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Q33 (IAS/2026) Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystem Basics Official Key

Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?
1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.
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Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. Mangroves thrive in saline and brackish water environments. They do not store freshwater to facilitate paddy cultivation. In fact, clearing mangroves for agriculture is a major driver of their degradation, not a rationale for their protection.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Mangrove roots are salt-tolerant (halophytic), not salt-sensitive. While they possess specialized mechanisms to exclude or excrete salt, they do not convert coastal lands into freshwater zones for aquaculture. Converting mangroves into aquaculture ponds is a leading cause of their destruction.

Statement 3 is correct. Mangroves act as natural bio-shields by dissipating tidal energy and reducing the impact of storm surges, cyclones, and tsunamis. Additionally, they provide essential ecosystem services, including breeding grounds for fisheries and biomass resources, which support the livelihoods of coastal communities. Thus, their protection is vital for climate resilience.

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience? 1. Mangroves r…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10
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This is a classic UPSC 'concept-check' question disguised as an environment application question. It tests your fundamental understanding of mangrove physiology (they are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive) and ecological utility (bio-shields, not agricultural land banks). Rely on standard texts like Shankar IAS, but read the statements with a critical, logical eye.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are mangroves suitable sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts due to tidal energy reduction and freshwater storage?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Major Mangroves of India > p. 52
Presence: 5/5
“Several parts of this mangrove have been cleared for paddy cultivation. Bhitarkanika along the coast of Odisha is the second largest mangrove of India, followed by the Godavari-Krishna mangrove. Te other important mangroves of India are Coondapur (Karnataka), Point Calimere and Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu), Loringa (Andhra Pradesh).”
Why this source?
  • Confirms that significant portions of mangrove areas, specifically in the Sundarbans, have been cleared for the purpose of paddy cultivation.
  • Identifies major mangrove regions like Bhitarkanika and the Godavari-Krishna belt as sites where such land-use transitions occur.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4.8.2. Role of mangroves > p. 48
Presence: 4/5
“• Mangrove plants have (additional) special roots such as prop roots, pneumatophores which help to impede water flow and thereby enhance the deposition of sediment in areas (where it is already occurring), stabilize the coastal shores, provide breeding ground for fishes. • Mangroves moderate monsoonal tidal floods and reduce inundation of coastal lowlands. • It prevents coastal soil erosion. • It protects coastal lands from tsunami, hurricanes and floods Fine, anoxic sediments deposited under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which are scavenged from the overlying seawater by colloidal particles in the sediments. By cleaning our air, they take in carbon dioxide, storing the carbon in their roots, leaves, branches and in its surrounding silt, and release oxygen back to the atmosphere, along with a little methane gas.”
Why this source?
  • Explains how mangrove root systems impede water flow and moderate monsoonal tidal floods, effectively reducing the energy of incoming tides.
  • Describes the reduction of coastal lowland inundation, which facilitates the stabilization of land for potential agricultural use.
  • Notes the role of mangroves in preventing coastal soil erosion and protecting land from storm surges.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > KHAZAN FARMING SYSTEM > p. 310
Presence: 4/5
“The low-lying floodplains of Goa host an estuarine agricultural system called Khazan farming. This system is a carefully designed topo-hydro-engineered agro-aquacultural ecosystem mainly based on the regulation of salinity and tides.”
Why this source?
  • Describes the Khazan farming system as a specialized estuarine agricultural model designed to function in low-lying floodplains.
  • Highlights the use of topo-hydro-engineering to regulate salinity and tides, making saline estuarine belts viable for agro-aquacultural ecosystems.
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