Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience? 1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts. 2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones. 3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities. Select the answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2
- C.2 and 3
- D.3 only
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, 3 only. Mangroves matter for climate resilience because they break storm surges and support coastal livelihoods; the other two statements describe things mangroves do not do.
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees of the intertidal zone. Their dense prop roots and pneumatophores slow down waves, trap silt and hold the shoreline, so they act as a living bio-shield against cyclones and tsunamis, as villages behind the Bhitarkanika and Pichavaram mangroves found in 1999 and 2004. They also give fish nurseries, honey, fuelwood and fodder, and store large amounts of carbon in their soils. India's largest mangrove forest is the Sundarbans.
Statement 1 is wrong: mangroves do not store freshwater, and clearing them for paddy is a cause of their loss, not a reason to protect them.
Statement 2 is wrong: mangrove roots are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive, and converting mangrove land to aquaculture ponds destroys them.
So A, B and C, which include statement 1 or 2, are wrong.
Exam tip: mangroves = bio-shield + carbon sink + fish nursery; Sundarbans is the largest.
Practice Questions
View allA biological community in its environment such as a pond, an ocean, a forest, even an aquarium is known as
- A.biome
- B.community
- C.abiotic environment
- D.ecosystem
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An ecosystem is a community of living things together with the non-living environment they interact with, and it can be as large as an ocean or as small as an aquarium.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements :
I. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO2/capita.
II. In terms of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.
III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO2 emissions in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.I and III only
- B.II only
- C.II and III only
- D.I, II and III
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India is the second-largest emitter of fuel-combustion CO2 in the Asia-Pacific after China, and power and heat generation is its biggest source, but its per capita emissions are well above 0.5 tonne.
Read the full explanation →The term 'Domestic Content Requirement' is sometimes seen in the news with reference to
- A.Developing solar power production in our country
- B.Granting licences to foreign T.V. channels in our country
- C.Exporting our food products to other countries
- D.Permitting foreign educational institutions to set up their campuses in our country
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Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) is the rule that certain solar projects must use solar cells and modules made in India.
Read the full explanation →In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?
- A.Creating the artificial rains in some regions
- B.Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones
- C.Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth
- D.Reducing the global warming
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Both ideas are geoengineering proposals meant to cool the planet by changing how much heat enters or leaves the Earth.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?
1. Cnidarians
2. Fungi
3. Protozoa
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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Cnidarians, fungi and protozoa all include species that live in close, mutually useful partnerships with other organisms. Symbiosis means two different species living closely together, often to the benefit of both.
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