Chapter 5 - Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
Q 1. On the basis of the information given in the chapter, figures and maps, complete the table below:
| Sr.no. | Type of Forest | Characteristics | Regions in India | Regions in Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tropical Forests | 1. Broad-leaved evergreen trees | ||
2. | Semi arid thorny vegetation | 1. | ||
3. | Savannah | 1. Scanty bushes and shrub-like trees and rain-resistant grass | ||
4. | Tropical semi-deciduous | 1. Mixed type of vegetation | ||
5. | Grasslands | 1. Grassland region like the Pampas of Argentina |
Ans:
| Sr.no. | Type of Forest | Characteristics | Regions in India | Regions in Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tropical Forests | Broad-leaved evergreen trees | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats. Some parts of North East India. | Amazon Basin, Guyana Highlands. |
2. | Semi arid thorny vegetation | 1. Thorny and shrub type vegetation. | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. | North-Eastern part of Brazil. |
3. | Savannah | Scanty bushes and shrub-like trees and rain-resistant grass | Most of the plateau of peninsula India. | Brazilian Highland. |
4. | Tropical semi-deciduous | Mixed type of vegetation | Central India and South India. | Parana Basin and South Eastern part of Brazil. |
5. | Grasslands | Grassland region like the Pampas of Argentina | Foothills of Shiwalik hills and Assam. | Southern Brazil. |
Q 2. Identify the odd man out
(1) Forest type of Brazil –
(a) thorny bush type vegetation
(b) evergreen forests
(c) the Himalayan Forests
(d) Deciduous forests
Ans: (c) the Himalayan Forests
(2) With reference to India –
(a) Mangrove forests
(b) Mediterranean forests
(c) Thorny bush-type vegetation
(d) equatorial forests
Ans: (b) Mediterranean forests
(3) With reference to fauna of Brazil –
(a) Anaconda
(b) Tamairin
(c) Macaw
(d) Lion
Ans: (d) Lion
(4) With reference to flora of India –
(a) Deodar
(b) Anjan
(c) Orchid
(d) Banyan
Ans: (c) Orchid
Q 3. Match the columns :
| (A) | (B) |
|---|---|
(a) Evergreen Forests | (i) Sundar trees |
(b) Deciduous Forests | (ii) Pine |
(c) Coastal Forests | (iii) Pau Brasil |
(d) Himalayan Forests | (iv) Khejadi |
(e) Thorny and bush-type vegetation | (v) Teak |
(vi) Orchid | |
(vii) Sal |
Ans:
| (A) | (B) |
|---|---|
(a) Evergreen Forests | (iii) Pau Brasil |
(b) Deciduous Forests | (v) Teak |
(c) Coastal Forests | (i) Sundar trees |
(d) Himalayan Forests | (ii) Pine |
(e) Thorny and bush-type vegetation | (iv) Khejadi |
Q 4. Answer in short:
(a) Differentiate between the forest types of Brazil and India.
Ans:
| Forest type of Brazil | Forest type of India |
|---|---|
(i) Brazil is extensively covered by Equatorial Rainforest due to the equatorial climate, ample sunlight and heavy rainfall. | (i) India is extensively covered by Deciduous forest as a major portion of India receives rainfall between 1000- 2000 mm. |
(ii) As there are no tall and long extending mountains in Brazil, Himalayan type forests are not found here. | (ii) Owing to the presence of Himalayas, Himalayan type forests are found in North and North-East of India that are classified on the basis of attitude. |
(iii) Pantanal which is one of the largest wetlands in the world is also referred to as a Swampy Land which is located in the South Western part of Brazil. | (iii) Coastal forests are also called as Sunderbans in India. It is mainly found along the Eastern Coast of India. |
(iv) Thorny shrubs are found in the North Western part of Brazil which is also considered to be a Drought Quadrilateral. | (iv) Thorny shrubs are found in India receiving less than 500 mm of rainfall. It is majorly found in Gujarat, Rajasthan, rain shadow region of Western Ghats etc. |
(b) Correlate wildlife and natural vegetation in India and Brazil.
Ans:
(i) Wildlife in any area depends upon the natural vegetation found in that region. Hence, the habitat of every animal is unique.
(ii) Marshy areas are a favourable habitat for huge anacondas, crocodiles, and alligators. Hence, these animals are found extensively in the swampy lands of Pantanal and Equatorial Rainforests.
