chapter 5 natural vegetation and wild life class...

Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation and Wild Life Class 9 2017

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Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation and Wild Life

1. Five Types of Forests , Vegetation and wild life in India

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:

1.1 To which one of the following types of vegetation does

rubber belong to?

a) Tidal

b) Tundra

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests : Need heavy rainfall, warm and wet climate with more than 200 cm rains. Trees grow to above 60 metres. and shed leaves. Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Rubber, Cinchona are examples.

2. Tropical Decidious Monsoon Forests: Need warm and wet climate with 200 cm to 70 cm rains. Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and across India from Shiwaliks to Eastern Ghats. Trees shed leaves in summer for two months.

2.1 Dry Decidious Forests: 100 cm to 70 cm rains. Peninsular plateau, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh.

3. Tropical Thorn Forests andShrubs.: Less than 70 cm rains. Northwestern parts if India, Thar Desert,Kutch area in Gujarat, parts ofMalwa plateau.

Acactas, palms, euphorbias, cacti.

Camel, horse, tigers, lions, fox, wolf, wild ass, rabbits, rats, mice.

4. Montane Forests: in the Himalayas,Shiwaliks. Decreasing temperatures,increasing altitudes. a) Above 3,600 cm,Alpine vegetation, shrubs, mosses, lichensnear the snowline. b) 3000 cm to 1500cm. Temperate forests and grasslands,mostly in Southern slopes of Himalayas. c)2000 cm to 1000 cm. Wet TemperateForests.

Yak, wild sheep, Kashmir stag, spotteddeer, jack rabbit, mountain goats, snowleopard, squirrels, bear, rare red panda,wild ibex or ox that weighs one tonne.

5. Mangrove Forests: mostly along the eastern coast, at the estuaries of major rivers. Swampy soil made of silt and mud. Trees with roots submerge in water. Sundari, palm, coconut, keora, agar, Jute plants. Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodiles, gharial, turtles,snakes.

1.1 Western Ghats 1.2 Islands of Lakshadweep; Andaman Nicobar. 1.3 Tamil Nadu coast. 1.4 Upper parts of Assam.

1 Elephants, monkey, lemur, deer, and variety of birds. Horned Rhino found in Assam and Bengal only.

2 Teak , Bamboo, Sal, Shisham, Sandalwood, Khair, Kusum, Arjun, Mulberry . Lions, tigers, deers, elephants, tortoise. Variety of birds, snakes, lizards. 2.1 Teak, Sal, Peepal, Neem.


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c) Himalayan

d) Tropical Evergreen

1.2 Cinchona trees are found in the areas of rainfall more than

a) 100 cm

b) 50 cm

c) 70 cm

d) less than 50 cm

1.2 In which of the following state is the Simlipal bio reserve

located?

a) Punjab

b) Delhi

c) Odisha

d) West Bengal

1.3 Which one of the following bio reserves of India is not

included in the world network of bio reserve?

a) Manas

b) Nilgiri

c) Gulf of Mannar

d) Nanda devi

A glimpse of Tropical Evergreen Forests in Western Ghats


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2. Answer the following questions briefly.

2.1 Define an ecosystem.

Answer. An ecosystem is a distinct area in which groups of vegetation types,

micro organism, insect colonies, birds, water life, co exists as they provide

life support to each other. The animal life is a part of the ecosystem. All

are interdependent and interrelated in their physical environment.

Humans are also a part of the ecosystem. But humans tend to extract

excessively from the ecosystem. This results in destroying the balance of

the ecosystem. All natural forests are self sustaining ecosystems.


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Deforestation for purpose of development has been destroying these

ecosystems and creating natural calamities such as recurring floods.

Ecosystem

• An ecosystem has (a) food producers, (b) primary and secondary consumers, (c) Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi.

• Tropic level 1 (producers , plants)

• Tropic level 2 Primary herbivore consumer

• Tropic level 3 Secondary consumer -carnivore

• Tropic level 4 Tertiary consumer

• An ecosystem is a self contained area composed of different organisms, living and interacting with sunlight. Air, water, soil, climatic factors, prevailing in the area

• (b) Air for respiration of plants and animals and CO2 for photosynthesis. It serves as medium of flight for birds and insects, and as an agency for dispersal of seeds and pollen grains for plants in the form of winds.

• (c ) Water: received as rainfall , absorbed by plants and soil , and accumulated by ponds, lakes and rivers. Used by life forms for drinking.

• (d) Warmth in the forest influences the activities of living organisms.

• (e) Soil: is the primary component for all action of life as provider of mineral and nutrients to plant life, micro organisms, burrows and living spaces for animals.

