Answer: D

Explanation:

Halophyotes are a special type of xerophilous plants that grow in alkaline soils containing high concentrations of salts like NaCl, MgCl2 and MgSO4. These soils are physiologically dry. The value of their osmotic pressure is very high. Most of the plants growing in these are fleshy (succulent). Their leaves are green, thin, microscopic and leathery in which water storage tissue is found.

Saline-philous plants are divided into the following types - lithophilous, i.e., those growing on rocks and stones, psammophilous, i.e., those growing on sand, pelophilous, i.e., those growing in mud, and kachophytes. (helophilous) i.e. saline hygrophytes growing in swamps. Hence all the pairs are correctly matched.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Species that influence their community by creating, modifying or maintaining physical habitat for themselves and other species. A keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. A common example of a keystone species is the pre-predator relationship. These species influence the structure and function of an ecosystem. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Keystone species influence their community by creating, modifying, or maintaining physical habitat for themselves and other species. Examples of keystone species are honey bees: pollinate fruits and flowers, plankton: food for many fish, starfish, sea otters, etc. Species that first reach areas where there was no life before are called pioneer species. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Mangrove areas in India are plant communities found in mangrove saline areas. They are found in tropical and sub-tropical intertidal regions of the world, where rainfall is 1000-3000 mm and temperature is 26-35°C. Adaptations are found in these to grow in high salinity. Among these adaptations, Vivipary and presence of pneumatophores are prominent. Hence, statement I is correct.

According to the India State Forest Report (ISFR) -2013, the mangrove area in India is 4,628 sq. km which is about 3% of the total mangrove vegetation of the world. Almost half of the total mangrove area found in India is located only in the Sunderbans of West Bengal. Hence, statement II is incorrect.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Biomass, available in abundance throughout the world, is a renewable source of energy. This is a good example of recycling of resources. Biomass includes all plant matter (raw or preserved) and vegetation (wild or cultivated). It is, in fact, stored solar energy that can be converted into electricity, fuel and heat. Hence, option (a) is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Consider the following statements:

1. Cold water corals, in general, have more Zooxanthilla than warm water corals and do not form reef-like structures.

2. Cold water corals differ from warm water corals because cold water corals do not have symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and their growth occurs slowly.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?