Environment 2023 Flashcards
1
Q
What organization does the Invasive Species Specialist Group belong to?
A
The International Union for Conservation of Nature
The Invasive Species Specialist Group develops the Global Invasive Species Database.
2
Q
When was the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) created?
A
1948
3
Q
Where is the IUCN headquartered?
A
Switzerland
4
Q
What is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?
A
The world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species
5
Q
What are the nine IUCN Red List Categories?
A
- NE (Not Evaluated)
- EX (Extinct)
- CR (Critically Endangered)
- EN (Endangered)
- VU (Vulnerable)
- NT (Near Threatened)
- LC (Least Concern)
- DD (Data Deficient)
- EW (Extinct in the Wild)
6
Q
What document did the IUCN publish in 1980 to define the concept of sustainable development?
A
The World Conservation Strategy
7
Q
What is the conservation status of the lion-tailed macaque according to the IUCN Red List?
A
Endangered
8
Q
What is the life expectancy of a lion-tailed macaque in the wild?
A
20 years
9
Q
What type of habitat does the lion-tailed macaque prefer?
A
Rainforest environments
10
Q
How many lion-tailed macaques are estimated to be in the wild?
A
3000-3500
11
Q
What are the major threats to the lion-tailed macaque’s population?
A
- Spread of agriculture
- Commercial farming
- Construction of new dams
- Irrigational facilities
12
Q
What is the conservation status of the Malabar civet?
A
Critically Endangered
13
Q
What is the primary threat to the Malabar civet?
A
Habitat destruction
14
Q
What type of animal is the sambar deer?
A
A large deer species
15
Q
What is the conservation status of the sambar deer?
A
Vulnerable
16
Q
What is the primary diet of honeybees?
A
- Pollen
- Nectar
17
Q
What are the two types of dances performed by honeybees?
A
- Round Dance
- Tail-wagging or Waggle Dance
18
Q
What does the waggle dance indicate?
A
The direction and distance to a food source
19
Q
What distinguishes wasps from bees?
A
Pointed lower abdomens and a narrow waist
20
Q
What is the largest wasp in the world?
A
The tarantula hawk
21
Q
What life cycle process do butterflies undergo?
A
Complete metamorphosis
22
Q
What are the four stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?
A
- Egg
- Larva
- Pupa
- Adult
23
Q
Which chemical in certain mushrooms is known for its psychoactive properties?
A
Psilocybin
24
Q
What are some medicinal properties of mushrooms?
A
- Antitumor properties
- Immunostimulant properties
25
How many of the following statements about mushrooms are correct?
- Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
- Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.
- Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
- Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.
All four
26
What is bioluminescence?
The production and emission of light by living organisms
27
What is psilocybin commonly used for?
Recreational drug that can provide feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion
## Footnote
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms.
28
What is bioluminescence?
The production and emission of light by living organisms
## Footnote
Bioluminescence is commonly observed in certain fungi, bacteria, and marine organisms.
29
What is the significance of Panellus stipticus?
It is one of the brightest-glowing bioluminescent mushrooms on Earth
## Footnote
This mushroom appears dull during the day but glows brightly at night.
30
How many varieties of fungi were revealed in the mushroom documentation project in Northeast India?
600 varieties
## Footnote
This project also led to the discovery of a new bioluminescent mushroom species.
31
What is the habitat of Indian squirrels?
Primarily arboreal, living in trees
## Footnote
They build nests, called dreys, in trees.
32
What behavior do Indian squirrels exhibit regarding food storage?
Caching, where they store food materials like nuts and seeds
## Footnote
Not all Indian squirrels display this behavior.
33
What is the diet of Indian squirrels?
Primarily herbivorous, including plants, nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects
## Footnote
They are considered omnivorous in a broad sense.
34
What are thermophiles?
Organisms that thrive at relatively high temperatures, between 41 and 122 °C
## Footnote
Most thermophiles live at temperatures between 60 and 80 °C.
35
What are psychrophiles?
Organisms capable of growth and reproduction in cold temperatures
## Footnote
Some can grow below the freezing point of water.
36
What are acidophiles?
Microorganisms that show optimal growth in highly acidic environments
## Footnote
Extreme acidophiles thrive in environments with a pH <3.
37
Which animal uses a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree?
Orangutan
## Footnote
Orangutans are known for their intelligence and tool use.