The ABIOTIC or non-living component of Forest consists of (a)

Sunlight that is for production of plant

food by photosynthesis.

-Pond ecosystem

- River ecosystem

- Forest ecosystem coastal area ecosystem

- lagoon ecosystem

Flora are plants naturally occurring in the ecosystem.

Fauna : are animals in the ecosystem

BIOTIC or living component of the forest ecosystem

consists of four Tropic levels from the green

plants at level 1 to Tertiary or top level

consumers.

2.2 What factors are responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in

India?

Answer. Distribution of plants and animals in India is as per the five major

climatic zones. Climatic zones are grouped on basis of variation in

physical terrain, distance from Sea, temperature range, altitude, winds,

rains, Soil types, the intensity of sunlight and sun’s position on the

horizoni, precipitation and local weather conditions.

Depending on the climatic conditions, plants and animals form an

ecosystem, in which each species is interdependent. From micro organisms

to larger animals the ecosystem system sustains the food chain. Plants,

insects, small animals assist one another


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2.3 What is a bio reserve? Give two examples.

Answer. Bio reserves are ecosystems declared as protected by the

Government. In these places, hunting or cutting of wood, clearance of

forests or taking away of forest produces is not allowed. If anyone is

caught in these acts it becomes a criminal offence, punishable under the

law. In India there are bio reserves called Wildlife Sanctuaries, Bird Parks,

Marine life Parks, Special Sanctuaries for Lions (Gir Forest) Tigers (

Sundarbans) Elephants , Silent Valley.

2.4 Name two animals having habitat in tropical and montane type of

vegetation.

Answer. Deer, Stags, wild goats, leopard and snow leopard are a few

animals that are found in tropical and montane types of habitats.

3. Distinguish between

3.1 Flora and Fauna

3.2 Tropical Evergreen and Deciduous forests

3.1 Flora Fauna

1 Flora is a generic name to

refer to all the different kinds

of vegetations from the micro

level of mushrooms, mosses,

lichens, grasses to the tallest

trees. In sum, all forms of

natural vegetation found in a

climatic zone, is referred to as

flora.

Fauna is a generic name for all

form of micro organisms insects

small animals, birds, water life, and

larger animals that inhabit an

ecosystem in a climatic zone.

2. The term is used only for

plants found in nature.

It does not include the various

genetically modified

The term is used only for animals,

birds, insects, and micro organisms

found in nature.

3 It does not include the plants

or trees that are cultivated as

crops or plantations, through

agriculture.

It does not include any of the

genetically modified species or

living organisms, that come under

biotic, anti biotic or

pharmaceuticals.

4 Flora does not include any of

the various genetically

Fauna also does not include any of

the animal species reared or


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modified flower plants that are

grown as part of horticulture.

In fact, such flowers do not

have any essence or aroma

that is distinct to each natural

flower.

Such flowers are cultivated

only to look bright and

colourful, last longer, and

have a wider variety of hue.

domesticated or genetically

modified by humans for

consumption as food .

3.2 Tropical Evergreen Forests Deciduous Forests

1. a) Tropical Evergreen Forests

grow in conditions of warm

and wet climate of more

than 200 cm rains.

b) The forests are dense and

thick. They are evergreen

because different species of

trees shed leaves in

different months. Therefore,

greater part of the forest is

always covered with a thick

green canopy.

c) Trees grow to heights of

above 60 metres, and grow

very close to one another.

Therefore, the canopy of

Tropical Evergreen Forests

is very thick.

d) Ebony, Mahogany,

Rosewood, Rubber,

Cinchona are a few

examples of species of trees

that grow in these forests.

a) Deciduous Forests are identified in

two groups of Wet and Dry. The

wet forests grow in warm tropical

conditions in areas where the

range of monsoon rainfall is 200

cm to 70 cm.

b) Trees have broad leaves and grow

to heights of 40 metres. All species

of trees in deciduous forests shed

leaves together during two months

of summer.

c) These forests are found in

Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and

across India from Shiwaliks to Eastern

Ghats.

d) Teak Bamboo, Sal, Shisham,

Sandalwood, Khair, Kusum, Arjun,

Mulberry are a few trees that are

found in these forests.

e) The Dry Deciduous Forests grow in

warmer zones that have 100 cm to

70 cm rains.

f) Parts of Peninsular, Malwa plateau,

Chota Nagpur plateau, Bihar, Uttar

Pradesh have such forests.

1. Thick evergreen forests 2. Thinner Deciduous forests


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Where darkness exists below where sky and sunlight is seen

And between the trees from between the trees

3. Name different types of Vegetation found in India and describe the

vegetation of high altitudes.

