TARGET OCS 2020 DAILY QUIZ DAY – 9 DATE : 02-10-2020 ENVIRONMENT Q Questions Answers NO Q1 Which of the following best describes Forest Correct Option: (c) PLUS 2.0 that is often mentioned in the Explanation: Option (c) is correct: It is a five- news? year (a) Plantation Drive in Arrey Forest programme initiated in December 2018 that (b) Program to increase Forest cover in focuses on developing tools and techniques North-East. to bolster ecosystem management and (c) Ecosystem and Forest landscape harnessing ecosystem services in forest management program landscape management. (d) Tribal Culture Conservation Program Supplementary notes: Forest PLUS 2.0 US Agency for International Development (USAID) and India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) officially launched Forest-PLUS 2.0 on September 25, 2019. It is a five-year programme initiated in December 2018 that focuses on developing tools and techniques to bolster ecosystem management and harnessing ecosystem services in forest landscape management. The programme’s first set focused on capacity building to help India participate in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). It included four pilot projects in Sikkim, Rampur, Shivamogga and Hoshangabad. Forest-PLUS 2.0 comprises pilot project in three landscapes — Gaya in Bihar, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Medak in Telangana. The choice of these sites was driven by the contrast in their landscapes – Bihar is a forest deficit area, Telangana is a relatively drier area where there is ample scope for community livelihood enhancement and Kerala is rich in biodiversity. The targets of this set are : 1,20,000 hectares of land under improved management New, inclusive economic activity worth $12 million CIVIL SERVICE CORNER civilservicecorner.in https://t.me/CSCODISHA1 WHATSAPP- 7682092884 Measurable benefits accrued to 800,000 households Three incentive mechanisms demonstrated in managing landscapes for ecosystem services Q2 Recently Soil Organic Carbon was in news. Correct Option: (c) What is it? Explanation: Option (c) is correct: Soil organic (a) Percentage of carbon emitted by carbon fertilizer (SOC) is the largest carbon pool in the (b) Carbon Produced during stubble terrestrial biosphere, is an important burning component of the global carbon cycle. SOC is (c) Amount of carbon stored in the soil the major constituent of soil organic matter (d) Carbon released during organic farming (SOM), which plays a critical role in soil productivity and a wide array of ecosystem processes. Supplementary notes: Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’s Committee on Science and Technology (CST) has released its report on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) during the Ongoing Conference of Parties (COP) 14 of UNCCD in New Delhi. Titled Realising the Carbon Benefits of Sustainable Land Management Practices: Guidelines for Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon in the Context of Land Degradation Neutrality Planning and Monitoring, the report emphasises the importance of SOC in preventing land degradation and desertification. The carbon cycle is a fundamental part of life on earth. ‘Soil organic carbon’ (SOC) – the amount of carbon stored in the soil is a component of soil organic matter – plant and animal materials in the soil that are in various stages of decay. Soil organic carbon is the basis of soil fertility. It releases nutrients for plant growth, promotes the structure, biological and physical health of the soil, and is a buffer against harmful substances Q3 The use of living microorganism to degrade Correct Option: (c) environmental pollutant is called: Explanation: Option (c) is correct: The use of (a) Micro meditation living (b) Biomining microorganism to degrade environmental (c) Bioremediation pollutant is called Bioremediation (d) Bioaugmentation Supplementary notes: Bioremediation It is a method of biological interventions of biodiversity for mitigation/complete elimination of the noxious effects caused by environmental pollutants in a given site. CIVIL SERVICE CORNER civilservicecorner.in https://t.me/CSCODISHA1 WHATSAPP- 7682092884 It operates through the principles of biogeochemical cycling. It has been successfully applied for cleanup of soil, surface water, groundwater, sediments and ecosystem restoration. It has also been unequivocally demonstrated that a number of other substances including nitro-glycerine (explosive) can be cleaned up through bioremediation. Bioremediation is considered to include natural attenuation (little or no human action), bio-stimulation or bio-augmentation, the addition of natural or engineered microorganisms (Bacteria, Fungi etc.) to accelerate the desired catalytic capabilities and it can definitely contribute to the