ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Answer the following questions :
1. What does biodiversity mean ?
Ans: Biodiversity means biological variety or variety of life forms .
2. What are the factors influencing the biodiversity in India ?
Ans: A variety of geographical features like the Himalayas, deserts, coastal plains etc. are primarily responsible for diverse climate conditions in India. The diverse climate conditions has given rise to a variety of plant life ranging from wet ever-green forests of Western Ghats and the North-Eastern hills to the dry deciduous forests of central India and the thorny forests of the Thar Desert. Such diverse conditions support a variety of plant and animal life, thus influencing biodiversity in India .
3. How does relief (topography) influence plant and animal diversity ?
Ans: The relief influences climate and temperature and therefore influences vegetation directly. Hence as we go up the mountains we come across different types of vegetation. This is particularly observed in the Himalayas. The Plateaus and Coastal plains also have different elevations and hence different temperature conditions and thus different kinds of plant life .
4. How do soils influence plant and animal diversity ?
Ans: The soils are composite material formed by a variety of physical and chemical interaction with the rocks. Soils develop their characteristics over a period of time. Soils are of different colour, texture and have different levels of fertility. Thus different soils support different plant life .
Eg: Desert soils support cactus and thorny bushes while wet marshy soils support mangrove vegetation .
5. How does temperature influence plant and animal diversity ?
Ans: The physical characteristics of plants like its size, shape, leaves are influenced by temperatures. The temperatures vary according to latitude and altitude. Hence we find that the forests in Himalayas are of alpine and temperate types according to heights, whereas on the Deccan Plateau it is deciduous type and along the coast line it is coastal mangrove types of vegetation .
6. How does sunlight influence plant and animal diversity ?
Ans: The amount of sunlight received also varies according to latitude, altitude and seasons. Since India has both tropical and sub-tropical type of climate trees grow faster here .
7. How does precipitation influence plant and animal diversity ?
Ans: Precipitation in India is received mainly from the south west monsoons during the months of June to September. Areas which receive heavy rains support rich vegetation and have more dense vegetation as compared to other areas of less rainfall .
8. The Western Slopes of Western Ghats have more vegetation as compared to Eastern slopes. Why ?
Ans: Precipitation in India is received mainly from the south west monsoons during the months of June to September. Areas which receive heavy rains support rich vegetation and have more dense vegetation as compared to other areas of less rainfall. That is why the Western Slopes of Western Ghats have more vegetation as compared to the eastern slopes .
9. Classify the types of vegetation in India ?
Ans: The types of vegetation in India can be broadly classified into five types they are :
(i) Rain Forest or Tropical Evergreen Forests ,
(ii) Tropical Deciduous Forests ,
(iii) Tropical Thorn Forests ,
(iv) Montane Forests and
(v) Tidal Forests .
10. Describe the Tropical Evergreen forests .
Ans: These forests are found in areas receiving more than 200 cms of rainfall. The forest has luxuriant growth comprising of trees, shrubs, and creepers in a multilayered structure. The thick canopies prevent the sunlight from penetrating and reaching the forests even during the daytime. The climate is warm and wet throughout the year. The trees do not have a fixed time to shed leaves and hence are known as evergreen forests .
-These forests are found in the Western Ghats, Island of Andaman and Nicobar, etc.
Major timber species are Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Rubber. Some animals found in these forests are Elephant, Monkey, One-Horned Rhinoceros, etc .
11. What two types of forests are called as tropical deciduous forests ? Explain briefly
Ans: These are also known as the monsoon forests and the most commonly found forests of India. These forests are found in areas with rainfall ranging from 70−200 cms. This region experiences seasonal changes. During the dry seasons these forests shed their leaves to conserve water. These forests are also divided into Wet and Dry deciduous forests according to the amount of rainfall received. The west deciduous forests are found in areas with rainfall ranging from 100 to 200cms and Dry deciduous forests are found in areas with 70 to 100cms .
i) The Wet deciduous forests − are found mainly in the eastern parts of the country. These forests have many commercially important species like Teak. Other types of vegetation include Bamboo, Sal, Sandalwood, Neem, Kusum etc .
ii) The Dry deciduous forests − are found mainly in areas with rainfall of 70 to 100 cms of rainfall. Deccan Plateau, Plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. These are open forests. The major species include Teak, Sal, Peepal, and Neem .
