'If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as it

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2022 UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2022 question covers Wetlands, Mangroves & Ramsar Sites topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2022 Environment & Ecology question has a easy difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

'If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.' Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrientsStep-by-step Solution:The metaphor compares wetlands to the Earth's 'kidneys' — kidneys are filtration organs that remove waste products, toxins, and excess substances from the blood, maintaining the body's chemical balance.The function of wetlands that best mirrors this kidney function is their ability to filter pollutants from water — specifically, the ability of aquatic plants (macrophytes) to absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) from water passing through them.This biofiltration function of wetlands includes: (1) Nutrient removal — aquatic plants absorb nitrogen (nitrates, ammonium) and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, preventing eutrophication of downstream water bodies; (2) Heavy metal absorption — plants like water hyacinth, reeds (Phragmites), and cattails absorb heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) from contaminated water; (3) Sedimentation — suspended particles settle in slow-moving wetland waters; (4) Biochemical transformation — microbial communities in wetland sediments transform toxic compounds.Just as kidneys filter blood to remove wastes, wetlands filter water — removing pollutants, excess nutrients, and heavy metals — before it flows into rivers, lakes, and eventually the ocean.Why other options are incorrect:Option A (Water cycle): This describes the hydrological function of wetlands, not the filtration/kidney function.Option B (Algae as nutrient base): This describes the ecological/food web function — the productive capacity of wetlands, not their filtration role.Option C (Sedimentation and soil stabilisation): This is a structural/physical function of wetlands, not specifically analogous to kidney filtration.Key Concept: Wetland ecosystem services: Provisioning (fish, water, timber); Regulating (water purification, flood control, climate regulation, groundwater recharge); Cultural (recreation, tourism, spiritual); Supporting (biodiversity, nutrient cycling). The kidney analogy specifically refers to water purification — removing pollutants, excess nutrients, and contaminants. Constructed wetlands are increasingly used in wastewater treatment globally, including in India.

'If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.' Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement?

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'If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.' Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement?

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