removal of such hazardous wastes from the biosphere. Q4 Match the following: Correct Option: (a) List-I List-II Explanation: Option (a) is correct: A. Producers 1. Saprotrophs List-I List-II B. Primary Consumers 2. Autotrophs A. Producers 2. Autotrophs C. Decomposers 3. Herbivores B. Primary Consumers 3. Herbivores D. Secondary Consumer 4. Carnivores C. Decomposers 1. Saprotrophs Select the correct answer using the code given D. Secondary Consumer 4. Carnivores below: Supplementary notes (a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4 Biotic Components Biotic components include (b) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1 living organisms (c) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 comprising plants, animals and microbes (d) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 and are classified according to their functional attributes into producers and consumers. Primary producers - Autotrophs (selfnourishing) Primary producers are basically green plants (and certain bacteria and algae). They synthesize carbohydrates from simple inorganic raw materials like carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight by the process of photosynthesis for themselves and supply indirectly to other non-producers. In the terrestrial ecosystem, producers are basically herbaceous and woody plants, while in aquatic ecosystem producers are various species of microscopic algae. Consumers - Heterotrophs Consumers are incapable of producing their own food (photosynthesis). They depend on organic food derived from plants, animals or both. Herbivores are primary consumers which feed mainly on plants e.g. cow, rabbit. CIVIL SERVICE CORNER civilservicecorner.in https://t.me/CSCODISHA1 WHATSAPP- 7682092884 Secondary consumers feed on primary consumers e.g. wolves., known as carnivores Carnivores which feed on secondary consumers are called tertiary consumers e.g. lions which can eat wolves. Omnivores are organisms which consume both plants and animals e.g. man, monkey. Decomposers- Saprotrophs They are bacteria and fungi which obtain energy and nutrients by decomposing dead organic substances (detritus) of plant and animal origin. The products of decomposition such as inorganic nutrients which are released in the ecosystem are reused by producers and thus recycled. Earthworm and certain soil organisms (such as nematodes, and arthropods) are detritus feeders and help in the decomposition of organic matter and are called detrivores. Q5 Which of the following pairs is/are correctly Ans. C matched? Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Pyramid 1. Pyramid of numbers - Always upright of numbers-Upright or inverted 2. Pyramid of Biomass - Upright or Supplementary notes: inverted Pyramids of Numbers This deals with the 3. Pyramid of Energy - Always upright relationship between Select the correct answer using the code given the numbers of primary producers and below: consumers of different levels. It is a graphic (a) 1 only representation of the total number of (b) 2 only individuals of different species, belonging to (c) 2 and 3 only each trophic level in an ecosystem. (d) 1, 2 and 3 Depending upon the size and biomass, the pyramid of numbers may not always be upright, and may even be completely inverted. Pyramid of Biomass Pyramid of biomass is usually determined by collecting all organisms occupying each trophic level separately and measuring their dry weight. This overcomes the size difference problem because all kinds of organisms at a trophic level are weighed. Biomass is measured in g/m2. Pyramid of biomass can be upright or inverted. Pyramid of Energy To compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an ecosystem, an energy pyramid is most suitable. An energy pyramid reflects the laws of thermodynamics, with the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy and heat CIVIL SERVICE CORNER civilservicecorner.in https://t.me/CSCODISHA1 WHATSAPP- 7682092884 energy at each trophic level and with loss of energy being depicted at each transfer to another trophic level. Hence the pyramid is always upward, with a large energy base at the bottom. Q6 Which of the following statements is incorrect Correct Option: (c) regarding CITES? Explanation: Option (c) is correct: It is legally (a) It is an international agreement between binding governments. on Parties. (b) Its aim is to ensure that international Supplementary notes: trade in specimens of wild animals and CITES CITES (the Convention on International plants does not threaten their survival. Trade in Endangered Species of Wild (c) It is not legally binding on Parties. Fauna and Flora) is an international (d) The species covered by CITES are listed agreement between governments. in three Appendices. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted