GK Questions

Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen; thermal discharge from industries can stress or kill fish and other aquatic organisms.

Photochemical smog forms when sunlight triggers reactions between NOx and VOCs, producing ozone and other secondary pollutants.

The Lion-tailed Macaque is endemic to the Western Ghats and serves as an umbrella species; protecting it conserves the entire rainforest ecosystem.

The program, a partnership between Assam Forest Department and conservation NGOs, targeted rhino population growth through translocation and protection.

Habitat fragmentation due to roads, dams, and urbanization isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and increasing extinction risk.

The Great Indian Bustard is Rajasthan's state bird and is among the heaviest flying birds, now critically endangered due to habitat loss.

Gene banks preserve genetic material (seeds, tissues) outside natural habitats, making them a form of ex-situ conservation.

Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by IUCN for wild species before Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.

Hotspots are identified based on endemic vascular plants and habitat loss; mammal richness alone is not a primary criterion.

In-situ conservation protects species within their natural ecosystems, such as through national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Biodiversity is measured at three levels: genetic variation within species, variety of species, and diversity of ecosystems.

Tamil Nadu, particularly the Western Ghats region, harbors a high number of endemic plant species due to its unique topography and climate.

The tundra biome has permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost), short growing seasons, and supports mosses, lichens, and small shrubs.

Symbiosis includes mutualism (both benefit), commensalism (one benefits, other unaffected), and parasitism (one benefits, other harmed).

Detritivores feed on dead organic matter (detritus); earthworms consume decaying plant material and help in decomposition.

Photosynthesis uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen, forming the base of most food chains.

Keystone species, like sea otters or wolves, maintain ecosystem structure; their removal can cause dramatic changes or collapse.

Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus back into the soil.

Energy flow is always unidirectional and decreases at each trophic level due to the 10% law, making the energy pyramid always upright.

An ecosystem includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components interacting as a functional unit.