Flora & Fauna Dynamics

Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and humidity. When it exceeds 35°C, the human body can no longer cool itself through sweating, posing a serious threat to survival. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect
* Though flooding, cyclones, and droughts are valid climate threats, they are not directly related to the World Bank's warning about wet-bulb temperatures. ✅ Statement II: Correct
* When wet-bulb temperatures cross 35°C, the body cannot release heat, making it fatal for humans and animals.

Oxygen on Earth mainly comes from photosynthesis, especially by phytoplankton (marine organisms), and oxygen levels differ between air and water. ❌ Statement I is incorrect:
* Oceans (phytoplankton) produce more oxygen than rainforests. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* Marine phytoplankton and photosynthetic bacteria produce about 50% of the world’s oxygen. ❌ Statement III is incorrect:
* Atmospheric air has much more oxygen than surface water; water does not contain several folds higher oxygen than air. So, the correct answer is: B

Pair I – Cassava: Woody shrub → Correct
Cassava (also called tapioca or manioc) is indeed a woody shrub cultivated for its starchy tuberous roots. Pair II – Ginger: Herb with pseudostem → Correct
Ginger is a herbaceous perennial with a pseudostem formed by leaf sheaths; the edible part is the rhizome. Pair III – Malabar spinach: Herbaceous climber → Correct
Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a soft, herbaceous twining climber, commonly grown as a leafy vegetable. Pair IV – Mint: Annual shrub → Incorrect
Mint (Mentha spp.) is not a shrub; it is a perennial herb with soft stems, spreading by stolons. Pair V – Papaya: Woody shrub → Incorrect
Papaya (Carica papaya) is a herbaceous tree (giant herb), not a woody shrub—it has a soft, hollow stem.

The Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula) is a rare, tree-dwelling spider found in limited forest areas in India. ❌ Statement I is incorrect:
* It is a spider (arachnid), not an omnivorous crustacean. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* Its habitat is restricted to some forest areas in the Eastern Ghats. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It is arboreal, living in trees and tree crevices. So, the correct answer is: D

Papaya, pineapple, and guava are all non-native fruits to India, originally from the Americas, and were introduced during European colonial expansion, particularly by the Portuguese. ✅ I. Papaya – Correct
* Native to Central America, introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century. ✅ II. Pineapple – Correct
* Originates from South America, brought to India by Portuguese explorers. ✅ III. Guava – Correct
* Native to Central America, introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 17th century.

* Statement 1 is correct. Lions can breed throughout the year, but they do show some seasonal preferences depending on their location and environmental factors like rainfall. * Statement 2 is correct. Cheetahs have a different vocal structure compared to lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars, preventing them from roaring. They purr, chirp, and make other bird-like sounds. * Statement 3 is incorrect. Both male lions and male leopards use scent marking extensively to define their territories. They spray urine and scrape the ground, leaving both olfactory and visual signals for other cats. _Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are correct._

1. Carabid beetles: Many carabid beetles are predatory, and some species are known to be parasitoids, particularly of other insects.  2. Centipedes: Centipedes are predatory arthropods and not parasitoids. They hunt and kill their prey. 3. Flies: The order Diptera (flies) includes a large number of parasitoid species. For example, Tachinid flies are parasitoids of various insects. 4. Termites: Termites are not parasitoids. They are social insects that primarily feed on wood and other plant matter. 5. Wasps: The order Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, ants) has numerous parasitoid species. Many wasp species are parasitoids, laying their eggs on or in other insects. _Therefore, parasitoid species are found in Carabid beetles, Flies, and Wasps._

* Butterflies: Some butterfly species, like the Monarch butterfly, are poisonous. They consume milkweed during their larval stage, which makes them toxic to predators. * Fish: Many fish species are poisonous, such as pufferfish, lionfish, and stonefish. They possess venom as a defense mechanism. * Frogs: Poison dart frogs are a well-known example of poisonous frogs. Their skin secretes toxins that can be deadly. _Therefore, all three groups have poisonous species._

* Statement 1 is Correct. PFAS are used in a wide range of consumer products, and due to their persistence, they can leach into the environment and contaminate water sources, food, and packaging materials. * Statement 2 is Correct. PFAS are known as 'forever chemicals' because the strong carbon-fluorine bond makes them highly resistant to natural degradation processes. This persistence leads to their accumulation in the environment. * Statement 3 is Correct. Because PFAS don't break down easily, they can build up in the tissues of animals and humans over time, leading to potential health concerns. _Therefore, all three statements are correct._

Fig-Wasp Mutualism: Figs and fig wasps share an obligate mutualistic relationship, meaning they are entirely dependent on each other for survival and reproduction. Fig wasps are the only insects that can pollinate fig trees, and fig trees are the sole source of food and shelter for developing fig wasps. Highly Specialized Pollination: The fig fruit (technically a syconium) has its flowers enclosed within. Female fig wasps enter the syconium through a tiny opening called the ostiole. They lay eggs inside and pollinate the flowers in the process. Coevolution: This intricate relationship is a classic example of coevolution, where two species have evolved together over millions of years, with each species' adaptations influencing the other's. _The other options are incorrect:_ * Mahua (B): It is pollinated by various insects and even bats. Mahua (Madhuca indica) is found in the dry deciduous type of forests like the Forests of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. * Sandalwood (C): It is primarily pollinated by bees and flies. Sandalwood is a dry deciduous forest species native to China, India, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines. Sandalwood is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red list. Sandalwood grows as a partial or hemiparasite, relying on the presence of four or five other trees nearby. Beneath the ground, its roots develop a haustorium, an octopus-like structure that attaches to the host tree's roots, drawing water and nutrients from them.  * Silk cotton (D): It is pollinated by bats and birds. The Silk Cotton Tree is a tropical deciduous tree native to the Indian subcontinent and other parts of Southeast Asia. It produces a capsule that, when ripe, contains white fibres like cotton.