- Natural vegetation and wildlife
NCERT Questions:
- Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i) Which one of the following types of vegetation does rubber belong to?
a) Tundra
b) Tidal
c) Himalayan
d) Tropical Evergreen
Ans. d) Tropical Evergreen
Rubber trees require moist and humid climate with heavy rainfall more than 200 cm.
(ii) Cinchona trees are found in the areas of rainfall more than:
a) 200 centimeter
b) 50 centimeter
c) 70 centimeter
d) less than 50 centimeter
Ans. a) 200 centimeter
Cinchona being a commercially important tree is found in tropical evergreen forest.
(iii) In which one of the following states is the Simlipal bio reserve located?
a) Punjab
b) Odisha
c) Delhi
d) West Bengal
Ans. b) Odisha
Simlipal is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna which represent a link between two biodiversity hot-spots of the country eg. the Sub-Himalayan north east India and the Western Ghats in the south.
(iv) Which one of the following bio reserves of India is not included in the world network of Bio reserve?
a) Manas
b) Dihang Dibang
c) Gulf of Mannar
d) Nanda Devi
Ans. b) Dihang Dibang
The world network of Bio-Reserves includes Sunderbans, Nandadevi, Gulf of Mannar, Nilgiri, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Manas, Simlipal, Panchmarhi and Achanakmar-Amarkantak.
2. Answer the following questions briefly:
(i) Define an ecosystem.
Ans.
a) An ecosystem is a community of plants, animals and smaller organisms that live, feed, reproduce and interact in the same area of environment.
b) Some ecosystems are very large. Eg. Many bird species nest in one place and feed in a completely different area.
c) On the other hand, some ecosystems may be physically small, such as in a Meadow at the edge of a forest, or in a coral reef in the ocean. The way everything fit together in a forest ecosystem versus a meadow ecosystem.
d) While some species may be found naturally in both areas, the species that live in the forest ecosystem are usually very different from those that inhabit the meadows. Even though the two environments are right next to each other.
e) If you protect existing natural habitats, we will help to maintain biodiversity (Biodiversity is the variety of life in all its forms levels and combinations). Unfortunately, natural habitats and their ecosystems are more and more endangered because of the damaging environmental effects of growing human populations everywhere.
(ii) What factors are responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India?
Ans. Distribution of plants and animals on the earth is determined mainly by climate. However, the other factors are soil, relief and drainage, though most of them are also interrelated.
(iii) What is a Bio Reserve? Give two examples.
Ans. A protected area reserved for the conservation of endangered species of flora and fauna in their natural habitat. The Sundarbans in the West Bengal and Nanda Devi in Uttaranchal are the two examples of bio-reserves.
Uses of Bio reserve.
a) In bio reserve, endangered species of animals and plants are protected.
b) This important heritage of plants and animals is transmitted to the future generations in all its natural vigour and glory.
c) The surrounding areas are reserved for research work for the betterment of flora and fauna.
(iv) Name two animals having habitat in tropical and mountain type of vegetation.
Ans. The common animals found in the tropical forest are elephants and monkeys. And the common animals found in the mountain forest are Kashmir stag and spotted deer.
3. Distinguish between:-
(i) Flora and fauna
| Flora | Fauna |
| a) The flora of a country consists of plant kingdom of that place. It covers trees in the forest, other flowering and non-flowering trees grown by man, grasslands, scrubs, fern etc. b) India possesses about 47,000 different species of plants and 5000 of them are exclusively found in India. | a) The fauna of a country consists of animal kingdom of that place. Like its flora, India is also rich in its fauna. It has more than 89,000 of animal species.
b) The country has more than 12,000 species of birds. They constitute 13% of the world’s total. There are 2500 species of fish. That account for nearly 12% of the world stock. It also shares between 5 and 8% of the world’s and amphibians, reptiles and mammals. |
(ii) Tropical Evergreen and deciduous forest
| Tropical Evergreen | Deciduous forest |
| a) Evergreen forest or tropical rain-forest are found on the rainy parts of the Western Ghats and the island groups of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. b) Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona are the most important trees of the evergreen forest.
