Biogeography & Ecosystems

* Cashew: Originally native to Brazil, cashew was brought to India by Portuguese traders in the 16th century.  * Papaya: Papaya also originated in the Americas, specifically in southern Mexico and Central America.  * Red Sanders: This tree, known for its valuable reddish wood, is endemic to India. It is found in the Eastern Ghats, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, only Red Sanders is native to India.

* Statement 1 is incorrect: This is typically done using X-ray scanners or advanced imaging technologies like millimeter wave scanners, not traditional radar. * Statement 2 is correct: Radars, specifically weather radars, are commonly used to monitor precipitation. They can detect rain, snow, and other weather conditions by bouncing radio waves off precipitation particles. * Statement 3 is correct: Radars can be used to track the migration of birds and other animals. They are often used in ornithological studies to monitor bird migration patterns.

* Statement I is correct: Marsupials, which are a type of mammal characterised by the presence of a pouch (marsupium) for carrying their young, are not naturally found in India. Marsupials are primarily native to the Americas and Australia.  * Statement II is incorrect: Marsupials can thrive in a variety of habitats, not just montane grasslands without predators. Many marsupial species are found in a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, savannas, and even urban areas, and can coexist with a variety of predators. Therefore, the correct answer is: Statement-I is correct, and Statement II is incorrect.

* Statement I is incorrect: The soil in tropical rainforests is not rich in nutrients. The heavy rainfall in these regions washes away the nutrients from the soil, preventing them from accumulating. * Statement II is correct: In tropical rainforests, high temperature and humidity help dead plants and animals decompose quickly. The warmth and moisture create the perfect conditions for bacteria and fungi, which are tiny organisms that break down dead material. These decomposers work faster in such an environment, turning dead matter into nutrients that go back into the soil to support new plant growth. Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants. Rice cultivation emits methane and nitrous oxide due to flooded fields and nitrogen-based fertilizers. Flooding creates anaerobic conditions, producing methane released through rice plants. Fertilizers poorly absorbed by rice lead to soil microbes converting nitrogen into nitrous oxide.

Urban Forests use the Miyawaki method to create urban forests. Miyawaki urban forests are fascinating complex ecosystems, in balance with today's soil and climate conditions. This technique works worldwide irrespective of soil and climatic conditions. Over 2000 forests were successfully created using this method. Doctor Akira Miyawaki, botanist and professor, is the inventor of the technique since 1980. He is a recipient of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, which is the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in ecology.

Biorock technology uses a low voltage electrical current to stimulate the growth of minerals on submerged structures. This creates a limestone-like material similar to that found in natural coral reefs. Biorock structures can provide a stable substrate for coral polyps to attach and grow, accelerating the restoration of degraded coral reefs. While Biorock can be used for other purposes, like creating artificial reefs for mariculture (fish farming) or promoting the growth of seacrete building materials, its application in coral reef restoration is a major area of interest.

Out of the listed functions of wetlands, the one that best reflects the analogy of "kidneys" is option D. Kidneys in our body function as a filtering system, removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood.
Wetlands with their dense vegetation and saturated soils, wetlands act as natural filters for water. Aquatic plants and microbes in wetlands play a crucial role in
- Phytoremediation: Aquatic plants can absorb and accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants from water.
- Nutrient cycling: Wetlands help regulate nutrient levels in water by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This prevents them from flowing into rivers, lakes, and oceans and causing harmful algal blooms. By filtering pollutants and excess nutrients, wetlands help purify water and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems. This aligns with the concept of kidneys filtering waste from our blood.

- Ants are well-known as cultivators of fungi. Certain ant species, particularly those in the tribe Attini, have evolved a symbiotic relationship with specific fungi. These ants cultivate the fungus within their nests, providing it with food and a controlled environment. In return, the fungus provides the ants with nutrients. This is a fascinating example of mutualism in nature. - Cockroaches are omnivores and scavengers. They do not cultivate fungi. - Crabs are primarily scavengers or predators. They are not known to cultivate fungi. - Spiders are predators and capture their prey (insects) in webs. They do not cultivate fungi.

Statement 1 is correct: The Guchhi mushroom is a species of fungus in the Morchellaceae family of the Ascomycota. It exhibits a pale yellow colouration with large pits and ridges on the surface of the cap, which is elevated on a large white stem. Statement 2 is correct: This mushroom is cultivated in the foothills of the Himalayas, specifically in regions such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Jammu and Kashmir. Statement 3 is incorrect: These mushrooms cannot be cultivated on a commercial scale and instead grow naturally in conifer forests across various temperature regions. It takes months for villagers to gather sufficient quantities of these mushrooms, dry them, and transport them to the market.