Answer. The different types of vegetation found in India include

Tropical Evergreen Forests, Tropical Deciduous Forests, Dry Deciduous

Forests, Tropical Thor n Forests and Shrubs, Montane Forests and Tundra

vegetation, Mangrove Forests.

The vegetation in high altitudes includes pine, fir, and other

coniferous trees and shrubs. In the highest altitudes of the Himalayas,

Tundra type of vegetation is found. This comprises of mosses and lichens

variety of single cell vegetation.


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a) Estimated 78.29 million hectare = 23.81 % of total geographical area:

b) Dense forests = 12.30 %

c) Open forests = 8.75 %

d) Mangrove = 0.14 %

1. Quite a few species of plants and animals are endangered in

India. Why?

Answer. Cataloguing of plants and animal species of India was

started towards the last decades of the 19th century. Little is

known about the species that were already endangered or became

extinct due to the wasteful practice of hunting by the royalty.

Extinction of animal species became a major trend due to the

use of gun for hunting purposes initially by the East India

Company and then under the British rule. Vast tracks of forests

were also destroyed for construction of railways and roads by the

British. The over killing of lions and tigers in particular, along

with many species of birds , brought about their extinction.

Animal / Plant / forest Category of existence

Black buck Endangered means their survival is

difficult without protection. Eg.

Crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian

Rhino, lion, tailed macaque, sangai or

Manipuri brown anter deer.

Asiatic elephant Vulnerable means population has

declined to levels from where it could

become endangered in near future. Eg.

Gangetic dolphins


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Andaman wild pig Endemic means found only in specific

local areas isolated by natural barriers.

Eg Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon,

Andaman wild pig mithun in Arunachal

Pradesh

Himalayan brown bear Rare means species with a very small

population and may become endangered.

Eg. Wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox,

hornbill.

Pink head duck Extinct means species no longer in

existence either in India or elsewhere in

the world.

Indian Animals and Category of existence

a) Black buck : Endangered means their survival is difficultwithout protection. Eg. Crocodile, Indian wild ass, IndianRhino, lion, tailed macaque, sangai or Manipuri brownante deer.

b) Asiatic elephant: Vulnerable means population hasdeclined to levels from where it could becomeendangered in near future. Eg. Gangetic dolphins

c) Andaman wild pig : Endemic means found only inspecific local areas isolated by natural barriers. EgAndaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig ;mithun cow in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland

d) Himalayan brown bear: Rare means species with a verysmall population and may become endangered. Eg. WildAsiatic buffalo, desert fox, hornbill.

e) Pink head duck: Extinct means species no longer inexistence either in India or elsewhere in the world.

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2. Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?

Answer. India is a subcontinent as it has five major climatic and

vegetation types, ranging from the hottest deserts in the Thar

region, to the coldest climate in higher ranges of the Himalayas.

The Montane Forests and vegetation, the Tropical Evergreen

Forests, the Tropical Deciduous Forests, Dry Deciduous Forests,

and the Mangrove forests of major river estuaries . This climatic,

vegetation and physical terrain variety has enabled many


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ecosystems to develop and sustain a very rich heritage of flora

and fauna.

In addition, India is a tropical as well as a temperate

climate country. It has several perennial river systems and very

large natural lakes. These attract a huge variety of migratory

birds for the six winter months .

Biodiversity in India• Diversity is immensely rich in the form of wildlife

and over 81,000 species of flora and fauna: 47,000 plant species and 15,000 flowering plants are indigenous to India.

• About 10 per cent of recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of mammals are on threatened list.

• The biodiversity varies as per kind of Forests: Equatorial forests, (5 degrees North and South of Equator) ; Tropical Rain Forests ( 10 degrees N and S ), Tropical forests ( 23 ½ degrees N and S) , Temperate forests ( beyond the Tropics).

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i Sun’s position on the horizon refers to the position of the Sun from the place, during the daily rotation revolution of the Earth. In the Tundra region the Sun is never overhead . For six months in a year , it is continuously seen just above the horizon , as if It is just rising or setting. Overhead position means Sun’s position at the zenith, as at 12 noon, during the Summer months. Such a position of the Sun is visible only in tropical countries and temperate zone countries that are located between the two tropics, namely the Tropic of Cancer at 23 ½

0 N , and Tropic of Capricorn at 23 ½

0 S. The Sun is directly overhead of the Equator twice in

an year on the two Equinox days on 21st

March and 23rd

September. The reason these are called Equinox days is because the days and nights during the week are equal at all placed on Earth.

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