Practice Environment & Biodiversity MCQ Questions 26–48 out of 48. Free quiz with answers and explanations for UPSC, SSC, Railway exam preparation. Secure vital marks in the ecology segment with our curated Environment and Biodiversity GK mock test. This dynamic module provides rigorous practice on climate change protocols, national global warming initiatives, ecosystems, endangered species, international treaties, and environmental protection acts.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) react with water vapor and oxygen in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids, falling as highly acidic rain. [Memory Trick: 'S'urfer and 'N'itro make a toxic chemistry cocktail to burn leaves = SO2 and NOx.]
The Brundtland Commission (formerly the World Commission on Environment and Development) published its report titled 'Our Common Future' in 1987, defining sustainable development. [Memory Trick: To stop the world from burning is a heavy 'Burden' = 'Brundtland' Commission.]
Sunlight is the primary source of energy. Green plants (autotrophs) capture solar energy through photosynthesis to produce chemical energy, which flows through the biological chain. [Memory Trick: The golden 'Sun' is the cosmic father of all ecological power source.]
Water reaches its absolute maximum density at 4 °C. This anomalous expansion allows ice to float on top, insulating aquatic life below in freezing winters. [Memory Trick: Water molecules pack together super tight when they hit 'Four' (4) degrees Celsius.]
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) was drafted in 1973. It subjects international trade in selected species to strict controls. [Memory Trick: CITES protects species in danger by keeping 'Sights' (CITES) on illegal trade trucks.]
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol aims to phase down the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases. [Memory Trick: Kigali added cool amendments to 'Montreal' because HFCs were making the ozone-friendly layer block heat instead.]
Ernst Haeckel coined 'Ecology' in 1866, deriving it from the Greek words 'oikos' (house) and 'logos' (study of), describing the relations of organisms to their environments. [Memory Trick: He who 'Hacked' (Haeckel) into the secret database of nature's house = Ernst Haeckel.]
Arthur George Tansley introduced 'Ecosystem' in 1935 to describe the interactive biological community along with its physical environment. [Memory Trick: An interactive 'System' needs a bright designer like 'Tansley' to weave it together.]
Charles Elton first described the pyramid of numbers and biomass in 1927, which is why ecological pyramids are also termed 'Eltonian Pyramids'. [Memory Trick: Think of the heavy pyramids at the top of a musical charts built by 'Elton' John = Eltonian pyramids.]
Raymond Lindeman introduced the ten percent rule of energy transfer. Only about 10% of energy stored as biomass in one trophic level is passed to the next level. [Memory Trick: 'Lin-de-man' is 'the man' who tracked the flow of energy down to exactly 10%.]
The industrial disaster occurred at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, releasing Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), killing thousands instantly and poisoning water and soil for decades. [Memory Trick: A toxic leak that made everyone cry 'M-I-C' (MIC) in the middle of the dark night.]
Fly ash consists of fine particles of silica, alumina, iron oxides, and toxic trace elements like arsenic, lead, and mercury, posing serious respiratory hazards. [Memory Trick: Heavy burned ash 'flies' up carrying microscopic 'Silica' sand and 'Alumina' dust.]
Lichens absorb nutrients directly from the air and have no protective bark. They are highly sensitive to sulfur dioxide (SO2) and disappear in heavily polluted zones. [Memory Trick: Lichens say 'I 'Like' clean air, and I will die if 'Sulfur' gets into my hair'.]
Photochemical smog is formed when sunlight reacts with Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to produce secondary pollutants like Ozone and Peroxyacetyl Nitrate (PAN). [Memory Trick: Sun reacts with gas to form urban 'Ozone' and painful 'PAN' (pain) inside our lungs.]
Project Elephant was launched in February 1992 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India to provide financial and technical support for wildlife management. [Memory Trick: The giant Elephant stepped forward on the scale in 'Ninety-Two' (1992) to claim his royal state sanctuary rights.]
The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), which lives in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna system, was designated as India's National Aquatic Animal in 2009 to protect its declining population. [Memory Trick: The pure 'Dolphin' leaps in the holy water of 'Ganges' with absolute grace.]
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. Its largest remaining wild population is restricted to the Thar Desert and grasslands of Rajasthan. [Memory Trick: The royal bird loves to fly over the sandy deserts of 'Rajasthan'.]
The ISA was co-founded by India and France in 2015. It is the first treaty-based international intergovernmental organization to have its headquarters in India, located in Gurugram, Haryana. [Memory Trick: The 'Guru' of clean solar energy has his 'Gram' (home) inside Haryana's tech city = Gurugram.]
The Nagoya Protocol provides a transparent legal framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. [Memory Trick: 'Nagoya' ensures a 'Nice' and 'Generous' distribution of nature's genetic treasure = Access & Benefit-Sharing.]
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity aims to protect biological diversity from potential risks posed by living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from biotechnology. [Memory Trick: Check the biotech 'Cargo' (Cartagena) for biological 'Safety'= Cartagena Biosafety Protocol.]
An ecotone is a boundary or transition zone between two biomes (e.g., marshland between land and water, or estuary between river and sea). It is rich in biodiversity and exhibits the 'edge effect'. [Memory Trick: An ecological 'Zone' where two diverse worlds meet to strike a balance 'Tone' = Eco-tone.]
Itai-Itai disease was caused by Cadmium poisoning due to mining operations in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It causes severe softening of bones and kidney failure. [Memory Trick: A 'Cad' (Cadmium) broke the bones of local people, making them cry 'ouch-ouch' (Itai-Itai) in pain.]
Sacred Groves (or Deorais/Kavu) are ecologically vital patches of primeval forest protected by local communities through spiritual beliefs, conserving rare flora and fauna deep in indigenous spaces. [Memory Trick: Sacred Groves are 'temples of green trees' guarded by local faith and traditional gods.]
Tyagi