Natural Vegetation and Wild Life

Q21. Why are the equatorial forest considered as the lungs of the earth?

Ans. The tropical evergreen forest in Brazil is so enormous that it is like the lungs of the earth.

Q22. Name some citrus fruits that are cultivated in Mediterranean region.

Ans. Citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives and grapes are commonly cultivated in Mediterranean region.

Q23. What are the animals found in the tropical deciduous forest?

Ans. Tigers, lions, elephants, langoors and monkeys are the common animals of these regions.

Q24. Which are the three broad categories of natural vegetation?

Ans. Natural vegetation is generally classified in to three broad categories as follows: Forests, Grasslands and Shrubs.

Q25. In which part of the world are tropical deciduous forest found?

Ans. Tropical deciduous forests are found in the large part of India, northern Australia and in Central America.

Q26. What animals live in the polar region?

Ans. Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, arctic owl, polar bear and snow foxes are some of the animals found in the polar region.

Q27. What are the two types of grasslands?

Ans. There are two main divisions of grasslands: (1) tropical grasslands, and (2) temperate grasslands.

Q28. What do you know about anaconda?

Ans. Anaconda, one of the world’s largest snakes is found in the tropical rainforest. It can kill and eat a large animal such as a crocodile.

Q29. Name some hardwood trees that are commonly found in tropical deciduous forest.

Ans. Hardwood trees that are commonly found in tropical deciduous forest are rosewood, ebony and mahogany.

Q30. What is special about Mediterranean trees?

Ans. Mediterranean trees adapt themselves to dry summers with the help of their thick barks and wax coated leaves which help them reduce transpiration.

Q31. Why the type and thickness of vegetation changes from place to place?

Ans. The type and thickness of natural vegetation varies from place to place because of the variation in factors such as temperature, moisture, slope and thickness of soil.

Q32. Why is Mediterranean climate suitable for growing a number of fruits especially citrus?

Ans.  Mediterranean climate is suitable for growing a number of fruits especially citrus because these regions are marked for hot dry summers and mild rainy winters.

Q33. How does altitude affect vegetation?

Ans. There is a close relationship between height of land and the character of vegetation. With the change in height, the climate changes and that changes natural vegetation.

Q34. What are the different names of grasslands?

Ans. Grasslands are called by different names in different parts of the world: - Savanna in East Africa, Campos in Brazil, Llanos in Venezuela, Pampas in Argentina, Prairie in N. America, Veld in S. Africa, Steppe in C. Asia and Down in Australia.

Q35. Mention the uses of coniferous forest.

Ans. Chir, pine, cedar are the important variety of trees in these forests. They are tall, softwood evergreen trees. The woods of these trees are very useful for making pulp, which is used for manufacturing paper and newsprint. Match boxes and packing boxes are also made from softwood.