UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 4 December 2025

Solution: B

• Tigers play a critical ecological role and are widely recognised as flagship species because they symbolize conservation priorities and help mobilise public support for habitat protection.
• They are also considered umbrella species because their conservation indirectly ensures the protection of a wide range of flora and fauna sharing the same habitat, given the large territories they require. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the tiger (Panthera tigris) is listed as Endangered—not Vulnerable—under the IUCN Red List, reflecting continued threats from habitat loss, poaching, and depletion of prey base despite recovery successes in countries like India.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra is among the smallest tiger reserves; the largest in India is the Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Solution: A

Solution: B

Only Statement 2 is correct.

India’s open ecosystems, such as savannahs and grasslands, face an unusual threat from increased tree cover, a phenomenon known as woody encroachment.

• This encroachment, driven by human activities that disrupt the natural disturbance regimes (like grazing and fire), is changing these ecosystems and threatening their biodiversity.
• A study highlighted that increased tree cover in areas like the African savannah has significantly reduced native grassland bird populations by more than 20%.
• Grasslands and savannahs, covering nearly 40% of the Earth’s landmass, are home to many endemic and at-risk species.
• However, threats like conversion to agriculture, large-scale development projects, and overgrazing are contributing to their decline, with trees now emerging as a significant threat.
• Higher atmospheric CO2 levels due to climate change promote the growth of deep-rooted woody plants, exacerbating the problem.

Solution: C

H5N1 is zoonotic and can jump from animals to humans; however, human-to-human transmission is rare, making widespread outbreaks uncommon. The virus primarily spreads through direct contact with infected animal fluids.

About H5N1 Bird Flu:

• What it is:A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza caused by the influenza A(H5N1) virus, affecting birds and occasionally humans.
• Types:Includes subtypes like A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), based on proteins on the virus surface.

Symptoms:

• Mild: Pink eye, cough, sore throat, fatigue.
• Severe Fever, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, and respiratory complications.
• Spread:Humans contract it through contact with infected animal fluids (saliva, feces, milk). Rarely spreads human-to-human.
• Zoonotic nature:It is zoonotic in nature can jump from animals to humans but is not easily transmissible between humans.

Treatment:

• Antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
• Supportive care for respiratory symptoms.
• Preventive measures include avoiding contact with infected animals and proper cooking of poultry products.

• Solution: C

• Tropicalisation is the term used to describe the mass movement of marine life where tropical marine species move from the equator towards the poles due to rising sea temperatures caused by climate change. This phenomenon is a direct consequence of global warming and its impact on ocean ecosystems.
• As waters warm, species adapted to tropical conditions extend their range towards higher latitudes, while temperate species retreat. This shift can have profound effects on marine ecosystems, altering food webs, species interactions, and potentially impacting fisheries and coastal economies.

Tropicalisation is a clear indicator of the far-reaching consequences of climate change on marine biodiversity and highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate and adapt to these changes in our oceans.