38
What is the primary habitat of orangutans?
Rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia
## Footnote
They are primarily arboreal and spend most of their time in trees.
39
What is the diet of orangutans?
Primarily fruit, but also includes vegetation, bark, honey, insects, and bird eggs
## Footnote
They are among the most intelligent primates.
40
What is the conservation status of the fishing cat?
Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
## Footnote
Their populations are threatened by destruction of wetlands.
41
Where are fishing cats primarily found in India?
Mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, foothills of the Himalayas, and Western Ghats
## Footnote
They are nocturnal and prey on various animals, including fish and frogs.
42
What is the primary diet of otters?
Fish and invertebrates
## Footnote
They also eat frogs, crayfish, crabs, and small mammals.
43
What is the sloth bear known for?
Being myrmecophagous, feeding on fruits, ants, and termites
## Footnote
It has a long lower lip used for sucking up insects.
44
What is the conservation status of sloth bears?
Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
## Footnote
Their populations are primarily threatened by habitat loss.
45
What are carbon markets?
Mechanisms that put a price on carbon emissions
## Footnote
They create economic incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
46
What is the role of the Chief Wildlife Warden in a Community Reserve?
Governing authority of the community reserve
## Footnote
The area is managed by a community reserve management committee.
47
What is the status of marsupials in India?
Not naturally found in India
## Footnote
They are endemic to Australasia, Wallacea, and the Americas.
48
What is a source of mercury pollution?
Gold mining and coal-based thermal power plants
## Footnote
There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.
49
What is fly ash and how is it disposed of?
Fly ash is generated by TPPs and is usually disposed of in ash ponds in the form of ash slurry.
## Footnote
Fly ash forms an aquatic ecosystem of its own.
50
What is the major source of mercury emissions into the environment?
Coal-based TPPs are the major source of mercury emissions, contributing over 80 percent of emissions released by TPPs.
## Footnote
This data is based on 2016 estimates by the Centre for Science and Environment.
51
What are the health effects of mercury exposure?
Acute or chronic mercury exposure can cause adverse effects during any period of development.
## Footnote
Mercury is highly toxic, and there is no known safe level of exposure.
52
Is there a universal diagnostic criterion for mercury overload?
No, there are no universal diagnostic criteria for mercury overload.
53
What is Minamata Disease?
A disorder caused by methylmercury poisoning characterized by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, and hearing and visual loss.
## Footnote
It was first described in inhabitants of Minamata Bay, Japan.
54
How does methylmercury differ from ethylmercury?
Methylmercury is highly toxic, while ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.
55
What is the Minamata Convention on Mercury?
A global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.
56
When was the Minamata Convention on Mercury agreed upon?
It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland in 2013.
57
What are key obligations under the Minamata Convention?
Controlling anthropogenic releases of mercury, interim storage of mercury, disposal of mercury waste, and emissions from industrial facilities.
## Footnote
Countries that ratified the Convention are bound by international law to implement these controls.
58
What are the three steps involved in carbon capture and storage (CCS)?
1. Capturing carbon dioxide produced by power generation or industrial activity
2. Transporting it
3. Storing it deep underground
59
What is Enhanced Weathering in the context of carbon capture?
Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands to capture CO2 from the atmosphere.
60
What does Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement involve?
Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime to enhance its capacity to store carbon in the form of bicarbonate ions.
61
What is the role of biofilters in recirculating aquaculture systems?
Biofilters provide waste treatment by converting ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.
62
What do biofilters remove from aquarium systems?
Biofilters remove ammonia from aquarium systems.
63
How do Biodiversity Management Committees relate to the Nagoya Protocol?
Biodiversity Management Committees are key to realizing the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
64
What important functions do Biodiversity Management Committees have?
Determining access benefit sharing and the power to levy collection fees on access to biological resources.
65
What is green hydrogen?
Hydrogen produced using renewable energy to split water, emitting no greenhouse gases.
66
Which heavy industries can green hydrogen significantly decarbonize?
Fertilizer plants, oil refineries, and steel plants.
67
How can green hydrogen be used in fertilizer production?
It can be used to produce ammonia without emitting greenhouse gases.
68
How does green hydrogen benefit oil refining?
It can be used to heat crude oil without emitting greenhouse gases.
69
How can green hydrogen aid in steel production?
It can be used to melt iron ore without emitting greenhouse gases.