12. Describe the Tropical Thorn forest .
Ans: These are forests of drier and semi-arid regions with rainfall of less than 70 cms. These forests are found in the dry areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh etc.Important trees of these forests include Acacia, Babul, Shisham, Khair, Cacti, Date Palms, Thorny Bushes.
The plants are scattered and have deep roots to get moisture from deep underground. The stems are succulent to conserve water. Leaves are mostly thick and small to minimize evaporation.
The animals found in this region include rats, mice, rabbits, wolf, fox, tiger, lion wild ass, horses and camels .
13. In the wet temperate forests what types of vegetation is found in the heights .
(i) 1000 metres to 2000 metres .
(ii) 1500 metres to 3000 metres .
(iii) 3600 metres and above .
Ans:
(i) Evergreen broad-leaf trees like Oak and Chestnut are found. In the north-eastern hills, because of heavy rainfall pine forests dominate the trees .
(ii) Coniferous trees like Pine, Deodar, Silver Fir, Spruce and Cedar are found .
(iii) Here alpine vegetation with shrubs and scrubs are found .
14. What are the common animals found in the Montane forests ?
Ans: The common animals found in these forests are Kashmir Stag, Spotted Deer, Wild Sheep, Antelope, Jack Rabbit, Snow Leopard, Yak, Squirrels, Red Panda, Sheep and Goats .
15. Where are tidal forests found ?
Ans: These forests are found in the areas under the tidal influence along the coast. These forests are found in the delta regions of Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari and Kaveri .
16. What are mangroves ?
Ans: Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that grow in brackish water. They have their roots submerged.These trees provide hard timber .
17. What is the ‘fauna’ of the tidal forests ?
Ans: The Sunderbans are the home to the Royal Bengal Tiger. Mangroves forests are rich in animal life. There are variety of marine fish and reptiles. They also provide an excellent condition for birds for nesting .
18. Name the 10 bio geographical zones that Government of India has identified with respect to animal diversity .
Ans:
(i) Trans – Himalayan region , (vi) Deccan peninsula region ,
(ii) Himalayan region , (vii) Gangetic Plains ,
(iii) Desert-Thar region , (viii) Indian coast ,
(iv) Semi-Arid region , (ix) North-East region ,
(v) Western Ghats region , (x) Indian Island .
19. Name the place where these regions are found :
i) Trans- Himalayan region ii) Desert-Thar region iii) Semi-Arid region iv) Western Ghats region v) Gangetic plain vi) Indian coast vii) The north east region and viii) Indian Islands .
Ans:
i) Trans − Himalayan region: It includes Ladakh and Lahul – Spiti of Himachal Pradesh .
ii) Desert −Thar region: It includes the area of Gujarat, Kutch and Thar Rajasthan .
iii) Semi − Arid region: It includes parts of Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan .
iv) Western Ghats region: It includes the western coastal plains and mountains of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala .
v) Gangetic plain: It includes the upper and lower Gangetic plains .
vi) Indian coast: It includes the western and eastern coastline of the countries .
vii) The North East region: It includes Brahmaputra valley and Assam hills .
viii) Indian Islands: It includes the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands .
20. Name any two important animals found in each of these regions .
(i) Trans- Himalayan region ii) Himalayan region iii) Desert-Thar region iv) Semi-Arid region v) Western Ghats region vi) Deccan peninsula region vii) Gangetic plain viii) Indian coast ix) The north east region and x) Indian Islands .
Ans:
i) Trans- Himalayan region — Yak, Antelope .
ii) Himalayan region — Musk deer, Snow leopard .
iii) Desert−Thar region — Blackbuck, Wolf .
iv) Semi−Arid region — Chinkara, Lion .
v) Western Ghats region –— Nilgiri languor, Malabar hornbill .
vi) Deccan peninsula region — Gaur, Sambar .
vii) Gangetic plain — Elephants, Crocodiles .
viii) Indian coast— Bengal tiger, Estuarine crocodile .
ix) The north east region — Elephant, Rhino .
x) Indian Islands — Andaman serpent eagle, Nicobar imperial pigeon .
21. Why do we need to conserve biodiversity ?
Ans: Biodiversity is the variability among all living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems. A healthy biodiversity provides humans with raw materials for consumption and production. It is important for the survival, health and welfare of the human population. It is also an essential part for the solution of climate change, extinction of plants and animals .
