India decided to eliminate potent greenhouse gas HFC-23 by 2030

India decided to eliminate potent greenhouse gas HFC-23 by 2030 India on 13 October 2016 announced its decision to eliminate the HCF-23 gas. The decision was made in line to its commitment to combat the threat emanating from climate-damaging HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons). The announcement was made by Minister of State Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Anil Dave at Kigali, Rwanda, at a meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol, where final negotiations are taking place to substantially reduce the use of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) by 2030.  HFC–23 gas, a potent greenhouse gas, with Global Warming Potential of 14800, is produced during the manufacture of a common refrigerant gas, HCFC-22. If vented out in environment, is a threat to the environment. HCFC stands for hydrochloroflurocarbon. Key Highlights • Companies have to internalise the cost of this environmental externality and create sufficient storage facility to take care of down time and run the incinerators to ensure and not release of HFC–23 in the atmosphere. • The move will potentially check emissions of HFC-23 equivalent to 100 million tonnes of CO2 over the next 15 years, Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment. Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth’s fragile ozone Layer. The original Montreal Protocol was agreed on 16 September 1987 and entered into force on 1 January 1989. The Montreal Protocol includes a unique adjustment provision that enables the Parties to the Protocol to respond quickly to new scientific information and agree to accelerate the reductions required on chemicals already covered by the Protocol. These adjustments are then automatically applicable to all countries that ratified the Protocol. It has been ratified by 197 parti

CCEA approves revision of ethanol prices for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies

CCEA approves revision of ethanol prices for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 13 October 2016 approved the mechanism for revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme. The administered price of ethanol for the Programme will be 39 rupees per litre for the next sugar season from 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2017.  Key Highlights • Charges will be paid to the ethanol suppliers as per actuals in case of Excise Duty and VAT or GST and transportation charges as decided by the oil marketing companies. • The prices of ethanol will be reviewed and suitably revised by Government at any time during the ethanol supply period depending upon the prevailing economic situation and other relevant factors. The revision in ethanol prices will facilitate Government in providing price stability and remunerative prices for ethanol suppliers. Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme Union Government in 2003 launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels. The programme also sought to reduce import dependency for energy requirements. However, since 2006, OMCs were not able to receive offers for the required quantity of ethanol against the tenders floated by them due to various constraints like State Specific issues, Supplier related issues including Pricing issues of ethanol. Decision to augment the supply of ethanol To end constraints and augment the supply of ethanol, government on 10 December 2014 placed a mechanism for pricing of ethanol under which the delivered price of ethanol at OMC depots was fixed in the range of 48.50 rupees per litre to 49.50 rupees per litre including Central/State Government taxes and transportation charges. Effect of the Decision • The decision helped in improving the supply of ethanol. • Ethanol supplies increased to 67.4 crore litres in 2014-15 and the projected supplies for ethanol supply year 2015-16 are around 120 crore litres.

Current Affairs One liner of the Day

Current Affairs One liner of the Day for wound healing The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed a high-tech electroactive bandage. The bandage creates an electric charge to help promote the healing process of wounds. Electroactive material is so sensitive that a push or even a blow on it can create an electric charge. Key features of the electroactive bandages • The fibres of the guaze are made of electroactive material Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). • The bandage is stimulated by the heat of the body and the pressure of cell growth. Therefore, no external power source is required in order for the bandage to promote wound healing. • The device uses electrical activity to facilitate the wound healing process while protecting the wound. • The bandage also minimises infection and related complications such as illness or amputation. • The bandage could be used by military personnel wounded in the field, patients who have undergone surgery or who have suffered a serious wound and astronauts in space.