(iii) Savanna (Tropical Grasslands) is a favoured site for millions of insect varieties. Hence different birds that thrive upon these insects for food are found here.
(iv) Elephants thrive in the hot and humid forests. One-horned rhinoceroses are found in the swampy and marshy lands of Assam.
(v) Also, turtles, crocodiles, gavials (gharials) are found in the rivers, estuaries and coastal areas.
(c) What environmental issues are faced by Brazil and India?
Ans:
(i) Degradation of the environment is happening in Brazil due to illegal smuggling of wild animals, slash and burn agriculture (Roka), deforestation, pollution etc.
(ii) Due to these problems, many endemic species are on the verge of extinction.
(iii) India too faces environmental issues such as poaching, pollution and the fast spreading deforestation.
(iv) Many species of wildlife are on the verge of extinction in India.
(d) What are the major causes of degradation of forest in Brazil and India?
Ans:
(i) Forests are being cut down as more area is required to expand the cities. Hence rapid urbanisation is one of the reasons for degradation of forests.
(ii) To ensure continuous food supply to meet the needs of the ever increasing population, more and more areas need to be brought under agriculture. For the expansion of agricultural land, forest areas are being cut down.
(iii) In both India and Brazil, forests are being cut down for firewood and for other domestic needs.
(iv) Slash and Burn agriculture which is also called Roka in Brazil and Jhum in India is responsible for deforestation.
(v) Apart from all the above reasons, forest fire, pollution, overgrazing etc. is also responsible for degradation of forests.
(e) Why does the deciduous type of vegetation occupy most of India?
Ans:
(i) Vegetation in a region is affected by the climate and rainfall of the region.
(ii) India lies in the tropical zone and it has a monsoon type climate.
(iii) India experiences that climate throughout the year and also a major portion of India receives rainfall between 1000-2000 mm. This rainfall is seasonal in nature.
(iv) Thus, deciduous forests thrive well in this condition. Deciduous forests shed their leaves during summer so that water is not lost due to evaporation.
(v) Teak, Bamboo, Banyan, Peepal etc. are the trees found in deciduous forest of India.
Q 5. Give geographical reasons
(a) The northern part of Brazil is covered by dense forests.
Ans:
(i) The northern part of Brazil is the equatorial region.
(ii) In most parts of the equatorial region, it rains throughout the year. The region receives convectional type of rainfall.
(iii) In regions which receive rainfall throughout the year, the vegetation is dense.
(iv) Hence, the northern part of Brazil is covered with dense forests.
(b) Vegetation is scarce in the high altitudes of Himalayas.
Ans:
(i) As the altitude increases, the temperature decreases.
(ii) The climate is very cold in the high altitudes. In Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Himalayas, temperature drops to -40°C.
(iii) Very few species of plants can survive in such extreme conditions. Only seasonally flowering trees are found at higher altitudes.
(iv) Hence, vegetation is scarce in the high altitude of the Himalayas.
(c) A wide variety of species of insects is found in Brazil.
Ans:
(i) Evergreen forests are found in Brazil.
(ii) A greater diversity in wildlife is found in Brazil compared to any other country in the world.
(iii) Due to heavy rainfall and swampy regions, it serves as a favourable ground for insects to breed.
(iv) Hence, millions of insect varieties are found in Brazil.
(d) Wildlife in India is decreasing day by day.
Ans:
(1) Wildlife in India is decreasing day by day because of poaching, pollution and rapidly occurring deforestation.
(ii) Expansion of cities to accommodate the growing population is leading to cutting down of the valuable forests which leads to the loss of habitat of wildlife.
(iii) Also the problem of pollution has become severe due to urbanisation. Various types of pollution have threatened the lives of many of the species.
(iv) Smuggling of wild animals, poaching endangered species etc. have also led to loss of wildlife in India.
(e) Like India, there is need of conservation of forests in Brazil too.
Ans:
(i) Wildlife in both India and Brazil are decreasing due to illegal smuggling of wild animals, slash and burn agriculture (roka), deforestation, pollution etc.
(ii) Various types of pollution in both the countries have threatened the lives of many of the species. It is important to conserve biodiversity for everyone’s benefit and for the benefit of future generations.
(iii) Hence there is a need for conservation of forests in both Brazil and India.