UPSC STATIC QUIZ – Environment : 27 March 2024

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We will post 5 questions daily on static topics mentioned in the UPSC civil services preliminary examination syllabus. Each week will focus on a specific topic from the syllabus, such as History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, and more.

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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question Consider the following statements regarding Peatlands. Peatlands are wetlands where permanently waterlogged conditions prevent the complete decomposition of dead plant material. Peatlands are highly space-effective carbon stocks and contain more carbon than the entire forest biomass of the world. Peatlands are formed only under tropical climate conditions. How many of the above statements is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: b) Statement 3 is incorrect. Peatlands are formed due to the accumulation of partially decomposed plant remains over thousands of years under conditions of water-logging. Peatlands, which play a crucial role in regulating global climate by acting as carbon sinks, are facing degradation. Peatlands (lands with peat at the surface) are highly space-effective carbon stocks: they cover only 3% of the land, but contain more carbon than the entire forest biomass of the world. Peatlands contain 30 per cent of the world’s soil carbon. When drained, these emit greenhouse gases, contributing up to one gigaton of emissions per year through oxidation. Peatlands occur in different climate zones. While in tropical climate, they can occur in mangroves, in Arctic regions, peatlands are dominated by mosses. Some mangrove species are known to develop peatland soils under them. Besides climate mitigation, peatlands are important for archaeology, as they maintain pollen, seeds and human remains for a long time in their acidic and water-logged conditions. In many countries, pristine peatlands are important for recreation activities. These areas also support livelihood in the form of pastoralism. The vegetation growing on pristine peatlands provide different kinds of fibres for construction activities and handicrafts. Incorrect Solution: b) Statement 3 is incorrect. Peatlands are formed due to the accumulation of partially decomposed plant remains over thousands of years under conditions of water-logging. Peatlands, which play a crucial role in regulating global climate by acting as carbon sinks, are facing degradation. Peatlands (lands with peat at the surface) are highly space-effective carbon stocks: they cover only 3% of the land, but contain more carbon than the entire forest biomass of the world. Peatlands contain 30 per cent of the world’s soil carbon. When drained, these emit greenhouse gases, contributing up to one gigaton of emissions per year through oxidation. Peatlands occur in different climate zones. While in tropical climate, they can occur in mangroves, in Arctic regions, peatlands are dominated by mosses. Some mangrove species are known to develop peatland soils under them. Besides climate mitigation, peatlands are important for archaeology, as they maintain pollen, seeds and human remains for a long time in their acidic and water-logged conditions. In many countries, pristine peatlands are important for recreation activities. These areas also support livelihood in the form of pastoralism. The vegetation growing on pristine peatlands provide different kinds of fibres for construction activities and handicrafts.

#### 1. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Peatlands.

• Peatlands are wetlands where permanently waterlogged conditions prevent the complete decomposition of dead plant material.

• Peatlands are highly space-effective carbon stocks and contain more carbon than the entire forest biomass of the world.

• Peatlands are formed only under tropical climate conditions.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Peatlands are formed due to the accumulation of partially decomposed plant remains over thousands of years under conditions of water-logging.

Peatlands, which play a crucial role in regulating global climate by acting as carbon sinks, are facing degradation.

Peatlands (lands with peat at the surface) are highly space-effective carbon stocks: they cover only 3% of the land, but contain more carbon than the entire forest biomass of the world.

Peatlands contain 30 per cent of the world’s soil carbon. When drained, these emit greenhouse gases, contributing up to one gigaton of emissions per year through oxidation.

• Peatlands occur in different climate zones. While in tropical climate, they can occur in mangroves, in Arctic regions, peatlands are dominated by mosses. Some mangrove species are known to develop peatland soils under them.

• Besides climate mitigation, peatlands are important for archaeology, as they maintain pollen, seeds and human remains for a long time in their acidic and water-logged conditions.

• In many countries, pristine peatlands are important for recreation activities. These areas also support livelihood in the form of pastoralism.

• The vegetation growing on pristine peatlands provide different kinds of fibres for construction activities and handicrafts.