Current affairs quiz with answers

1.    Who of the following won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature? a)    Bob Dylan b)    Svetlana Alexievich c)    Patrick Modiano d)    Alice Munro 2.    What was the theme of International Day for Disaster Reduction that was observed on 13 October 2016? a)    Knowledge for Life b)    Resilience is for Life c)    Women and Girls: the [in]Visible Force of Resilience d)    Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality 3.    Who was appointed as Prime Minister of Morocco recently? a)    Abdelilah Benkirane b)    Luo Zhaohui c)    Antonio Guterres d)    Jim Yong Kim 4.    India stood at which rank in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2016? a)    53rd b)    76th c)    118th d)    97th 5.    Who of the following handed the ICC Test Championship mace to Indian Test captain Virat Kohli for leading his team to the top of the Test Team Rankings? a)    Kapil Dev b)    Sunil Gavaskar c)    Sachin Tendulkar d)    Anil Kumble 6.    Who of the following was the first Indian Captain under whom India received the ICC Test Championship mace? a)    Mahendra Singh Dhoni b)    Sunil Gavaskar c)    Sachin Tendulkar d)    Anil Kumble 7.    Name the city where the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) of Jammu & Kashmir is based. The institute saw attack by two terrorists in October 2016. a)    Lal Chowk b)    Anantnag c)    Pampore d)    Pahalgam 8.    Name the philanthropist and wife of Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej who passed away? a)    Tanya Dubash b)    Pirojsha Godrej c)    Nisa Godrej d)    Parmeshwar Godrej 9.    Which actor won the UK Theatre Awards 2016 for his individual contributions to British theatre? a)    Jim Haynes b)    Vanessa Redgrave c)    Sir Ian McKellen d)    Richard Demarco 10.    Which bank tied-up with Uber for cash-back of up to 25 percent for hailing cabs from the app? a)    Bank of Nova Scotia b)    Calyon Bank c)    Deutsche Bank d)    Standard Chartered Bank 11.    Who of the following topped the Test rankings for bowlers that was released in second week of October 2016? a)    Ravichandran Ashwin b)    Ravindra Jadeja c)    James Anderson d)    Dale Steyn 12.    How much amount will the Union Government invest to increase the capacity of Panipat Refinery from existing 15 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes? a)    15000 crore rupees b)    14000 crore rupees c)    10000 crore rupees d)    5000 crore rupees 13.    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration developed a high-tech electroactive bandage. It is made of which of the following materials? a)    Vinylidene Fluoride b)    Styrofoam c)    Phenol Formaldehyde d)    Polyvinylidene Flouride 14.    The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research recently established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH. Where is the station located? a)    Leh, Jammu & Kashmir b)    Kheerganga, Himachal Pradesh c)    Spiti, Himachal Pradesh d)    Zanskar, Jammu & Kashmir 15.    The National Seismic Programme was recently launched on Mahanadi basin in Odisha. Who will be responsible for carrying out the programme in the north-eastern states? a)    ONGC b)    Oil India Ltd c)    Essar Oil d)    Cairn India Answer 1. (a) Bob Dylan 2. (d) Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality 3. (a) Abdelilah Benkirane 4. (d) 97th 5. (b) Sunil Gavaskar 6. (a) Mahendra Singh Dhoni 7. (c) Pampore 8. (d) Parmeshwar Godrej 9. (c) Sir Ian McKellen 10. (d) Standard Chartered Bank 11. (a) Ravichandran Ashwin 12. (a) 15000 crore rupees 13. (d) Polyvinylidene Flouride 14. (c) Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 15. (b) Oil India Ltd

Current Affairs One liner of the Day

The recap of the day covers important current affairs of the day like 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, National Seismic Programme, and NASA’s high-tech electroactive bandage among others. •    He won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature - Bob Dylan •    The First World Tsunami Awareness Day will be celebrated at the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction 2016 on - 5 November 2016 •    The National Seismic Programme was recently launched on Mahanadi basin in Odisha to - carry out assessment of unappraised areas across the country for potential oil and natural gas reserves •    The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research recently established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH. It is located in - Spiti, Himachal Pradesh •    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration developed a high-tech electroactive bandage. It is made of - Polyvinylidene Flouride •    The amount to be invested by the Union Government in order to increase the capacity of Panipat Refinery from existing 15 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes is - 15000 crore rupees •    Person appointed as Prime Minister of Morocco recently- Abdelilah Benkirane •    Rank secured by India in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2016- 97th •    Philanthropist and wife of Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej who passed away- Parmeshwar Godrej •    Actor who won the UK Theatre Awards 2016 for his individual contributions to British theatre- Sir Ian McKellen •    Bank that tied-up with Uber for cash-back of up to 25 percent for hailing cabs from the app- Standard Chartered Bank •    Indian off-spinner who reclaimed the number one spot in Test rankings for bowlers is - Ravichandran Ashwin •    The first Indian Cricket Captain under whom India received the ICC Test Championship mace is - Mahendra Singh Dhoni •    He handed the ICC Test Championship mace to Indian Test captain Virat Kohli for leading his team to the top of the Test Team Rankings - Sunil Gavaskar •    City of Jammu and Kashmir in which Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) is located that was attacked by Terrorists in October 2016 is - Pampore •    Theme of International Day for Disaster Reduction that was observed on 13 October 2016 is - Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality

