Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
The Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is located in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana and is spread over an area of 28.92 hectares. According to a local legend, the lake in the sanctuary had an ancient link during the epic Mahabharata days when the Pandavas escaped to Haridwar through a tunnel under the lake. It is home to blue peafowl, rufous treepie, greater coucal, Indian grey hornbill and coppersmith barbet.

Notes:
The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) is located in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan and covers an area of 578 km2. It is home to Indian wolf, Indian leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, Golden jackal, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha, etc.

Notes:
Lichens are very sensitive to air pollution and water pollution. Areas with healthy lichen populations are lower in air pollution and water pollution. Lichens can thus be used as reliable biological indicators of pollution.

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The lion-tailed macaque or the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. The lion-tailed macaque ranks among the rarest and most threatened primates. Their range has become increasingly isolated and fragmented by the spread of agriculture and tea, coffee, teak and cinchona, construction of water reservoirs for irrigation and power generation, and human settlements to support such activities.

Notes:
T S R Subramanian Committee was constituted to review environmental laws in India. The committee has submitted its recommendations to the government recently.

Notes:
Arsenicosis or Black foot is caused by exposure over a period of time to Arsenic in drinking water. It may also be due to intake of arsenic via food or air. Kindly note that Itai-itai disease is caused by Cadmium poisoning.

Notes:
Nacre also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.

Notes:
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is considered as the largest tiger reserve in India. It was stablished in the year 1983. It spreads over five districts i.e. Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur, Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar. The total area of the reserve is 3,728 sq km.

Notes:
Silent Valley National Park is located in the state of Kerala and is located in the Nilgiri hills. It is home to the lion-tailed macaques, an endangered species of primate. In 1973, “Save Silent Valley” campaign (environmental movement) was initiated when the Kerala State Electricity Board declared to implement the Silent Valley Hydro-Electric Project.

Notes:
The Asiatic lion is restricted to the Gir National Park and environs in the Indian state of Gujarat. In 1826, the first scientific description of the Asiatic lion was published. It is listed as Panthera leo persica, on the IUCN Red List.