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Peatlands are formed due to the accumulation of partially decomposed plant remains over thousands of years under conditions of water-logging.

Peatlands, which play a crucial role in regulating global climate by acting as carbon sinks, are facing degradation.

Peatlands (lands with peat at the surface) are highly space-effective carbon stocks: they cover only 3% of the land, but contain more carbon than the entire forest biomass of the world.

Peatlands contain 30 per cent of the world’s soil carbon. When drained, these emit greenhouse gases, contributing up to one gigaton of emissions per year through oxidation.

• Besides climate mitigation, peatlands are important for archaeology, as they maintain pollen, seeds and human remains for a long time in their acidic and water-logged conditions.

• In many countries, pristine peatlands are important for recreation activities. These areas also support livelihood in the form of pastoralism.

• The vegetation growing on pristine peatlands provide different kinds of fibres for construction activities and handicrafts.

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question To be classified as a wetland under Ramsar Convention, the wetland should have which of the following properties? The water in the wetland can be static or flowing. It should be a natural wetland and not artificially formed. The depth of the marine water at low tide must not exceed six meters. How many of the above statements is/are correct? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: b) Statement 2 is incorrect. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters”. Incorrect Solution: b) Statement 2 is incorrect. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters”.

#### 2. Question

To be classified as a wetland under Ramsar Convention, the wetland should have which of the following properties?

• The water in the wetland can be static or flowing.

• It should be a natural wetland and not artificially formed.

• The depth of the marine water at low tide must not exceed six meters.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters”.

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question How does silting of water bodies affect aquatic life? It results into increased rates of egg survival causing population boom in water bodies. Coral polyps grow more favourably in silted and shallow water bodies. Silt acts as a vehicle for certain pesticides into water bodies which adversely affect aquatic life. How many of the above statements is/are correct? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: a) Only Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1: It affects the spawning ground of fisheries and their egg laying patterns. As bed gravel become compacted, space for eggs is taken up by silt that considerably affects egg survival rates in the water. Statement 2: Hard bottom communities like corals and mussel banks (including oysters) are more sensitive to siltation. Siltation adversely affects coral population. Statement 3: For e.g. in rural areas the erosion source is typically soil degradation due to intensive or inadequate agricultural practices, leading to soil erosion, especially in fine-grained soils such as loess. The result will be an increased amount of silt and clay in the water bodies that drain the area often adding unwanted fertilizers to these bodies. Incorrect Solution: a) Only Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1: It affects the spawning ground of fisheries and their egg laying patterns. As bed gravel become compacted, space for eggs is taken up by silt that considerably affects egg survival rates in the water. Statement 2: Hard bottom communities like corals and mussel banks (including oysters) are more sensitive to siltation. Siltation adversely affects coral population. Statement 3: For e.g. in rural areas the erosion source is typically soil degradation due to intensive or inadequate agricultural practices, leading to soil erosion, especially in fine-grained soils such as loess. The result will be an increased amount of silt and clay in the water bodies that drain the area often adding unwanted fertilizers to these bodies.

#### 3. Question

How does silting of water bodies affect aquatic life?

• It results into increased rates of egg survival causing population boom in water bodies.

• Coral polyps grow more favourably in silted and shallow water bodies.

• Silt acts as a vehicle for certain pesticides into water bodies which adversely affect aquatic life.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: a)

Only Statement 3 is correct.

Statement 1: It affects the spawning ground of fisheries and their egg laying patterns. As bed gravel become compacted, space for eggs is taken up by silt that considerably affects egg survival rates in the water.

Statement 2: Hard bottom communities like corals and mussel banks (including oysters) are more sensitive to siltation. Siltation adversely affects coral population.

Statement 3: For e.g. in rural areas the erosion source is typically soil degradation due to intensive or inadequate agricultural practices, leading to soil erosion, especially in fine-grained soils such as loess. The result will be an increased amount of silt and clay in the water bodies that drain the area often adding unwanted fertilizers to these bodies.

Solution: a)

Only Statement 3 is correct.

