Flora & Fauna Dynamics

* Filter feeders are a subgroup of suspension-feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialised filtering structure. * Some animals that use this method of feeding are clams, krill, sponges, baleen whales, and many fish (including some sharks). Some birds, such as flamingos and certain species of duck, are also filter feeders. Filter feeders can play an important role in clarifying water, and are therefore considered ecosystem engineers. They are also important in bioaccumulation and, as a result, as indicator organisms. * Oyster is one of the filter feeders. Pearl Farming - Pearls are the only gemstones in the world that come from a living creature. Mollusks such as oysters and mussels produce these precious jewels.
- Pearl culture practices are present in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Goa, and Tripura.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Copepods are a group of small crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitat. Copepods are major secondary producers in the World Ocean. Statement 2 is correct: Diatom refers to any member of a large group comprising several genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world. They are major primary producers in the food chains of oceans. Statement 3 is correct: Cyanobacteria, also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of Gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. They are major primary producers in the food chains of oceans. Statement 4 is incorrect: Foraminifera are single-celled organisms, members of a phylum or class of amoeboid protists characterized by streaming granular ectoplasm for catching food and other uses; and commonly an external shell of diverse forms and materials. They are the consumer.

Tropical Rainforest: - Hot and moist with year-round rainfall.
- Dense canopy with multiple layers.
- Rapid decomposition due to high temperature and humidity, leaving soil bare.
- Vegetation includes climbers and epiphytes growing on tree branches.
- Different from coniferous, dry deciduous, and mangrove forests. - Species found in these forests include rosewood, mahogony, aini, ebony, etc.
- Distribution in India: mainly found in the Western Ghats, the Northeastern states, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and parts of Odisha's Mahanadi Delta. Coniferous Forest: - Found in cold, high-altitude regions.
- Dominated by evergreen trees like pine, fir, spruce, and cedar.
- Needle-like leaves reduce water loss.
- Supports animals like snow leopards, musk deer, and Himalayan black bears.
- Distribution in India: Found in the Himalayan region (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim). Dry Deciduous Forest: - Trees shed leaves in dry seasons to conserve water.
- Dominated by species like teak, sal, neem, and tendu.
- Soil is fertile, making it good for agriculture.
- Home to tigers, deer, elephants, and langurs.
- Distribution in India: Found in central and western India (Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana). Mangrove Forest: - Grow in coastal, saltwater regions.
- Trees have stilt roots to survive in waterlogged conditions.
- Provide breeding grounds for fish and protect coastlines from erosion.
- Home to species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, saltwater crocodiles, and various birds.
- Distribution in India: Found in coastal regions.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Moringa oleifera, commonly known as the drumstick tree, is a deciduous tree, not an evergreen tree. It sheds its leaves seasonally. Moringa is also a nitrogen-fixing plant, which means it can help restore nutrient balance in the soil by adding nitrogen naturally. Statement 2 is incorrect. Tamarindus indica is not endemic to South Asia. It is native to tropical Africa and later spread to South Asia and other tropical regions. While tamarind is extensively grown in India, it is also widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Statement 3 is correct. Tamarind is widely collected as minor forest produce by local communities and forest dwellers in many parts of India, especially in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Statement 4 is correct. India exports tamarind to various countries, especially in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Moringa seeds are also exported due to their high medicinal and industrial value. Statement 5 is correct. Moringa seeds have a high oil content, which can be processed into biodiesel. Tamarind seeds contain hydrocarbons and polysaccharides that can also be explored for biofuel production.

The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept in check by one or more or a combination of some conditions. These conditions include fire, grazing herbivores, and seasonal rainfall. 2. Fire is a common occurrence in savannahs and it helps to maintain the grassland by burning out tree saplings. 3. Grazing herbivores also help to maintain the grassland by eating young tree saplings before they can grow into mature trees. 4. Seasonal rainfall also plays a role as it affects the growth of trees and grasses. 1. Burrowing animals and termites, while they do have an impact on the ecosystem, are not the primary factors controlling forest development. 5. Similarly, soil properties can affect the types of vegetation that can grow, but they are not the primary factors controlling forest development in savannahs. Therefore, the correct answer is (c) 2, 3 and 4. Savannah Climate:
- It is a transitional climate between equatorial rainforests and hot deserts. - It has wet and dry seasons like the monsoon climate but with much less rainfall. Unlike the monsoon climate, it lacks a distinct rainy season. - It has only two seasons—winter and summer, with rain occurring in summer. The savanna landscape features tall grasses and scattered short trees. - The savanna is called the ‘big game country’ because thousands of animals are hunted or trapped annually by people worldwide.

* Cnidarians: Many cnidarian species, such as corals, develop symbiotic relationships with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae. This symbiosis is crucial for the survival and growth of coral reefs. * Fungi: Fungi are known to form various symbiotic relationships with other organisms, including * Mycorrhizal associations with plant roots, where the fungus helps the plant absorb nutrients in exchange for carbohydrates. * Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria. * Protozoa: Some protozoa living in the digestive tracts of termites and ruminant animals, helping them break down cellulose. Therefore, all three groups - cnidarians, fungi, and protozoa - have species that can form symbiotic relationships with other organisms.

Fern: * Ferns typically require soil and moisture to grow, as they rely on water-conducting tissues and need a substrate to anchor their roots. Lichen:
* Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria. * Lichens are well-adapted to survive on surfaces without soil, such as rocks, tree bark, and even bare ground, as they can obtain their nutrients and moisture directly from the air and precipitation. * Lichens are sensitive to airborne pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), and heavy metals (like lead and mercury).
Sulfur dioxide, for instance, causes chlorosis (yellowing) and necrosis (cell death) in lichen thalli. This sensitivity makes lichens an effective indicator of air quality. Moss:
* Mosses are non-vascular plants that can grow on surfaces without soil, such as rocks, tree trunks, and even roofs. * Mosses have specialised structures that allow them to absorb water and nutrients directly from the environment. Mushrooms:
* Mushrooms are the reproductive structures of fungi, and they typically require a substrate, such as decaying organic matter, to grow. Mushrooms are not able to directly survive on a surface without soil or a nutrient-rich medium. Therefore, among the given options, lichens and mosses are the most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil in the natural environment.

Southern swamp deer/ hard ground swamp deer, a unique sub-species of Barasingha, also known as the Indian swamp deer, is a herbivorous species that feeds exclusively on grasses (graminivorous) and is well adapted to is adapted to hard ground in open sal forest. Kanha National Park is well-known for the conservation of hard ground swamp deer. Conservation efforts by the park have helped revive its numbers from near extinction. Therefore, the correct answer is Kanha National Park.

* The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants. It classifies species into six schedules, each offering different levels of protection. * Schedule VI of the Act pertains to certain plants that are prohibited from cultivation and planting without a license. Therefore, If a plant species is listed under Schedule VI, it means a license is required for its cultivation. * The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 amended the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The amendment reduced the number of schedules from six to four, simplifying wildlife classification and protection levels. Additionally, the Act also aligned the provisions with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) by introducing a separate schedule (Sch. IV) for species covered under CITES.

Statement 1 is correct: Female elephants, particularly older and more experienced ones, often lead the herd, while males may roam alone or form bachelor groups. Statement 2 is correct: The gestation period for elephants is indeed one of the longest among mammals, ranging from about 18 to 22 months. Statement 3 is incorrect: Female elephants can continue to reproduce well into their 40s and sometimes even into their 50s, although their reproductive capability tends to decrease with age. Statement 4 is incorrect: Kerala does have a significant elephant population, but the highest elephant population in India is typically found in the state of Karnataka, followed by Assam.