Answer: B

Explanation:

Under Section 38(Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated to collect intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and provide this data to the State and other enforcement agencies for taking immediate action to arrest the criminals. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect and 3 is correct.

Along with this, its function is to establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: D

Explanation:

We are familiar with the reasons for deforestation. The main reason is population explosion due to which the need for wood and fuel wood increases and increase in the number of animals leads to increase in grazing. Forests are destroyed due to increase in livestock and nomadic grazing animals. There is more grazing in forest areas with easy access. Jhum cultivation or shifting cultivation in north-eastern India and Orissa has also made large areas of forests barren. In essence, it is a low energy budget and low investment subsistence farming system, using mineralization and recycling of minerals. The jhum cycle time has reduced to 6 years (2-3 years only in some districts) which does not provide enough time for natural repair of the destroyed ecosystem. Forests have long been seen as a revenue generating area and have been exploited to the maximum by government and private owners. In the era of agriculture, urbanization and industrialization, very little priority has been given to the conservation of forests. Hence, option (d) is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Parasitism is a relationship between two species. In this relationship, one organism (parasite) lives on or inside the body of another organism (host). The host is usually weakened by the parasite as it depletes the host's resources that the host uses to nourish itself. However, the parasite is unlikely to kill the host. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect,

Tapeworm is a parasite that causes disease in humans when they consume contaminated, undercooked meat of pigs, fish, etc. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another living being. In this, the parasite benefits, but the host that provides food to this organism suffers loss. The reproductive cycles of parasites are often very complex, sometimes requiring more than one host species. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) came into force on July 1, 1975. This treaty was adopted in the year 1973. The purpose of CITES is to ensure that international trade (import/export) of specimens of animals and plants covered under CITES does not jeopardize the survival of the species in the wild.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Niche is the unique functional role or place of a species in an ecosystem. It describes all the biological, physical and chemical factors that a species needs to survive, remain healthy and reproduce. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

If we are to conserve species in their native habitat, we must be aware of the niche requirements of the species and ensure that all its niche needs are met. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

The niche is unique to a species, meaning that no two species have the same niche. Niche plays an important role in the conservation of organisms. Hence, statement 3 is correct.