According to India's Climate Action Plan, what is the target reduction in carbon emissions intensity by 2030?
Answer: B
India has committed to reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 from 2005 baseline levels as part of its NDC.
Q.42Medium
In India's Eastern Ghats, the replacement of natural forest by monoculture plantations would result in:
Answer: C
Monoculture plantations reduce species and genetic diversity, making ecosystems more vulnerable to disturbances and less stable.
Q.43Medium
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which India ratified, what is the current target for protecting land-based ecosystems?
Answer: B
The CBD's post-2020 global biodiversity framework targets 30% land protection by 2030, known as the '30 by 30' target.
Q.44Medium
The Western Ghats of India represent which type of biodiversity hotspot characteristic?
Answer: B
The Western Ghats qualify as a biodiversity hotspot due to their exceptional species richness, with over 50% endemic species and significant ongoing habitat destruction from human activities.
Q.45Medium
Which of the following is an example of competitive exclusion principle in natural ecosystems?
Answer: B
Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two species with identical ecological niches cannot coexist indefinitely. Classic laboratory experiments with Paramecium species demonstrated that one species outcompetes and excludes the other.
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Q.46Medium
Which nutrient cycle is considered abiotic and does NOT involve bacterial decomposition?
Answer: C
The phosphorus cycle is primarily abiotic, involving weathering of rocks, sedimentation, and geological processes, with minimal involvement of microorganisms compared to nitrogen or carbon cycles.
Q.47Medium
In India's forest ecosystems, which of the following is considered a keystone species?
Answer: B
Asian elephants are keystone species in Indian forests because their feeding and movement patterns significantly influence forest structure, vegetation composition, and create habitats for other species.
Q.48Medium
Which of the following statements about biodiversity loss in India is CORRECT?
Answer: B
Habitat fragmentation, resulting from urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure development, is identified as the primary driver of biodiversity loss in India, more significant than other factors.
Q.49Medium
The process of ecological pyramids is used to represent energy flow. Which type of pyramid is ALWAYS upright in shape?
Answer: C
Energy pyramids are always upright because energy decreases at each trophic level due to metabolic losses, following the second law of thermodynamics, unlike biomass or number pyramids which can be inverted.
Q.50Medium
Which mechanism of natural selection would favor the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
Answer: B
Directional selection operates when antibiotics kill susceptible bacteria, providing selective advantage to resistant strains, continuously shifting the population toward greater antibiotic resistance.
Q.51Medium
In the context of India's Protected Area network, which conservation strategy aims to maintain ecological processes and genetic diversity while allowing sustainable use?
Answer: D
Community Reserves in India are established on community or private land to protect species, habitats, and ecosystems while allowing local communities sustainable use, balancing conservation with livelihood needs.
Q.52Medium
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of r-selected species?
Answer: C
r-selected species (like insects and small rodents) typically produce many offspring with minimal parental investment and care. K-selected species (like elephants and humans) show extended parental care.
Q.53Medium
Which of the following would represent a density-independent limiting factor in an ecosystem?
Answer: C
Density-independent factors (like weather, drought, floods) affect populations regardless of their density, whereas disease and competition are density-dependent as their impact increases with higher population density.
Q.54Medium
A population of deer in a forest reserve shows an increase from 500 to 2000 individuals over 5 years despite constant food availability. Which of the following best explains this population growth pattern?
Answer: A
With abundant resources and low initial population density, the deer population exhibits exponential growth (J-shaped curve). The carrying capacity has not yet been reached as numbers are still increasing rapidly without stabilization.
