GS1 2018 Q7 10 marks 150 words Marine Ecology

UPSC Mains 2018 GS1 Q7 — Marine Ecology

What are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem ? (Answer in 150 words)

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Question Decoded — examiner's intent

Directive verbs
What
Scope keywords
consequencesspreadingDead Zonesmarine ecosystem
Implicit sub-parts
  • Brief definition and the scientific mechanism (hypoxia/eutrophication) behind Dead Zones.
  • Impact on marine biodiversity including benthic and pelagic species.
  • Socio-economic repercussions for coastal communities (fisheries and food security).
  • Feedback loops that exacerbate climate change (e.g., release of nitrous oxide).
Common pitfalls
  • Spending too many words on causes (e.g., agricultural runoff) instead of focusing on consequences as requested.
  • Failing to mention specific biological impacts like 'habitat fragmentation' or 'reproductive interference' in fish.
  • Ignoring the 'spreading' aspect—failing to discuss the increasing geographic scale and frequency of these zones.
  • Not using technical terminology such as Hypoxia, Eutrophication, or Benthic mortality.
Dimensions required
Biological/EcologicalEconomic/LivelihoodGeochemical/ClimaticGeographic
Marks allocation hint

Allocate 25 words to define Dead Zones and the trend of their spread. Spend 100 words on the core consequences divided into ecological, economic, and climatic impacts. Use the final 25 words to conclude with the urgency of global initiatives like the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

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