Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation – UPSC Prelims PYQs

Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid) :

1. It is an epiphytic orchid.
2. The species is endemic to North-east India.
3. It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Regarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements : I. It is an omnivorous crustacean. II. Its natural habitat in India is only limited to some forest areas. III. In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following pairs : Plant : Description I. Cassava : Woody shrub II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber IV. Mint : Annual shrub V. Papaya : Woody shrub

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following :

1. Carabid beetles
2. Centipedes
3. Flies
4. Termites
5. Wasps Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms ?

Consider the following plants :

1. Groundnut
2. Horse-gram
3. Soybean

How many of the above belong to the pea family ?

The organisms "Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater" are :

Consider the following : 1. 2. 3.

How many of the above trees are actually native to India ?

Consider the following fauna :

1. Lion-tailed Macaque
2. Malabar Civet
3. Sambar Deer

How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset?

Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?

With reference to “Gucchi” sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements :

1. It is a fungus.
2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.
3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Which of the following is not a bird ?

With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are

Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of

The term "sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction" is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of

Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in news ?

Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC) :

1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

What is/are unique about 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India?

1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?

With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements :

1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India.
2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as 'State Butterfly'?

With reference to 'dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?

1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following animals:

1. Sea cow
2. Sea horse
3. Sea lion

Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat?

1. Tamil Nadu
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra Pradesh

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following fauna of India:

1. Gharial
2. Leatherback turtle
3. Swamp deer

Which of the above is/are endangered?

Government of India encourages the cultivation of 'sea buckthorn'. What is the importance of this plant?

1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification.
2. It is a rich source of biodiesel.
3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes.
4. Its timber is of great commercial value.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?

What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?

Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area?

1. Global warming
2. Fragmentation of habitat
3. Invasion of alien species
4. Promotion of vegetarianism

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

Consider the following agricultural practices :

1. Contour bunding
2. Relay cropping
3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?

Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to

Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity:

1. Species richness
2. Vegetation density
3. Endemism
4. Ethno-botanical importance
5. Threat perception
6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?

The Himalayan Range is very rich in species diversity. Which one among the following is the most appropriate reason for this phenomenon?

Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?

The "Red Data Books" published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of

1. Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
2. Threatened plant and animal species.
3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following statements:

1. Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes.
2. Along the mountain gradients, biodiversity is normally greater in the lower altitudes as compared to the higher altitudes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements :

1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions.
2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Taxus tree naturally found in the Himalayas.
2. The Taxus tree is listed in the Red Data Book.
3. A drug called “taxol” is obtained from Taxus tree is effective against Parkinson’s disease.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The marine animal called dugong which is vulnerable to extinction is a/an

Consider the following regions:

1. Eastern Himalayas
2. Eastern Mediterranean region
3. North-western Australia

Which of the above is/are Biodiversity Hotspot(s)?

The Panda belongs to the same family as that of

Among the following, which one is not an ape?

Consider the following animals of India:

1. Crocodile
2. Elephant

Which of these is/are endangered species?

Consider the following statements:

1. The common blue green algae Spirogyra and Ulothrix are found in both fresh water ponds and oceans.
2. The chameleon can look ahead with one eye, and at the same time look behind with another.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

The sea coast

of which one of the following states has become famous as a nesting place for the giant Olive Ridley turtles from South America?

A tree species in Mauritius failed to reproduce because of the extinction of a fruit-eating bird.

Which one of the following was that bird?

Which one of the following regions of India is now regarded as an 'ecological hot spot'?

Ecologists have so far found and certified a large number of species in the plant and animal kingdoms. In terms of members, the largest group identified so far is among the