EV Battery Cathodes (Cobalt, Lithium, etc.)
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?
Options
The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff, subsoil percolation and evaporation.
Algae form the nutrient base upon which fish, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, reptiles and mammals thrive.
Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining sedimentation balance and soil stabilization.
Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.
Explanation
The kidneys in the human body filter out toxins and waste from the bloodstream.
Metaphorically, wetlands are "kidneys" because their aquatic vegetation and microorganisms trap, filter, and absorb heavy metals, pollutants, and excess nutrients from water systems, purifying the local hydrology before it enters larger water bodies.
Answer: (d).
Question details
Year
2025
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q43
Subject
Science & Technology
Sub-topic
Energy & Nuclear
Type
How-many counting
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Current-affairs-linked
Source hint
Ramsar Convention Ecosystem Services Guidelines
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