Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – Apirl 18, 2023

1.Consider the following:

1. Unexpected changes in weather patters
2. Fire
3. Deforestation
4. Disease
5. Increase in competitors

In terms of species extinction, which of the above are part of a stochastic processes?

[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 2, 3 & 5
[C] Only 1, 2, 4 & 5
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Correct Answer: C [Only 1, 2, 4 & 5]

Notes:

• Extinction is caused through various processes:
• Deterministic processes that have a cause and effect. E.g. glaciations, human interference such as deforestation.
• Stochastic processes (chance and random events) that affect the survival and reproduction of individuals. E.g. unexpected changes in weather patterns decreased food supply, disease, increase of competitors, predators or parasites, etc. that may act independently or add to deterministic effects. Fire is also an example of stochastic event.
• The impact of these processes will, of course, depend on the size and degree of genetic diversity and resilience of populations.
• Traits that adversely affect or increase a species vulnerability to extinction due to habitat fragmentation have been identified. These are:
• rarity or low abundance
• poor dispersal ability
• high trophic status – as animals occupying a higher trophic level (i.e. the position of a species in a food chain) usually have smaller populations than those at lower levels (e.g. carnivores are fewer in number than herbivores)
• low adult survival rates

2.Which of the following bioremediation method is ex-situ?

1. Bioventing
2. Biopile
3. Bioaugmentation
4. Bioreactor
5. Biosparging

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:

[A] Only 1 & 5
[B] Only 2 & 4
[C] Only 1, 3 & 5
[D] Only 1, 2, 3 & 4

Correct Answer: B [Only 2 & 4]

Notes:

• Ex-situ bioremediation is a biological approach in which excavated soil is placed in a lined above-ground treatment area and then aerated to assist the indigenous microbial population in degrading organic contaminants.
• Ex-situ, bioremediation techniques include Landfarming, Biopiles, Bioreactors, Composting
• Land farming is the most fundamental kind of bioremediation.
• A Biopile is a sort of ex-situ treatment that employs biological processes to convert pollutants into non-hazardous byproducts.
• The bioreactor method is a biochemical processing system that uses microbes to remove toxins from wastewater or pumped groundwater, as well as the solid and liquid (slurry) stages of contaminated soil remediation. This process could be aerobic or anaerobic.
• Compost bioremediation is the use of a biological system of microorganisms in a mature, cured compost to adsorb or break down contaminants in water or soil.

3.Consider the following statements:

1. Baikal rift valley is formed by a divergent plate boundary.
2. Rio Grande rift is along faults in the Southwestern United States.
3. Great rift valley stretches from the Middle East in the north to Mozambique in the south.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[A] Only 3
[B] Only 1 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]

Notes:

• The Baikal Rift Valley is formed by a divergent plate boundary, where the Amur plate is slowly tearing itself away from the Eurasian plate, and has been doing so for about 25 million years.
• The Amur plate is moving eastward at a rate of about 4 to 5 millimeters (.16 to .2 inch) a year.
• The West Antarctic Rift is a series of smaller rifts that roughly separate the two regions of Earth’s southernmost continent, West Antarctica and East Antarctica.
• The Rio Grande Rift is a series of rift valleys along faults in the Southwestern United States. The Rio Grande Rift separates the Colorado Plateau, which is generally moving in a clockwise direction, from the older part (craton) of the North American plate. The Rio Grande Rift stretches from central Colorado to the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
• Great Rift Valley stretches from the Middle East in the north to Mozambique in the south.