Flora & Fauna Dynamics

Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttarakhand): Musk deer are found in the high altitudes of the Himalayan region. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Uttarakhand, is specifically known for conserving the musk deer and its habitat. Gangotri National Park (Uttarakhand): Gangotri National Park, also located in Uttarakhand, is another high altitude region where musk deer can be found. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh): This sanctuary primarily consists of terai grasslands and does not provide a suitable habitat for musk deer. Manas National Park (Assam): This park is located in the northeastern plains and is home to species like tigers, rhinos, and elephants, but not musk deer. Therefore, the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat are Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park.

* The Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet, and White-throated redstart are all species of birds. * The Ceylon frogmouth is a species native to the Western Ghats and parts of Sri Lanka. Known for its unique frog-like appearance and nocturnal habits, it thrives in dense forests. * The Coppersmith barbet is a small, colorful bird found across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. It is named after the sound it makes, which resembles the sound of a coppersmith striking metal. * The Gray-chinned minivet is a species commonly found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This bird is known for its vibrant plumage and its presence in hilly, forested areas. * The White-throated redstart is a striking bird found in regions of Nepal, Bhutan, central China, and the far northern parts of Myanmar and Northeast India. It is known for its contrasting black and white plumage and bright red tail feathers.

Pair 1 is Correct: The Blue-finned Mahseer is a freshwater fish species that is naturally found in the Cauvery River. This species is also found in other rivers of the Deccan Plateau. Pair 2 is incorrect: The Irrawaddy Dolphin is not found in the Chambal River, which is known for the Gangetic Dolphin. It is found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong (Cambodia and Laos). In India, it is found in Lake Chilika (Odisha). Pair 3 is correct: The Rusty-spotted Cat is a small wild cat species that is found in the Eastern Ghats. It is also found in the Western Ghats, central India, and Sri Lanka. Therefore, option (C) 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

* The Himalayan nettle, also known as Girardinia diversifolia, is a plant species native to the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, and parts of China. It grows at high altitudes and is known for its long fibres that can be extracted from the stem. * These fibres are some of the longest in the plant world and are used in the production of textiles. * Therefore, the Himalayan nettle is found to be a sustainable source of textile fibre.

Manas National Park (Assam): Situated on the banks of the Manas River, it encompasses a range of ecosystems including grasslands, tropical evergreen forests, and semi-evergreen forests. Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh): This park boasts diverse vegetation zones, ranging from tropical evergreen forests at lower elevations to sub-alpine meadows at higher altitudes. Neora Valley National Park (West Bengal): This park covers a range of elevations with subtropical broadleaf forests at lower levels and temperate forests at higher reaches. The Valley of Flowers National Park (Uttarakhand): On the other hand, is situated at a high altitude (3352 to 3658 metres above sea level) and falls entirely within the temperate alpine zone, known for its meadows, low-growing vegetation, and cooler climate. Hence, option D is the correct Answer.

Statement 1 is correct: The Asiatic lion is naturally found only in India and is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, but its status changed to Vulnerable in 2025.. Its last remaining wild population is restricted to the Gir National Park and surrounding areas in Gujarat. Statement 2 is incorrect: The double-humped camel, also known as the Bactrian camel, is primarily found in Central Asia, Mongolia, and parts of China. While some feral populations exist in Ladakh, India, their natural range is outside India. Statement 3 is incorrect: The one-horned rhinoceros is mainly found in India and Nepal, but its historical range also included Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Herbivorous turtles: Many turtle species, such as the green sea turtle and the Galapagos tortoise, are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruits, and other plant material. Herbivorous fish: There are numerous herbivorous fish species, including surgeonfish, parrotfish, and tangs. These fish feed on algae and seaweed, playing a crucial role in maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems. Herbivorous marine mammals: While many marine mammals are carnivorous, some, like manatees and dugongs, are herbivores, feeding on seagrasses and other underwater plants. Viviparous snakes: Not all snakes lay eggs; some, like boas, vipers, and sea snakes, are viviparous. This means they give birth to live young that have developed inside the mother's body.

The phrase "New World crops" is usually used to describe crops, food and otherwise, that were native to the New World (mostly the Americas) before 1492 CE and not found anywhere else at that time. Many of these crops are now grown around the world and have often become an integral part of the cuisine of various cultures in the Old World. New World Food - corn, potato, tomato, bell pepper, chili pepper, vanilla, tobacco, Cocoa, rubber tree, beans, pumpkin, cassava root, avocado, peanut, pecans, cashews, pineapple, blueberries, sunflower, petunia, black-eyed susan, dahlia, marigold, quinine, wild rice, gourds, and squash.

Plants in arid environments have evolved adaptive features to minimize water loss through transpiration: - Hard and waxy leaves have a thick cuticle and fewer stomata, reducing water loss by limiting evaporation.
- Tiny leaves have a smaller surface area, which decreases the area exposed to transpiration.
- Thorns, though primarily modified branches for protection, can also replace leaves in some desert plants (e.g., cacti), further reducing transpiration by limiting leaf surface area. Therefore, the correct answer is option (d) 1, 2 and 3.

* Carbon fertilization is the increased rate of photosynthesis in plants due to the higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. * During Photosynthesis plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, along with water and sunlight, to produce sugars (glucose) that provide energy for growth. This process releases oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. * The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is currently at its highest level in millions of years, primarily due to human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. * Many plants respond to higher CO₂ levels with an increased rate of photosynthesis, enabling them to produce more sugars, which can lead to faster growth and higher biomass production.