SUB:GEOGRAPHY
LESSON :5
Natural vegetation and wildlife -Notes
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1. What is 'Virgin Vegetation'?
Natural vegetation refers to a plant community which has grown
naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by
humans for a long time.
2. Which factors are responsible for changes in India's natural
vegetation?
Factors responsible for changes in India's natural vegetation are:
growing demand for cultivated land, development of industries and
mining, urbanization and for grazing of pasture.
3.What are biomes?
A very large ecosystem on land having distinct types of vegetation
and animal life is called a biome. The biomes are identified on the
basis of plants.
4.Which wild life projects are set up to save endangered species?
Project Tiger, Project Rhino and Project Great Indian Bustard are set
up to save these endangered species.
5. Name two animals having habitat in tropical and montane type of
vegetation.
The common animals found in the tropical forests are elephants and
monkeys and the common animals found in the montane forests are
Kashmir stag and spotted dear.
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1. What is a bio-reserve? Give two examples.
A protected area reserved for the conservation of endangered
species of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) in their natural habitat.
The Sunderbans in West Bengal and Nanda Devi in Uttaranchal are
the two examples.
Uses of Biosphere Reserve
(i) In a biosphere reserve, endangered species of animals and plants
are protected.
(ii) This important heritage (of plants and animals) is transmitted to
the future generations in all its natural vigour and glory.
(iii) The surrounding areas are reserved for research work for the
betterment of flora and fauna.
2. Distinguish Between Flora and Fauna.
Flora
The flora of a country consists of the plant kingdom of that country.
It covers trees in the forests, other flowering and non-flowering trees
grown by man, grassland, scrubs, fens, etc. India possesses about
47,000 different species of plants and 5,000 of them are exclusively
found in India.
Fauna
The fauna of a country consists of birds, fish and animals. It also
includes amphibians, reptiles, mammals, small insects and worms.
The fauna of India is quite rich and varied. There are about 89,000
species in India.
3. Quite a few species of plants and animals are endangered in India.
Why?
Quite a few animal species are endangered and some have become
extinct. The main causes for this major threat to nature are hunting
by greedy hunters for commercial purposes, pollution due to
chemical and industrial waste, acid deposits, introduction of alien
species and reckless cutting of the forests to
bring land utilization.
4. Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?
Our country India is one of the twelve-mega biodiversity countries of
the world.
With about 47,000 plant species India occupies tenth place in the
world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity.
There are about 15,000 flowering plants in India, which account for 6
percent in the world’s total number of flowering plants.
The country has many non-flowering plants such as ferns, algae and
fungi. India also has 89,000 species of animals as well as a rich
variety of fish in its fresh and marine waters.
5.Distinguish Between Tropical Evergreen and Deciduous Forests
Tropical Evergreen Forests:
Evergreen forests (or Tropical Rain Forests) are found on the rainy
parts of the Western Ghats and the island groups of Lakshadweep
and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Ebony, mahogany and rosewood are the most important trees of the
Evergreen Forests. Teak is the most dominant species of the
deciduous forests. Other trees found here are bamboos, Sal,
shisham, sandalwood and khair.
Deciduous Forests:
Deciduous forests are found mostly in the eastern parts of the
country – northeastern states along the foothills of the Himalayas,
Jharkhand, West Orissa and Chhattisgarh and the eastern slopes of
the Western Ghats.
Trees of the Evergreen Forests don’t shed their leaves at one and the
same time, so these forests remain evergreen. The trees of the
deciduous Forests shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in
summer.
6. Name different types of Vegetation found in India and describe
the vegetation of high altitudes.
The following major types of vegetation may be identified in our
country:
(i) Tropical Rain Forests
(ii) Tropical Deciduous Forests
(iii) Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
(iv) Montane Forests
(v) Mangrove Forests
The vegetation of high altitudes are Montane Forests. In
mountainous areas, the decrease in temperature with increasing
altitude leads to the corresponding change in natural vegetation.
As such, there is a succession of natural vegetation belts in the
same order as we see from the tropical to the tundra region.
The wet temperate type of forests are found between a height of
1000 and 2000 metres. Evergreen broad-leaf trees such as oaks and
chestnuts predominate.
Between 1500 and 3000 metres, temperate forests containing
coniferous trees like pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar, are
found.
These forests cover mostly the southern slopes of the Himalayas
and places having high altitude in southern and northeast India.
At higher elevations, temperate grasslands are common.
At high altitudes, generally more than 3,600 meters above sea level,
temperate forests and grasslands give way to the Alpine vegetation.
Ultimately through shrubs and scrubs, they merge into the Alpine
grasslands. .
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At higher altitudes, mosses and lichens form part of tundra
vegetation.
7.What steps have been taken by the government to protect the flora
and fauna of the country?
Steps taken by the government to protect the flora and fauna are as
follows:
(i) About fourteen biosphere reserves have been set up in the
country to protect both flora and fauna. Four out of these?the
Sunderbans (West Bengal), Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand), Gulf of
Mannar (Tamil Nadu) and Nilgiris (Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu) have been included in the world network of Biosphere
Reserves.
(ii) 'Since 1992, financial and technical assistance has been provided
to many botanical gardens by the government.
(iii) Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and
many other Eco-developmental projects have been introduced.
(iv) About 89 national parks, 49 wildlife sanctuaries and zoological
gardens have been set up to take care of the natural heritage.
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