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Invasive Species

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Invasive Species

This plant is native to Mexico, where it is called as Mesquite, but now this has become an invasive species all across the world including India; when it was introduced in India it was called as ‘Wonder Tree’ (due to its usage as firewood by the farmers), but is now called as ‘Devil Tree’. These references are with respect to which plant?

	A	Eucalyptus.

	B	Cassia

	C	West Indian Lantana

	D	Videshi Kikar (Prosopis juliflora)

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Vilayati Kikar or Vilayati Babool, as the name suggests, is an imported plant variety hailing from Mexico, where it is known as Mesquite. Taxonomists know it as Prosopis juliflora, and in 1970s, international agencies like the UN hailed it as the ‘Wonder Tree’ as it helped the farmers but now it has caused such a problem by eliminating other species along with depleting water table that it is now being termed as the ‘Devil tree’.

Related Question

Seabuckthorn

Consider the following statements with reference to the shrub Seabuckthorn found mainly in Himalayan region:

The shrub withstand extreme temperatures from -43ºC to 40ºC and it is considered to be drought tolerant.
It has extensive root system having ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
It is a rich source of biodiesel.

Choose the correct statement(s):

	A	1 and 2

	B	2 and 3

	C	1 and 3

	D	1,2 and 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Context: The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to start planting seabuckthorn in the cold desert areas of the state this year.

Seabuckthorn is an ecologically and economically important plant that belongs to the family Elaegnaceae. The species is a wind pollinated dioecious shrub.
In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.
In Himachal Pradesh, it is locally called chharma and grows in the wild in Lahaul and Spiti and parts of Kinnaur.
The plant is hardy and it can withstand extreme temperatures from -43ºC to 40ºC and it is considered to be drought tolerant.
The shrub develops extensive root system having ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It is therefore an ideal plant for soil erosion control, land reclamation, wildlife habitat enhancement, and farm stand protection in temperate region.
As a folk medicine, seabuckthorn has been widely used for treating stomach, heart and skin problems.
Its fruit and leaves are rich in vitamins, carotenoids and omega fatty acids.
Besides being an important source of fuelwood and fodder, seabuckthorn is a soil-binding plant which prevents soil-erosion, checks siltation in rivers and helps preserve floral biodiversity.
It also has commercial value, as it is used in making juices, jams, nutritional capsules.

Wildlife Sanctuary Of Kerala

Consider the following statements with reference to the wildlife sanctuary of Kerala:

It is the only sanctuary of Kerala where sighting of four-horned antelope has been reported.
The sanctuary comes under Project Elephant.
Kabini river (a tributary of Cauvery river) flows through the sanctuary.

The above statements are correct for which of the following wildlife sanctuary of Kerala:

	A	Begur Wildlife Sanctuary

	B	Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

	C	Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

	D	Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Context: Recently, Kerala government has sought Centre intervention on notification regarding eco-sensitive zone around Wayanad sanctuary.

Located in Kerala, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It was established in 1973.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the tiger reserves of Nagerhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu.
It is the only sanctuary of Kerala where sighting of four-horned antelope has been reported.
The forests of the wildlife division form the major catchments for the tributaries of the Kabani river system.
It includes South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests and plantations of teak, eucalyptus and Grewelia.

Ambassador Of Chilika Lake

The Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Odishahas designateda species of cat as ambassador of Chilika Lake, as an important step towards conservation of the vulnerable species. What is the name of cat species?

	A	Jungle Cat

	B	Rusty Spotted Cat

	C	Marbled Cat

	D	Fishing Cat

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) designated the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) as ambassador of Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and India’s oldest Ramsar Site.
The action is being dubbed as an important step towards conservation of the species.
The fishing cat is the only wild cat species in India that is a wetland specialist, and it’s found all around Chilika.
These are mostly found in marshlands fringing the north and north-eastern sections of the lake.
Since 2016, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016

With reference to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (CAFA), 2016, consider the following statements:

The Act established a National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.
The National Fund gets 60% of funds collected and the remaining 40 % goes to respective State Fund.
The collected funds must be utilized only for afforestation and regeneration of forest ecosystem and not for wild life protection and infrastructure development.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	2 and 3

	C	Only 3

	D	1, 2 and 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 was passed in 2016 and the related rules were notified in 2018.

Salient Features of CAFA

It provides for the establishment of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.
The payments into the funds include:
- Compensatory afforestation
- Net Present Value (NPV)
- Any project specific payments
The National Fund gets 10% of funds collected and the remaining 90% goes to respective State Fund.
These funds would be brought under the focus of Parliament and State Legislatures by transferring them to non-lapsable interest bearing funds.
The collected funds will be utilized for:
- Afforestation
- Regeneration of forest ecosystem
- Wild life protection
- Infrastructure development
- Location of villages from protected areas
- Managing human-wildlife conflicts
- Training and awareness generation
- Supply of wood saving devices and allied activities

It mandated establishment of National and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authorities (CAMPA) to manage the funds.

First Museum On Ganga

Name the first museum on Ganga to showcase the culture, biodiversity and rejuvenation activities done in Ganga River inaugurated recently by the Prime Minister?

