CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Recently, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in its survey of the Ganga river (the main river without its tributaries), has found that 49% of the river has high biodiversity.

Detailed explanation-2: -River Ganga. Almost half of River Ganga has high levels of biodiversity, a recent survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has found.

Detailed explanation-3: -River systems are the zone of Earth’s highest biological diversity – and also of our most intense human activity. Freshwater biodiversity is in a state of crisis, a consequence of decades of humans exploiting rivers with large dams, water diversions and pollution.

Detailed explanation-4: -A global hotspot for avifaunal diversity, India harbours 1340 species of birds. The Ganga River basin supports 177 species of migratory and resident breeding birds.

Detailed explanation-5: -River and its watersheds are the nurseries and habitats for biodiversity, including the microorganisms. In this paper, the biodiversity and ecological significance of four major Indian river basins namely, the Ganges, the Cauvery, the Krishna and the Godavari are reviewed with special emphasis on microorganisms.