Allahabad raamdal

https://youtu.be/ZnTfOmDVBI4

Electronics Components: Use a Transistor as a Switch

Electronics Components: Use a Transistor as a Switch

Electronics Components: Use a Transistor as a Switch

Electronics Components: Use a Transistor as a Switch

Current Affairs One liners: 6 October 2016

report of UNESCO, new frog species and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards among the others. • Oil India Limited recently signed MoU with which University to augment its reserves base and maximise recovery from its aging oilfields- University of Houston • As per the recent report of UNESCO, what number of new teachers are needed to provide quality universal primary and secondary education by 2030- 69 million • The Union Cabinet recently approved setting up of a Medical Devices Manufacturing Park (Medipark) in- Tamil Nadu • New frog species recently discovered in Australia’s largest virgin forest in Queensland- Cape York graceful tree frog or Litoria Bella • Person appointed as Brand Ambassador of Kerala’s Haritha Keralam project- K J Yesudas • India’s the communication satellite that was launched by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana is - GSAT-18 • To streamline government borrowings and better cash management with the overall objective of deepening bond markets, the Union Finance Ministry has set up - Public Debt Management Cell (PDMC) • Professional Indian mountaineer who scaled the world's sixth highest mountain Cho Oyu is- Arjun Vajpai • He was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow (Akademi Ratna) by President Pranab Mukherjee - C V Chandrasekhar, an eminent personality in the field of performing arts • The system that was launched to make sure that the bridges across India remains safe by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari - Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) • The Union Government on appointed Indian Revenue Service officer Sushil Chandra as the Chairman of - the Central Board of Direct Taxes • The former Portuguese Prime Minister recently selected by the UN Security Council as the next UN Secretary-General is - Antonio Guterres • M. Venkaiah Naidu recently released the book titled Modi’s Midas Touch in Foreign Policy, which is authored by - Surendra Kumar • The winner of the 2016 Shinhan Donghae Open is- Gaganjeet Bhullar • Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who will be the chief guest at the 2017 Republic Day parade of India- Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

India announces major initiative for R&D into Next Generation

India announces major initiative for R&D into Next Generation HFC refrigerant alternatives The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 15 September 2016 announced an ambitious collaborative R&D programme to develop next generation, sustainable refrigerant technologies as alternatives to HFCs. This R&D initiative brings together Government, research institutes, industry and civil society to develop long term technology solutions to mitigate impact of currently used refrigerant gases on the ozone layer and climate. With this initiative, India reaffirms its commitment to working with all other nations to safeguard the Earth’s natural ecosystem. Some of the key players of the initiative include • The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and its allied institutions • Department of Science and Technology • Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences as well as key industry players in the sector Members of this initiative have already had multiple rounds of consultation to reach a consensus on the contours and decide on the roadmap for this initiative. India has a small carbon footprint at citizen level and its sustainable lifestyle results in low contribution of the country to overall emissions of greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances, as compared with other developed countries. However, there is an urgent need for developing new technologies indigenously as alternatives available today are patented apart from being expensive. A research based programme to look for cost effective alternatives to the currently used refrigerant gases is, therefore essential. The initiative is a significant step forward in line with India’s national focus on research, innovation and technology development and Mission Innovation. The research initiative of the Ministry will be led by the CSIR’s Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad. The MoEF&CC, along with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has also decided to create a corpus fund for this research programme, with Industry also committing to contribute to the effort. The collaboration of research institutes as well as industry will create larger ecosystem for developing sustainable solutions, and eventually deploying low global warming potential - GWP HFCs on a national scale. By establishing an effective collaboration between all important stakeholders, the initiative is focused on prioritising areas of research in new refrigerant technologies and natural refrigerants. This shall help the country leapfrog from the current technology high GWP HydroFluoroCarbons or HFCs to technologies with lower climate impact. The proposed initiative is an important step in the direction of enabling the country achieves national development goals, while continuing to maintain a sustainable environmental footprint.

Invasive Giant African Land Snails sighted at Goa University

Invasive Giant African Land Snails sighted at Goa University The Giant African Land Snail (GALS) was spotted in the campus of the Goa University at Taleigao. GALS (Achatina fulica) is listed as one of the world’s 100 most invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. This snail was spotted by Nandakumar Kamat, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at the university. About Giant African Land Snail • The species is a threat to agro-horticulture • It is a threat to the public health as they act as a vector of human diseases like Eosinophilic meningitis, caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a parasite that nematode commonly, resides in the pulmonary arteries of rats. • They range from 7 cm to 20 cm in length and in case of specimens in Goa they were of 11 cm in length. • They are known to be dangerous, as they can reproduce faster and take over entire ecosystems and become a menace to crops. Invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native (alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. They can harm the environment, the economy or even, human health.