	A	Ganga Avalokan

	B	Ganga Darshan

	C	Ganga Parisheelan

	D	None of the above

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 27th September, 2020, the Ganga Avalokan Museum was inaugurated by Prime Minister.
It has been dedicated to showcase the biodiversity, rejuvenation and culture in Ganga River.
Located at Chandighat in Uttarakhand's Haridwar, the museum will also showcase the activities carried out for the rejuvenation of the river.

Sonneratia Alba

Recently, which of the following states set to become the first coastal state to declare a state mangrove tree species- Sonneratiaalba, as a symbol to enhance conservation of the salt-tolerant vegetation?

	A	Gujarat

	B	Andhra Pradesh

	C	West Bengal

	D	Maharashtra

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Maharashtra is set to become the first coastal state to declare a state mangrove tree species as a symbol to enhance conservation of the salt-tolerant vegetation.
Earlier, Maharashtra has declared the State Tree (Mango), State Animal (Indian Giant Squirrel), State Bird (Yellow-footed Green Pigeon), State Butterfly (Blue Mormon), and State Flower (Jarul) to focus on their ecological significance.

Sonneratiaalba

Also known as mangrove apple and as white chippi in Marathi, it grows up to five feet and bear white flowers with a pink base as well as green fruits, that resemble apple and are used to make pickles.
They often grow on newly-formed mudflats and play an important role in combating land erosion.
The flowers, which bloom at night, are pollinated by nocturnal creatures like bats.

Asian Elephant

Consider the following statements with reference to Asian Elephant:

Government of India has declared Indian elephant as National Heritage Animal in year 2011.
Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The Asian elephant is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	1 and 2

	B	Only 2

	C	1 and 3

	D	Only 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species of the genus Elephas and is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west, Nepal in the north, Sumatra in the south, and to Borneo in the east.
Three subspecies are recognized —E. m. maximus from Sri Lanka, E. m. indicus from mainland Asia and E. m. sumatranus from the island of Sumatra.
Asian elephants inhabit grasslands, tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and dry thorn forests, in addition to cultivated and secondary forests and scrublands.

Conservation Status

Government of India has declared Indian elephant as National Heritage Animal in year 2010.
Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
It is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Asian elephant is listed on CITES Appendix I.

Hoolock Gibbons

Consider the following statements with reference to ‘Hoolock Gibbons’:

The Hoolock gibbons are three primate species of genus Hoolock in the Gibbon family and are native to Eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India, Myanmar and Southwest China.
Eastern Hoolock is listed as ‘Vulnerable’in the IUCN Red List.
Western Hoolock is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’in the IUCN Red List.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	1 and 2

	C	2 and 3

	D	Only 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Hoolock Gibbons are three primate species of genus Hoolock in the Gibbon family and are native to Eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India, Myanmar and Southwest China.
North-eastern India is home to two ape species: eastern and western Hoolock Gibbons.
Gibbons are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal (live on trees).
They live together in monogamous pairs.

Eastern Hoolock Gibbons

Inhabits specific pockets of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, and southern China and north-east Myanmar.
Eastern Uoolock is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List.

Western Hoolock Gibbons

Found in all the states of north-east India, restricted between the south of the Brahmaputra River and east of the Dibang River.
Also found in Bangladesh and north-west Myanmar.
Western Hoolock is listed as ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List.

Melaghat Tiger Reserve

Consider the following statements with reference to the Melaghat Tiger Reserve:

The Tapti Riverand the Gawilgadh ridge of the Satpura Range forms the boundaries of the reserve.
It was among the first nine tiger reserves notified in 1973-74 under Project Tiger.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Both 1 and 2

	C	Only 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Located in the Amaravati district of Maharashtra,Melaghat Tiger Reserve is on the southern offshoot of the Satpura Hill Range in Central India, called Gavilgarh Hill.
The Tapti Riverand the Gawilgadh ridge of the Satpura Range forms the boundaries of the reserve.
Melghat means 'meeting of the ghats', which describes the area as a large tract of unending hills and ravines scarred by jagged cliffs and steep climbs.
It was declared a tiger reserve in 1974. It was among the first nine tiger reserves notified in 1973-74 under Project Tiger.
It was the first tiger reserve of Maharashtra.
The forest is tropical dry deciduous in nature, dominated by teak (Tectonagrandis).
The reserve is a catchment area for five major rivers: the Khandu, Khapra, Sipna, Gadga and Dolar. All these rivers are tributaries of river Tapti.
The main fauna found here are Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Ussuri dhole, Indian jackal, sambar, gaur, barking deer, nilgai, chital, chausingha, ratel, flying squirrel, wild boar, langur, rhesus monkey, porcupine, pangolin, mouse deer, python, otter, and blacknaped hare.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

Consider the following statements with reference to the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park:

Dibru-Saikhowa is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve situated in the south bank of the river Manasin Assam.
Feral Horses are free roaming horses also known as wild horses, found only in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Both 1 and 2

	C	Only 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is C

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Dibru-Saikhowa is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in the extreme east of Assam.
The forest type of Dibru-Saikhowa comprises of semi-evergreen forests, deciduous forests, littoral and swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests.
A modern feral horse population (Janghalighura) is found in the National Park.
It has herd of approximately 79 bright coloured wild horses in India.

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