Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

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Topics in the Chapter

Natural Vegetation
Forests
Grasslands
Thorny bushes
Polar region

Natural Vegetation

Natural Vegetation refers to the plant life of a region which grows naturally.
The type and thickness of natural vegetation varies from place to place because of the variation in climatic factors.
Natural Vegetation is classified into three broad categories:
- Forests: Which grow where temperature and rainfall are plentiful to support a tree cover.
- Grasslands: Which grow in the region of moderate rain.
- Shrubs: Thorny shrubs and scrubs grow in the dry region.
The changes in the type of natural vegetation occur mainly because of changes in climatic conditions.

Forests

Tropical Evergreen Forests

Also called tropical rainforests.
These thick forests occur in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics.
These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year.
As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether. Thus, they are called evergreen.
Common trees: Hardwood trees like rosewood, ebony, mahogany.

Tropical Deciduous Forests

These are monsoon forests found in the large part of India, northern Australia, and in Central America.
Trees shed their leaves in the dry season to conserve water.
Common trees: Hardwood trees like sal, teak, neem, and shisham.
Common Animals: Tigers, lions, elephants, langurs, and monkeys.
Importance of Hardwood trees:
→ Useful for making furniture, transport, and constructional materials.

Temperate Evergreen Forests

These forests are located in the mid-latitudinal coastal region.
Commonly found along the eastern margin of the continents, e.g., in the southeastern USA, South China, and southeastern Brazil.
Common trees: Both hard and softwood trees like oak, pine, eucalyptus, etc.

Temperate Deciduous Forests

These are present at higher latitudes.
These are found in the northeastern part of the USA, China, New Zealand, Chile, and also in the coastal regions of Western Europe.
They shed their leaves in the dry season.
Common trees: Oak, ash, beech, etc.
Common animals: Deer, foxes, wolves.
Birds like pheasants and monals are also found here.

Mediterranean Vegetation

These are present at the west and southwest margins of the continents.
Mostly found around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa, and Asia, which gives it its name.
Also found outside the Mediterranean region in California (USA), southwestern Africa, southwestern South America, and southwestern Australia.
These areas have hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
Common vegetation: Citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives, and grapes.
There isn’t much wildlife here.

Coniferous Forests

Found in higher latitudes (50°–70°) of the Northern Hemisphere.
Also called Taiga.
These forests are also seen in higher altitudes.
Common trees: Chir, pine, cedar.
Common animals: Silver fox, mink, polar bear.
Trees are tall, softwood evergreens.
→ The wood of these trees is useful for making pulp, used in manufacturing paper and newsprint.
→ Matchboxes and packing boxes are also made from softwood.

Grasslands

Tropical Grasslands

Occur on either side of the equator and extend till the tropics.
Grow in areas with moderate to low rainfall.
Grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 meters in height.
Example: Savannah grasslands of Africa.
Common animals: Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards.

Temperate Grasslands

Found in mid-latitudinal zones and the interior parts of continents.
Grass here is short and nutritious.
Common animals: Wild buffaloes, bison, antelopes.

Thorny Bushes

Found in dry, desert-like regions, mostly on western margins of continents.
Vegetation is scarce due to scanty rain and scorching heat.

Polar Region

This region is extremely cold.
Natural vegetation is very limited.
Only mosses, lichens, and very small shrubs grow during the short summer.
→ This is called Tundra vegetation.
Found in polar areas of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Animals have thick fur and skin to survive the cold.
Common animals: Seals, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owls, polar bears, and snow foxes.

MCQs

1. Forest is

(a) Extensive area covered with flower

(b) Extensive area covered with trees

(d) Extensive area covered with grass

► (b) Extensive area covered with trees

2. Tropical desert are found in ___ margins of the country

(a) Western

(b) Eastern

(d) Northern

► (a) Western

3. The place which is extremely cold. The growth of natural vegetation is very limited here. It grows during the very short summer. This is called

(a) Tundra

(b) Taiga

(d) Temperate grassland

► (a) Tundra

4. The animal in polar region have thick fur and thick skin

(a) To protect them from extreme rain

(b) To protect them from extreme cold

(d) To protect them from prey

► (b) To protect them from extreme cold

5. Natural vegetation is generally classified in to three broad categories as follows except

(a) Forests

(b) Grasslands

(d) Flora

► (d) Flora

6. Type and thickness of vegetation change from place to place

(a) Due to variation in temperature and moisture

(b) Due to variation in type of animals found

(d) Due to variation in soil

► (a) Due to variation in temperature and moisture

7. Plant community which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for long time is termed as:

(a) Tundra vegetation

(b) Virgin vegetation

(d) None of the above

► (b) Virgin vegetation

8. Citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives and grapes are commonly cultivated here

(a) Tropical deciduous forest

(b) Temperate evergreen forest

(d) Tropical evergreen forest

► (c) Mediterranean Region

9. Savannah grasslands of ___ are of tropical grassland

(a) America

(b) Australia

(d) Africa

► (d) Africa

10. Pampas grassland found in

(a) Argentina

(b) Brazil

(d) Australia

► (a) Argentina

11. Taiga means

(a) dry

(b) moist

(d) evergreen

► (c) pure or untouched

12. Which forest are called taiga

(a) Tropical deciduous forest

(b) Mediterranean Region

(d) Coniferous forest

► (d) Coniferous forest

13. Wild buffaloes, bisons, antilopes are common in the

(a) Deciduous grassland

(b) Temperate grassland

(d) Thorny bushes

► (b) Temperate grassland

14. Which forests are called tropical rainforests

(a) Temperate evergreen forest

(b) Temperate deciduous forest

(d) Tropical deciduous forest

► (c) Tropical evergreen forest

15. Mosses and lichens found in

(a) Temperate grassland

(b) Tundra vegetation

(d) Thorny bushes

► (b) Tundra vegetation

16. Oak, pine, eucalyptus trees found in

(a) Temperate evergreen forest

(b) Tropical deciduous forest

(d) Tropical evergreen forest

► (a) Temperate evergreen forest

17. Which of the following is tropical grassland?

(a) Taiga

(b) Savannah

(d) Prairies

► (b) Savannah

18. ______ is one of the world's largest snakes and is found in the tropical rainforest.

(a) Green ratsnake

(b) Copperhead snake

(d) Anaconda

► (d) Anaconda