c) Trees of the Evergreen forest don’t shed their leaves at one and the same time, so these forests remain evergreen, hence the name | a) Deciduous Forest can be divided into two parts wet deciduous forest where the rainfall is 100 to 200 cm and dry deciduous forest with the rainfall of 70 to 100 cm. b) Teak is the most dominant species of the deciduous forest. Other trees found here are bamboo, sal, sheesham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun and mulberry. c) Deciduous forests are found mostly in the eastern parts of the country. North Eastern states along the foothills of the Himalayas. Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh and the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. The trees of the deciduous forest shed their leaves for about 6 to 8 weeks in summer. |
4. Name different types of vegetation found in India and describe the vegetation of high altitudes.
Ans. The following major types of vegetation (biomes) are found in our country:
a) Tropical rainforest
b) Tropical deciduous forest
c) Tropical thorn forest and scrubs
d) Mountain forest
e) Mangrove forest
i) The vegetation of high altitude is mountain forest in mountainous areas.
ii) The decrease in temperature with increasing altitude leads to the corresponding change in natural vegetation.
iii) 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 temperature types of forests are found between the heights of 1000 to 2000 metres.
iv) Evergreen broadleaf trees such as oaks and chestnuts pre-dominate between 1500 and 3000 metres.
v) Temperate forest 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.
vi) In Southern and North East India at higher elevations temperate grasslands are common.
vii) At high altitude, generally more than 3600 metres above sea level temperate forest and grasslands give way to the alpine vegetation. Silver fir, juniper, pines and birches are the common trees of these forests.
viii) However, they get progressively stunted as they approach the snow line. Ultimately, through shrubs and scrubs, they merge into the alpine grasslands.
ix) These are used extensively for grazing by nomadic tribes like the Gujjars and Bakarwals.
x) At higher altitudes, mosses, lichens form part of tundra vegetation. The common animals found in these forests are Kashmir stag spotted dear, wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy horned wild ibex, bear and rear red panda, sheep and goats with thick hair.
5. Quite a few species of plants and animals are endangered. In India, why?
Ans.
- Quite a few animal species are endangered and some have become extinct.
- The main cause for this major threat to nature is hunting by greedy hunters for commercial purposes, pollution due to chemical and industrial waste.
- Acid deposits and introduction of alien species and reckless cutting of the forest too bring land under cultivation and inhabitation is also responsible for the imbalance.
6. Why has India rich heritage of flora and fauna?
Ans. Our country India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world. With about 47,000 plant species, India occupies 10th place in the world and 4th in Asia in plant diversity. There are about 15,000 flowering plants in India, which account for 6% 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.
Extra Questions:
- Why the wet tropical deciduous forests are found in the eastern and central parts of India?
Ans. The wet Tropical Deciduous Forest are found in the eastern and central parts of India as these areas experience 100 to 200 centimeters of annual rainfall.
- Which medicinal plant has both antibacterial and antibiotic properties?
Ans. The neem tree has both antibacterial and antibiotic properties.
- How do human beings influence the ecology of a region?
Ans.
a) Human beings utilize the vegetation and wild life of a particular region
b) The greed of human beings leads to over utilization of these resources.
c) They cut trees and kill the animals thereby creating an ecological imbalance.
- What is a biome?
Ans. A very large ecosystem on land having different types of flora and fauna is termed as biome.
- What are endangered species? Give example.
Ans. The plants and animals that are on the verge of extinction are called endangered species. E.g. dodo bird, great Indian bustards etc.
- Discuss how flora and fauna are interrelated to each other?
Ans.
a) Flora refers to autotrophs – producer of their own food while fauna refers to the heterotrophs who gather their food directly or indirectly from autotrophs.
b) Food webs and food chains make the interrelationship between the flora and fauna.
c) Flora provides food to all living organisms while fauna provides nutrients to soil from the waste and decay.
- Write the objectives of biosphere reserves.
Ans.
a) Preserving plant and animal species of the area in natural forms.
b) To protect flora and fauna from their over exploitation.
c) To save endangered species and prevent extinction of valuable species.
d) To undertake research and experimentation in forestry.
- Why do plants in dessert have long roots?
Ans. The plants in desserts have adopted themselves to the coarse dry conditions and have long roots so that they may absorb water from great depths.
- What type of vegetation is found at the foothills of the Himalayas?
Ans. At the foothills of the Himalayas Tropical Deciduous Forest is found.
- Why are tropical deciduous forests also called monsoon forest?
Ans. Tropical deciduous forests are also called monsoon forests as they are found in regions with monsoonal climate.
- Where are one horn rhinoceros found? In which national park are they protected?
Ans. One horn rhinoceros is found in Assam and West Bengal they are protected in Kazi Ranga National Park of Assam.
- Where the tidal forests are found?
Ans. Tidal forests are found along the coastline, tidal creeks, backwaters and salt marshes. In India it is found in the Ganga Brahmaputra Delta the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.
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