Answer: C

Explanation:

Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 is a partnership between the Government of Assam, International Rhino Foundation, WWF, Bodoland Territorial Council and the US Fish and Wildlife Service that aims was to reduce the number of wild rhinos in seven protected areas of Assam to 3000 by 2020. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The great one-horned Indian rhinoceros is a popular zoo animal and there are about 175 living Indian rhinoceros in 66 zoos around the world. Their numbers had dropped to only 200 in the 1990s and they were declared an endangered species. Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, both in India, contain 75% of the one-horned rhinoceros population. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Gharial, a species of crocodile, is critically endangered (IUCN) and is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act (1972). About 1300 animals of this species remain in the wild, of which only 200 are breeding adults. The largest part of their remaining population is concentrated in only four places in India - on the banks of Son, Katarnia Ghat, Girwa and Chambal rivers. In India, their breeding population is present only in National Chambal Sanctuary, Katarnia Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Gharial Species Recovery Plan suggests determination of the overall population of the species. The Ministry of Forest and Environment has set up a three-tier decentralized coordination mechanism for the conservation of crocodiles in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The Mediterranean biome extends between 30–40° latitude in the western parts of the continents in both hemispheres. Its territorial extension includes the European part situated along the Mediterranean Sea, Southern California of North America, the Mediterranean part of North-West and North Coastal Africa, Central Chile of South America, Cape Town region in South-Western part of South Africa and South and Australia. It is in the state of Perth and Victoria. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The main characteristic of the climate of this region is dry summer and wet winter. The average temperature in summer is 20°-27° Centigrade and in winter it is 5°-10° Centigrade. The annual temperature variation here is 15°-17° C. The average annual rainfall here is 35-70 cm. Rainfall occurs during winter due to oceanic westerly winds and temperate cyclones. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Various species and animals are found here. During summer, this region comes under the influence of dry land trade winds, Hence, there is no rainfall. The climate of this region develops due to the movement of the Sun in the earth's air pressure belts and wind belts along with Uttarayan and Dakshinayan. In the mid-latitudes, evergreen trees of cork, fig, oak, olive, chestnut and pine and shrubs like chaparral and maquis are found in the winter rainfall region between 30°-40° latitude on the western part of the continents. Fruit trees like lemon and orange are also found here. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Large animal communities that float on their own at different depths in sea water come under the Nekton group. Most of the animals in this group are vertebrates. The most prominent among these are fishes which are found in every type of marine biome. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Among the spineless class, fast swimming squids are prominent. They are carnivorous but they are also food for big fishes. There are also many categories of mammalian swimming animals in the Nekton group. The first category includes those animals which live on land for some part of the year and in the ocean for a longer period. Seals come in these only. Seals breed on land but come to the ocean for food. The second category includes creatures living in the open ocean like whales. Toothed whales (footed whalers) are predators and range in size from tiny sperm whales to killer whales to giant ones. Dolphins and seals also come in this category. Blue whale , hump backed whale are other prominent ones. Among marine mammals, sea cows such as manatees live in tropical seas. The main swimming sea birds are guans, bubis and cormorants. They are predators and live mainly on the coast of Peru and Chile. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Under the Benthos fauna community, plants and animals living in neutral or benthic areas under water, from the coastal areas to the open oceans, are kept. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

There is great diversity in the species of the Benthos group. Their total species constitute 16 percent of all species of marine animals. Most of these are found at the bottom of the illuminated circle. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.