Insights Static Quiz -218, 2019–Environment

Solution: c

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms in which one organism benefits without harming the other.

Many birds form a commensal relationship with some species of ants like the army ants. A great number of army ants trail on the forest floor, and while moving, stir up many insects lying in their path. The birds follow these army ants and eat up the insects that try to escape from them. The birds benefit by catching their prey easily, while the army ants are totally unaffected.

Solution: c

Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.

Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

Solution: a

Flora and Fauna of Bhitarkanika National Park

Flora: Mangrove species, casuarinas, and grasses like the indigo bush.

Fauna: The Park is home to the saltwater crocodile, Indian python, black ibis, wild boar, rhesus monkey, chital, darter, cobra, monitor lizard. Olive ridley turtles nest on Gahirmatha and other nearby beaches. Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of saltwater crocodile in India.

Solution: d

Bioleaching is a simple and effective technology for metal extraction from low-grade ores and mineral concentrates. At present bioleaching is used essentially for the recovery of copper, uranium and gold.

Biosparging is an in-situ remediation technology that uses indigenous microorganisms to bio-degrade organic constituents in the saturated zone. In biosparging, air (or oxygen) and nutrients (if needed) are injected into the saturated zone to increase the biological activity of the indigenous microorganisms. Biosparging can be used to reduce concentrations of petroleum constituents that are dissolved in groundwater, adsorbed to soil below the water table, and within the capillary fringe.

Bioremediation strategies can involve natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, or biostimulation and can take place in situ or ex situ.

Solution: c)

‘Operation Kachhapa’: Conservation of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle was launched by the Wildlife Protection Society of India in collaboration with the Odisha State Forest Department and the Wildlife Society of Odisha and other local NGOs.