22. What are the major dangers most wildlife face in India ?
Ans:
a) Drought, floods, cause dangerous changes to the wildlife habitats .
b) Unregulated hunting and poaching is a major threat to wildlife .
c) Pollutants released into the environment are ingested by a variety of organisms .
d) Growing indifference of the people to wildlife conservation and environmental issues .
e) Over exploitation of resources for food, medicines, clothes etc .
f) Increase in population means more consumption of resources and more generation of waste .
23. What steps have been taken for the protection and conservation of India’s bio diversity ?
Ans:
a) Surveying, identifying and preparing inventories of flora and fauna resources .
b) Project Tiger (1973), Crocodile Conservation (1975), Project Elephant (1992), Protection of Olive Ridley Turtles and many other economic development projects have been undertaken .
c) Important Indian Acts have been passed related to Environment and Bio diversity .
E.g. Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Forest Conservation Act (1980), Biological Diversity Act (2002) etc .
d) National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries,Biosphere reserves and Zoological gardens are set up to take care of our natural heritage .
24. What do you mean by biosphere reserve ?
Ans: It is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interests .
25. Why should we involve ourselves in Indian Wild Life Conservation projects ?
Ans: Since conserving wildlife is extremely essential to help maintain ecological balance, we should involve ourselves in Indian Wild Life Conservation projects .
26. List some of the steps that we could follow to involve ourselves in Indian Wild Life Conservation Projects .
Ans:
(i) Get information about the conservation projects .
(ii) Say no to items made from parts of the body of wild animals .
(iii) Save energy, recycle and reduce consumption .
(iv) Reduce pesticide and herbicide usage as these are extremely harmful to animals and their habitat .
(v) Contribute to conservation by education people .
(vi) Make a career in wild life conservation .
(vii) Lending a helping hand by volunteering for NGO’s .
27. Name any four biosphere reserves in India .
Ans: Nilgiri, Manas, Sunderbans, and Gulf of Mannar .
28. Name the four types of forests found in Goa .
Ans: There are mainly four types of forests found in Goa are :
1) Evergreen and Semi evergreen forests .
2) Moist Deciduous forests .
3) Scrubs and Thorny forests .
4) Littoral vegetation .
29. Write three sentences each on:
(i) Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen forests .
(ii) Moist deciduous .
(iii) Scrub and Thorny forests .
(iv) Littoral vegetation .
Ans:
(i) Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen Forests: This type of forests are mainly found in Sanguem, Sattari and Canacona taluka . Most of the trees are tall and evergreen throughout the year. Forests are very thickly populated and the trees found are shisham, jamun, bamboo and pine trees .
(ii) Moist Deciduous : This forests are found on plateaus as well as in some areas of the west of western ghats. The forests are mainly found in Ponda, Bicholim, Quepem, Pernem and Canacona taluka. Teak, Sal, Cashew, Mango, Jackfruits are the main trees .
(iii) Scrub and Thorny Forests: It is found in plateau areas of western talukas. Due to deforestation carried on a large scale, the areas have become barren and is not suitable for cultivation. Only scrub and thorny vegetation is found. Tiswadi, Salcete and Mormugao talukas have such kind of forests .
(iv) Littoral Vegetation: This type of vegetation is found along coastal areas and river valleys close to river mouth. Today the natural littoral vegetation has been converted to man-made vegetation by planting coconuts and other trees. Mormugao, Salcete, Ponda and Tiswadi taluka has such kind of vegetation. The Mangrove trees are the main littoral vegetation .
Fill in the Blanks :
1. Vegetation is referred to as flora and animal life is referred to as fauna .
2. India is the seventh largest country and accounts for 2.4% of total area of the world .
3. Wet marshy type of soil supports mangrove vegetation .
4. Precipitation in India is received mainly from the south-west monsoons during June to September .
5. The Tropical Deciduous forests are also known as monsoon forests .
6. The three common trees found in both Dry and Wet Deciduous forests are teak, sal, and neem .7. Mangroves are the common variety of plants found in tidal forests .
8. Desert–Thar region includes area of Kutch, Guajrat and Thar Rajasthan .
9. Western Ghats region includes western coastal plains mountains of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala .
10. Indian islands includes Andaman,Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands .
11. The species in the Indian islands that are endemic are Andaman serpent and Nicobar imperial pigeon .
12. 90% of the total forests in Goa are found in Sattari,Sanguem and Canocona taluka .
13. Indian bison (Gaur) is the Goa state animal and Ruby Throated Yellow Bulbul is the Goa state bird .