Statement 2: Hard bottom communities like corals and mussel banks (including oysters) are more sensitive to siltation. Siltation adversely affects coral population.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following statements regarding Ramsar Convention. Designation of a wetland under Ramsar Convention will lead to funding from the Ramsar secretariat. Not every Ramsar Site in India is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Ramsar designation for a wetland can be taken off if the country does not meet the required standards. How many of the above statements is/are correct? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three c) All three Correct Solution: b) Statement 1 is incorrect. Ramsar secretariat designating a wetland as wetland of global importance may not lead to any extra funding by the global body. But from the management point of view, it is like an accreditation. It is like an ISO certification. They can take you off the list as well if you don’t meet their standards continuously. Not every Ramsar Site is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, hence systematic protection and conservation regimes might not be in place there. Incorrect Solution: b) Statement 1 is incorrect. Ramsar secretariat designating a wetland as wetland of global importance may not lead to any extra funding by the global body. But from the management point of view, it is like an accreditation. It is like an ISO certification. They can take you off the list as well if you don’t meet their standards continuously. Not every Ramsar Site is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, hence systematic protection and conservation regimes might not be in place there.

#### 4. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Ramsar Convention.

• Designation of a wetland under Ramsar Convention will lead to funding from the Ramsar secretariat.

• Not every Ramsar Site in India is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

• The Ramsar designation for a wetland can be taken off if the country does not meet the required standards.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Ramsar secretariat designating a wetland as wetland of global importance may not lead to any extra funding by the global body.

But from the management point of view, it is like an accreditation. It is like an ISO certification. They can take you off the list as well if you don’t meet their standards continuously.

Not every Ramsar Site is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, hence systematic protection and conservation regimes might not be in place there.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Ramsar secretariat designating a wetland as wetland of global importance may not lead to any extra funding by the global body.

But from the management point of view, it is like an accreditation. It is like an ISO certification. They can take you off the list as well if you don’t meet their standards continuously.

Not every Ramsar Site is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, hence systematic protection and conservation regimes might not be in place there.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Consider the following statements. Cold water corals, in general, have greater amount of zooxanthellae than warm water corals and does not build reef-like structures. Cold-water corals differ from warm water corals because the former does not contain symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and grow more slowly. Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Solution: b) Corals that inhabit the colder deep waters of continental shelves and offshore canyons, ranging from 50 to over 1000m depths lack zooxanthellae and may build reef-like structures or occur solitarily. Cold-water corals are different from their warm-water counterparts because they do not contain symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and grow more slowly. Cold-water corals obtain all their energy from organic matter and zooplankton, which they catch from the currents drifting past. Cold-water corals can be found over a wide range of latitudes, from tropical to Polar Regions, and from the shallow to the deep seas. Incorrect Solution: b) Corals that inhabit the colder deep waters of continental shelves and offshore canyons, ranging from 50 to over 1000m depths lack zooxanthellae and may build reef-like structures or occur solitarily. Cold-water corals are different from their warm-water counterparts because they do not contain symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and grow more slowly. Cold-water corals obtain all their energy from organic matter and zooplankton, which they catch from the currents drifting past. Cold-water corals can be found over a wide range of latitudes, from tropical to Polar Regions, and from the shallow to the deep seas.

#### 5. Question

Consider the following statements.

• Cold water corals, in general, have greater amount of zooxanthellae than warm water corals and does not build reef-like structures.

• Cold-water corals differ from warm water corals because the former does not contain symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and grow more slowly.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• c) Both 1 and 2

• d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: b)

Corals that inhabit the colder deep waters of continental shelves and offshore canyons, ranging from 50 to over 1000m depths lack zooxanthellae and may build reef-like structures or occur solitarily.

Cold-water corals are different from their warm-water counterparts because they do not contain symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and grow more slowly. Cold-water corals obtain all their energy from organic matter and zooplankton, which they catch from the currents drifting past.

Cold-water corals can be found over a wide range of latitudes, from tropical to Polar Regions, and from the shallow to the deep seas.

Solution: b)

Cold-water corals can be found over a wide range of latitudes, from tropical to Polar Regions, and from the shallow to the deep seas.

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