Day-582 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | ENVIRONMENT

Answer. B
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Every January, thousands of volunteers across Asia and Australasia visit wetlands in their country and count waterbirds. This citizen science programme is the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC). The AWC is an integral part of the global waterbird monitoring programme, the International Waterbird Census (IWC), coordinated by Wetlands International.
It runs in parallel with other regional programmes of the International Waterbird Census in Africa, Europe, West Asia, the Neotropics and the Caribbean.
The Asian Waterbird Census first began in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent and has expanded to cover regions of Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Statement 2 is correct: The census has the following objectives:
• to obtain information on an annual basis of waterbird populations at wetlands in the region during the non-breeding period of most species (January), as a basis for evaluation of sites and monitoring of populations
• to monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands
• to encourage greater interest in waterbirds and wetlands amongst citizens.
Statement 3 is correct: The information so generated is used to identify wetlands of high importance for waterbirds, and take conservation measures such as designation as Ramsar Sites and Flyway Network Sites, or inclusion as priority wetlands within national programmes.

Answer: A
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless and toxic gas. It is a trace gas in the atmosphere, and it does not have a direct effect on the global temperature, like methane and carbon dioxide do.
• However, carbon monoxide plays a major role in atmospheric chemistry, and it affects the ability of the atmosphere to cleanse itself of many other polluting gases. In combination with other pollutants and sunshine, it also takes part in the formation of lower-atmospheric (“bad”) ozone and urban smog.
• Carbon monoxide has a typical “lifespan” of several months in Earth’s atmosphere.
• The gas eventually reacts with oxygen (O2) to form carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Carbon monoxide indirectly contributes to the buildup of some greenhouse gases in the troposphere.
• It reacts with certain chemicals that would otherwise destroy methane and ozone, thus helping to elevate the concentrations of methane and ozone.
Statement 2 is correct: When carbon-based fuels, such as coal, wood, and oil, burn incompletely or inefficiently, they produce carbon monoxide.
The natural sources of carbon monoxide are:
• Volcanoes
• Bushfires
The anthropogenic sources of CO are:
• Tobacco smoke
• Stubble burning
• Automobile exhausts
• Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters
• Leaking chimneys and furnaces
• Generators and other gasoline powered equipment
• worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, gas stoves, furnaces)
Statement 3 is incorrect- According to WHO Air Pollution Guidelines 2021, the 24-hour mean (short-term exposure) of CO should not exceed 4 µg/m³.

Note: Annual and peak season is long-term exposure, while 24 hour and 8 hour is short-term exposure.
Additional information:
• At low concentrations, the exposure to CO leads to fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease.
• At moderate concentrations, its exposure results into angina, impaired vision and reduced brain function.
• At higher concentrations, the effects of exposure to CO are disastrous as it leads to impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. It is fatal at very high concentrations.
• Carbon monoxide is a relatively unreactive compound, so it doesn’t pose much threat to plants or exposed materials.
• However, the gas is quite poisonous to humans and other air-breathing creatures that need oxygen.
• Haemoglobin, the protein in blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body, is more than 200 times more prone to bind with carbon monoxide than it is with oxygen. This means that someone who breathes too much CO can have their haemoglobin become saturated with it, making it impossible for the blood to deliver oxygen to their cells.

Answer: C
Explanation:
Options 1, 2 and 3 are correct: While Ashambu Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Sholakili and Andaman Crake are the endemic birds found in India, Tharosaurus indicus is the name given to the oldest fossil remains of a long-necked, plant-eating dicraeosaurid dinosaur discovered in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
A publication, titled “75 Endemic Birds of India”, was recently released on the 108th foundation day of the Zoological Survey of India. It points out that about 5% of birds found in the country are endemic and are not reported in other parts of the world.
Key Highlights of the Publication:
Of the 78 species, three species have not been recorded in the last few decades. They are-
• Manipur Bush Quail (Perdicula manipurensis) listed as ‘Endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species with its last recorded sighting in 1907.
• The Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ with its last recorded sighting in 1876.
• The Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ with its last confirmed sighting in 2009.
The highest number of endemic species have been recorded in the Western Ghats, with 28 bird species. Some of the interesting species recorded in this bio-geographic hotspot are the Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus); Malabar Parakeet (Psittacula columboides); Ashambu Laughing Thrush (Montecincla meridionalis); and the White-bellied Sholakili (Sholicola albiventris).
Some interesting bird species which are only found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are-
• Nicobar Megapode (Megapodius nicobariensis);
• Nicobar Serpent Eagle (Spilornis klossi);
• Andaman Crake (Rallina canningi); and
• Andaman Barn Owl (Tyto deroepstorffi).

Answer: A
Explanation:
Options 1 and 2 are incorrectly matched. Option 3 is correctly matched.
Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
• Origin of 14 rivers from this tiger reserve including Thamirabarani river which is also the shortest river in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• Forms the core of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. (Besides Kalakad Mundanthurai riger reserve, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary together constitute the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.)
• The second largest wildlife sanctuary of Tamil Nadu.
• Spread over two districts of Tamil Nadu- Tirunelvelvi and Kanyakumari districts.
• Location in the southern Western Ghats.
• Tea and coffee estates are there within this protected area
• The tribal settlements of Kaani Tribes are found within this protected area.
• Vegetation is prominently Tropical wet evergreen forests.
Bannerghata National Park
• The Suvarnamukhi stream runs through the national park. It is located in the state of Karnataka.
• Bannerghatta National Park is only about 27 km from Bengaluru.
• It is a part of one of the largest scrub forests in India and covers an area of about 260 km sq.
• The Bannerghatta-Hosur area of the Eastern Ghats comprises three protected areas including the Bannerghatta national park, the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Most of the national park consists of artificial forest, and some animals have been introduced.
• The park is part of a wildlife corridor for elephants which connects the Biligirirangan Hills and the Sathyamangalam forest.
• The park is contiguous with Talli reserve forest in the southeast and Bilikal forest in the south.
Mukundra Tiger Reserve
• 4 rivers namely Ramzan, Ahu, Kali and Chambal flow through this protected area which is situated in the state of Rajasthan.
• Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve is named after two continuous flat topped, almost parallel hills with narrow central ridges, forming part of the Vindhyan range and extending from river Chambal to Kalisindh, with a length of almost 80 km. and the width ranging from 2 to 5 km.
• The tiger reserve was constituted in the year 2013 which encompasses the area of Mukandra National Park, Dara Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary and part of Chambal Sanctuary (from Garadia Mahadev to Jawahar Sagar Dam), forming its core / critical tiger habitat.
• The forests of Kota, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar are included in the buffer. Dry Deciduous Forests are found in this tiger reserve.
• The tiger reserve has linkages with protected areas within the State, viz. Ranthambhore, Ramgarh Vishdhari and Bhainsarogarh.
• Further, it is also linked to the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

Answer: B
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 to be celebrated every year as World Water Day in 1993 to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and promote the sustainable management of water resources.
Statement 2 is incorrect: It was first proposed in the year 1992 during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (also known as the Earth Summit).
Statement 3 is correct: The theme of the first World Water Day observed in 1993 was ‘Water for Life’.
Statement 4 is correct: The theme of the World Water Day in the year 2023 was ‘Accelerating Change’. It emphasized on accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.
• A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. Every year, UN-Water — the UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation — sets the theme for World Water Day.
• The theme set by the UN Water for 2024 World Water Day is ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’.