National Board for Wildlife approves first phase of Ken-Betwa project

National Board for Wildlife approves first phase of Ken-Betwa project The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) on 20 September 2016 approved 10000 crore rupees Ken-Betwa project, India’s first inter-State river interlinking project. With this, India will have a river project will be located within a tiger reserve for the first time. About Ken-Betwa project • It will irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region but will also submerge about 10 percent of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. • The main feature of the project is a 230-km long canal and a series of barrages and dams connecting the Ken and Betwa rivers. • It will irrigate 3.5 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 14000 hectares of Uttar Pradesh in Bundelkhand. • The key areas are the Makodia and Dhaudhan dams, the latter expected to be 77 m high and responsible for submerging 5803 hectares of tiger habitat in the Panna tiger reserve. • Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Raisen, and Vidisha districts of Madhya Pradesh and Mahoba, Jhansi and Banda districts of Uttar Pradesh will benefit from assured irrigation supply, water supply and power. • On the other hand, about 6388 people in 10 villages will be affected due to the submergence by Daudhan reservoir. • Around 13499 people living in the 28 villages will be affected due to the submergence by Makodia reservoir and will have to be resettled. • Seventeen lakh residents of nearby towns and villages in both States will benefit from improved drinking water and irrigation facilities.

New species of ground-dwelling lizard discovered in Mumbai

New species of ground-dwelling lizard discovered in Mumbai A new species of a ground-dwelling lizard has been discovered in Goregaon's Aarey Colony and Thane's Badlapur forested belts. The species has been named after a Bengaluru-based scientist Varad Giri. The species is discovered 130 years after the last such gecko was discovered. The findings on the new species were published in the third week of September 2016 in the international scientific journal Zootaxa.  About the new lizard species • The new species is named as Cyrtodactylus Varadgirii or Giri's Geckoella. • The species, of the genus Cyrtodactylus known in Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka, is a member of the subgenus Geckoella. • Earlier, this new species was considered as Geckoella Collegalensis. However, based on morphological characters and DNA data, it has been described as a new species. • This uncommon species is mostly seen moving among the leaf litter on the forest floor. • They are active during night and take refuge under rocks and logs during the day. It grows the length of around 6 centimeters. • They are found in localities like Sanjay Gandhi National Park in north Mumbai, the Aarey Colony, a few localities in Nanded, Chandrapur and Amaravati districts and a few localities in Gujarat. • The new species is also known to live around human-dominated landscapes and is a widely distributed species in this genus in India.

Indira Gandhi International Airport becomes first in Asia-Pacific region

Indira Gandhi International Airport becomes first in Asia-Pacific region to achieve carbon neutral status The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on 27 September 2016 announced that the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has become the first airport in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve carbon neutral status. DIAL is a GMR Group-led consortium which manages and operates IGI airport. The announcement on the carbon neutral status was made by Airports Council International (ACI) during the Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate presentation ceremony held in Montreal, Canada. The Airport Carbon Accreditation has upgraded Delhi Airport to ‘Level 3+, Neutrality’, which is the highest level of achievement available to airports across the world. What is carbon neutrality? • Carbon neutrality, or a net zero carbon footprint, occurs when the net carbon emissions over an entire year is zero. This means the airport absorbs or offsets the same amount of emission that was generated. • It is used in the context of carbon dioxide releasing processes associated with transportation, energy production, and industrial processes such as production of carbon neutral fuel.

