodder availability for wildlife. Senna spectabilis is a flowering tree of the Fabaceae family, native to the tropical Americas. It invades forest ecosystems, suppresses native vegetation, and is classified as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Notes:
Recently, a rescued Chinese pangolin and an Asian palm civet were released into Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya. Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Meghalaya within the Eastern Himalayan Global Biodiversity Hotspot. It was established in 1981 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Umtrew River forms the western boundary of the sanctuary. The sanctuary is dominated by tropical moist deciduous and tropical semi-evergreen forests.

Notes:
During his visit to Seychelles, the Prime Minister visited the Seychelles National Botanical Garden and fed Aldabra giant tortoises. The Aldabra giant tortoise is the second-largest land tortoise in the world, after the Galápagos giant tortoise. It is endemic to the Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles. It inhabits scrub forests, mangrove swamps, coastal dunes, beaches, and grasslands (platins). Its grazing creates a unique grassland habitat known as “tortoise turf.”

Notes:
The Indian gaur (bison) translocation programme to Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary has been put on hold due to high anthropogenic pressure, especially cattle presence. Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It represents the northeastern limit of the Eastern Ghats. The sanctuary was declared mainly to conserve wild elephants and their habitats. The Kumarkhunti Reservoir is the only permanent water source supporting wildlife during summer.

Notes:
Researchers discovered five new species of Impatiens (flowering plants) in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The new species are Impatiens berchmansiensis, I. ninanii, I. filcyii, I. xanthopetala, and I. flavispicata. These species belong to the genus Impatiens of the Balsaminaceae family. Most of the new species were discovered in Idukki and Ernakulam districts. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity and endemic flora of the Western Ghats.

Notes:
The Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica) is spreading rapidly in Tirunavaya panchayat, Kerala, including school campuses. It is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species. It is native to East Africa but has spread globally through the pet trade, food use, and accidental introduction. It thrives in warm, humid tropical climates. It is found in agricultural fields, wetlands, forests, scrublands, coastal areas, and urban regions.

Notes:
Researchers recently discovered a new disease-causing fungal genus Hyalokamalomyces during a study on plant disease at Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh. Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks on the northern slope of the Kaimur Range. The sanctuary is named after the Chandraprabha River, which means “The Luminescence of Moon”. The Chandraprabha River is a tributary of the Karamnasha River, and both rivers ultimately merge with the Ganga River.