Natural Vegetation and Wild Life

Q36. What are the special features of tropical evergreen forests?

Ans. Special features of tropical evergreen forests are:

                          i.        These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year.

                         ii.        As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether. This is the reason they are called evergreen.

                        iii.        The thick canopies of the closely spaced trees do not allow the sunlight to penetrate inside the forest even in the day time.

                        iv.        Hardwood trees like rosewood, ebony and mahogany are common here.

Q37. What are the characteristics of tropical grasslands?

Ans. Characteristics of tropical grasslands

                        i.        These occur on either side of the equator and extend till the tropics.

                        ii.        This vegetation grows in the areas of moderate to low amount of rainfall.  The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height.

                       iii.        Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type.

                       iv.        Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards are common in tropical grasslands.

Q38. What type of vegetation and wildlife are found in the Polar Regions?

Ans. Polar regions are extremely cold. The growth of natural vegetation is very limited here. Only mosses, lichens and very small shrubs are found here. It grows during the very short summer. This is called Tundra type of vegetation. This vegetation is found in the polar areas of Europe, Asia and North America. The animals have thick fur and thick skin to protect themselves from the cold climatic conditions. Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, Polar bear and snow foxes are some of the animals found here.

Q39. Describe the different types of grasslands.

Ans. Different types of grasslands are:

Tropical grasslands: These occur on either side of the equator and extend till the tropics. This vegetation grows in the areas of moderate to low amount of rainfall. The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height. Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type. Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards are common in tropical grasslands.

Temperate grasslands: These are found in the mid latitudinal zones and in the interior part of the continents. Usually, grass here is short and nutritious. Wild buffaloes, bisons, antilopes are common in the temperate region.

Thorny bushes: These are found in the dry desert like regions. Tropical deserts are located on the western margins of the continents. The vegetation cover is scarce here because of scanty rain and scorching heat. Only mosses, lichens and very small shrubs are found here. It grows during the very short summer. This is called Tundra type of vegetation. This vegetation is found in the polar areas of Europe, Asia and North America. The animals have thick fur and thick skin to protect themselves from the cold climatic conditions. Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, Polar bear and snow foxes are some of the animals found here.

Q40. Discuss the different types of forests.

Ans. Different types of forests found in India are:

Tropical Evergreen Forests - These forests are 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.

Tropical Deciduous Forests - Tropical deciduous are the monsoon forests found in the large part of India, northern Australia and in Central America. These regions experience seasonal changes. Trees shed their leaves in the dry season to conserve water.

Temperate Evergreen Forests - The temperate evergreen forests are located in the mid latitudinal coastal region. They are commonly found along the eastern margin of the continents, e.g., In south east USA, South China and in South East Brazil. They comprise both hard and soft wood trees.

Temperate Deciduous Forests - These are found in the north eastern part of USA, China, New Zealand, Chile and also found in the coastal regions of Western Europe. They shed their leaves in the dry season.

Mediterranean Vegetation - It is mostly found in the areas around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. These regions are marked for hot dry summers and mild rainy winters. Citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives and grapes are commonly cultivated here.

Coniferous Forests - In the higher latitudes (50° – 70°) of Northern hemisphere the spectacular Coniferous forests are found. These are also called as Taiga. They are tall, softwood evergreen trees.