92 percent of world’s population is breathing unhealthy air: WHO

92 percent of world’s population is breathing unhealthy air: WHO World Health Organization (WHO) on 27 September 2016 released its report on pollution, which is extremely worrying. The report claims that 92 percent of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. This mean, 9 out of 10 people globally are breathing poor quality air. Maria Neira, head of the WHO's department of public health and environment, termed the report as a 'public health emergency'. She also urged governments to take up measures like cutting the number of vehicles on the road, improving waste management and promotion of clean cooking fuel. The WHO report is based on data collected from more than 3000 sites across the globe. According to the report, poorer countries have much dirtier air than the developed world. Green Peace India released report on National Air Quality Index of 17 cities How the report was made? The report is based on WHO’s new air quality model that is based on data derived from satellite measurements, air transport models and ground station monitors. The model was developed by WHO in collaboration with the University of Bath, United Kingdom. Air pollution’s toll on human health Some 3 million deaths a year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can be just as deadly. In 2012, an estimated 6.5 million deaths (11.6% of all global deaths) were associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution together. Nearly 90 percent of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, with nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in WHO’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. WHO says that 94 percent are due to non-communicable diseases – notably cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Air pollution also increases the risks for acute respiratory infections. Sources of air pollution Major sources of air pollution include inefficient modes of transport, household fuel and waste burning, coal-fired power plants, and industrial activities. However, not all air pollution originates from human activity. For example, air quality can also be influenced by dust storms, particularly in regions close to deserts.

Tamil Nadu tops list of endemic flowering plants Botanical Survey of India

Tamil Nadu tops list of endemic flowering plants Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in the last week of September 2016 announced that almost one of every four species of flowering plants found in India is endemic to the country. Of these, Tamil Nadu garners the highest number of species with 410. Tamil Nadu is followed by Kerala with 357 and Maharashtra with 278. Key highlights • As per scientific data in a recently released book, Endemic Vascular Plants of India, of the 18259 flowering plants reported in the country, 4303 are found only in India. • When it comes to the geographical distribution of endemic plants, the Western Ghats tops the list with about 2116 species, followed by the Eastern Himalayas with 466 species. • At least 37 species of Black plum Syzyguim (Jamun), 10 varieties of Musa (banana), along with 274 species of orchids are found only in India. • Four different varieties of roses, two herbs and two climbers and 12 species of jasmines are exclusively found in India. • When it comes to spices, 45 species belong to the common black pepper family, 19 species of ginger and 13 different kinds of large cardamom. • There are also 40 species of bamboos, which are endemic to India. • Further some of these endemic species are restricted to only certain areas of the country, like Nepenthes khasiana, an insectivorous plant only found in the Khasi hills of Meghalaya. • A total of 58 generea of flowering plants have been found to be endemic to India. • As far as endemism regarding vascular plants in India is concerned, the publication reveals that of the 19635 vascular plants found in the country, 4381 are endemic. This includes 4303 angiosperms or flowering plants, 12 gymnosperms and 66 ferns and fern allies which come under the group Pteridophytes. • Among the most widely exploited endemic plants in country is Pterocarpus santalinus, commonly known as red sandal wood, which is found only in the southern parts of the Eastern Ghats. This plant is classified as critically endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) category. About Botanical Survey of India • The Botanical Survey of India is an institution set up by the Government of India in 1890 to survey the plant resources of the Indian empire. • The Botanical Survey was formally instituted on 13 February 1890 under the direction of Sir George King, who had been superintendent of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta since 1871. • King was the first ex-officio Director of BSI.

New species of Pika discovered in the Sikkim Himalayas

New species of Pika discovered in the Sikkim Himalayas Researchers at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru have recently identified a new species of Pika named Ochotona sikimaria high up in the Sikkim Himalayas. The Findings were published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution as a paper titled Genetics, morphology and ecology reveal a cryptic Pika lineage in the Sikkim Himalaya on 15 September 2016. The team of researchers including Dr Uma Ramakrishnan and her collaborators probed the genetic origins of the little mammal Pika to discover an entirely new lineage, with a unique evolutionary past. Highlights of the Study • Researchers used genetic tools in order to understand the origin and evolution of the Pika species commonly found in the Sikkim Himalayas and worked with Pika droppings to obtain DNA samples. • By comparing DNA sequences from these samples with those of commonly known Pika sequences from across the world, they concluded that there were clear differences. • Gaining a deeper understanding of the evolutionary history of this species, the researchers chose to compare the Sikkim Pika to its close relatives in China. • This analysis confirmed the fact that the new species is indeed distinct and not merely a subspecies of the Moupin Pika, as was previously believed. • Multiple lines of evidence, including genetics, ecology and morphometrics, were used clarify the origins of the Sikkim Pika and to establish that it is indeed a distinct species. About Pikas • Pikas are members of the rabbit family and live either high up in the mountains or in cold (temperate) places as they are highly cold-adapted. • This feature of their biology makes them sensitive to habitat loss from increasing global temperature. • The majority of Pika species described to date are of Asian origin. • Pikas are particularly important because they are considered indicators of climate change based on studies in North America. • Unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such harsh environments, Pikas do not hibernate. • They prepare for winter by collecting and storing hay piles for their winter food.