(c) EXPLANATION : Both elephant and crocodile are kept in the Red book or endangered species list. The Indian elephant is one of three recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. There are three species of crocodilians—saltwater, Mugger and Gharial. Mugger is listed as vulnerable by IUCN. Gharial is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN. Salt water crocodile is listed as least concern by IUCN.

(b) EXPLANATION : The Kyoto Protocol invented the concept of carbon emissions trading, whereby carbon credits were a “flexibility mechanism”. Under this flexibility mechanism Annex 1 (developed countries) could use the carbon credits to meet their emission reduction commitments. A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide (tCO2e) equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide. Carbon credits are measurable, verifiable emission reductions from certified climate action projects. These projects reduce, remove or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But they also bring a whole host of other positive benefits, for example, they empower communities, protect ecosystems, restore forests or reduce reliance on fossil fuels. After an organisation or an individual buys a carbon credit, the credit is permanently retired so it can’t be reused.

(d) EXPLANATION : Biomagnification is the phenomenon of increasing concentration of compound in the tissue of organism, as the compound passes up a food chain, usually as a result of food intake. In this case, the concentration of compound will increase with increasing the tropic level. Biomagnifying pollutants which increases in concentration from producers – Primary consumers – Secondary consumers – Tertiary consumers – Top consumer. Hawk is the top consumer, so the pesticide concentration will be highest in Hawk.

(b) EXPLANATION : The United Nations framework convention on climate change is an international treaty drawn at UN conference on Environment and development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992.

(a) EXPLANATION : The Bhitarkanika Mangroves are a mangrove wetland in India’s Orissa state. The Bhitarkanika Mangroves cover an area of 650 km2 in the river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers.

(b) EXPLANATION : The Indian wild ass are also called as ghudkhur in local Gujarati language, is a subspecies of the onager native of South Asia. It is unknown how they disappeared though they have never been hunting target during any emperors in India. The history speaks that their number has been declining after due to diseases such as surra and horse sickness. The process related to salt activities have also been a reason behind it.

(c) EXPLANATION : Biodiversity is higher in the low latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes because of the presence of high temperature and moisture at the low latitudes . The habitat tolerance level is very narrow at greater latitude. Mountains have high range of species at the low altitude as they can support larger number of species due to climatic condition.

(c) EXPLANATION : Methane and nitrous oxide are the two green house gases emitted from rice field. In rice field, flooding cuts off the oxygen supply from atmosphere resulting in anaerobic condition which emits methane and nitrogen . Fertilizer which is generally used in rice field for increasing production, emits nitrous oxide by reacting with atmospheric oxygen.

(b) EXPLANATION : Bhitarkanika, Orissa is a protected area for salt water crocodile, where breeding is the main purpose of that protected area. Great Indian Bustard is protected in desert area of Rajasthan. The Eravikulam National Park was established to protect the Nilgiri tahr (wild goat) species.

(d) EXPLANATION : Biodiversity hot spots are not confined to tropical regions and Indian hotspots are present in eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman Islands.