Environment Quiz: Biodiversity conservation | Nov 19,2020

Derived from the Greek words phyto (plant) and plankton (made to wander or drift), phytoplankton are microscopic plant organisms that live in aquatic environments, both salty and fresh.
•Some phytoplanktons are bacteria, some are protists, and most are single-celled plants. Among the common kinds are cyanobacteria, silica-encased diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae, and chalk-coated coccolithophores.
•Phytoplankton produce more than 60% of oxygen produced from all plants.
•Like land plants, all phytoplankton have chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy.
•They consume carbon dioxide, and release oxygen. All phytoplankton photosynthesize, but some get additional energy by consuming other organisms.
•These micro‐algae are present throughout the lighted regions of all the seas and oceans including the Polar Regions.
•Their total biomass is many times greater than that of the total plants on land and they serve as the “pasture grounds” in the aquatic environment.
Source: Shankar

The adoption of a National Policy for Wildlife Conservation in 1970 and the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972 lead to a significant growth in the protected areas network.
•From 5 national parks and 60 sanctuaries to a network of 669 Protected Areas with geographical area of the country, 4.92%.
•Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure.
Source: Envis

The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 provided for the declaration of certain areas by the State Government as wildlife sanctuaries if the area was thought to be of adequate ecological, geomorphological and natural significance.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA) of 1972 provided for the declaration of National Parks by the State Government in addition to the declaration of wildlife sanctuaries.
Source: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Conservation Reserve and Community Reserves are the outcome of Amendments to the Wild life protection act in 2003.
•The Amendment Act of 2003 provided for the creation of a new type of protected area called a Conservation Reserve.
•It is an area owned by the State Government adjacent to National Parks and sanctuaries for protecting the landscape, seascape and habitat of fauna and flora.
•It is managed through a Conservation Reserve Management Committee.
Source: Shankar

Slender loris (primate) found only in the tropical rainforests of Southern India and Sri Lanka.
The Indian star tortoise found in scrub forests of India and Sri Lanka.
Source: WWF

The eight hottest hot spots are:
1. Madagascar
2. Philippines
3. Sundaland
4. Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
5. Caribbean
6. Indo-Burma
7. Western Ghats/Sri Lanka
8. Eastern Arc and Coastal Forests of Tanzania/Kenya
These eight `hottest hot spots’, appear at least three times in the top ten listings for each factor.
Source: ENVIS

Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure.
•The tiger reserves in India are governed by Project Tiger which is administrated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
•About 80% of the tigers in the world are found in India.
•The state of Madhya Pradesh (6 tiger reserves) has the highest number of Tiger reserves with a total tiger population of 526.
Source: ENVIS

In any arrangement or community, the “keystone” is considered one of the most vital parts.
In a marine ecosystem, or any type of ecosystem, a keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together.
There are three types of keystone species cited by many scientists: predators, ecosystem engineers, and mutualists.
•Predators help control the populations of prey species, which in turn affects the quantity of plants and animals further along the food web.
•An ecosystem engineer is an organism that creates, changes, or destroys a habitat.
•When two or more species in an ecosystem interact for each other’s benefit, they are called mutualists.
Source: NCERT

The famous Chipko Andolan (Hug the Trees Movement) of Uttarakhand in the Himalayas inspired the villagers of the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka Province in southern India to launch a similar movement to save their forests.
In September 1983, men, women and children of Salkani “hugged the trees” in Kalase forest. (The local term for “hugging” in Kannada is appiko.) Appiko Andolan gave birth to a new awareness all over southern India.
Source: NCERT

Spread over a region of 262 sq km, Pamed is one of the essential wildlife sanctuaries in Bastar.
•Set up in 1983 to accommodate the overabundance population of the wild bison, this sanctuary is also home to the tiger, panther, chital and different types of fauna.
•Pameda wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh in India is located in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
•Andhra Pradesh border is close to the sanctuary. The aggregate area is 260 sq km and there is a mixed deciduous forest.
Source: The Hindu