GEO (VII)-LESSON-6
NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILD LIFE
(LESSON NOTES)
_____________________________________________________________
Ø Trees, grass, lichen, mosses, etc. that grow naturally without human interference constitute natural vegetation.
Ø The type and thickness of natural vegetation varies from place to place because of the variation in these factors: -
§ Temperature
§ Rainfall and Moisture
§ Thickness of soil
§ Slop
v CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL VEGETATION:-
Ø Natural vegetation can be categorised into three categories: -
§ Forest- Grow in high rainfall areas.
§ Grassland- Grows in moderate rainfall areas.
§ Thorny bushes- Grows in dry areas.
§ Tundra- Grows in snow fall areas.
v FORESTS
Ø Forests grow where temperature and rainfall are plentiful to support a tree cover. Forests may be dense and open.
v CLASSIFICATION OF FOREST
Ø Forests can be classified into these six types:
Ø Tropical Evergreen,
Ø Tropical Deciduous,
Ø Temperate Evergreen,
Ø Temperate Deciduous,
Ø Mediterranean Vegetation,
Ø Coniferous forests.
v Tropical
Evergreen Forests
Ø They are very dense and are found in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics.
Ø The trees in this forest don’t shed their leave altogether, so they appear green almost the years so known as evergreen forests. They also known as tropical rainforests.
Ø Hardwood trees such as rosewood, ebony, mahogany etc. are common here.
Ø Tropical rainforest of Brazil are so dense that they are called as lungs of the Earth. World largest snake, Anaconda found in these forest.
v Tropical Deciduous Forests
Ø These are also called as monsoon forests.
Ø They shed their leaves in the dry season to conserve water.
Ø They are found in the large part of India, Northern Australia and in Central America.
Ø Trees like sal, teak, neem and shisham are found here. They are used in making furniture.
Ø Tigers, lions, elephants, langoors and monkeys are the common animals of these regions.
v Temperate Evergreen Forests
Ø Temperate evergreen forests are commonly found along the eastern margin of the continents.
Ø In these forests both hard and softwood trees such as oak, pine, eucalyptus, etc. are found.
v Temperate Deciduous Forests
Ø Temperate deciduous forests are found in the north eastern part of USA, China, New Zealand and Chile.
Ø They shed their leaves in the dry season.
Ø Trees like oak, ash, beech etc. and animals like deer, foxes, wolves are common in these forests.
Ø Birds like pheasants, monals are also found here.
v Mediterranean Vegetation
Ø Mediterranean vegetation is mostly found in the areas around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Ø They also found outside the actual Mediterranean region in California in the USA, south west Africa, south western South America and South west Australia
Ø Mediterranean vegetation is mainly comprised of citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives and grapes. So, this region is known as ‘Orchards of the world.
Ø These forest regions have hot dry summers and mild rainy winters.
v Coniferous Forests
Ø Coniferous forests are also known as Taiga.
Ø These forests are found in the higher latitudes of Northern hemisphere.
Ø The trees are tall, softwood evergreen trees. Chir, pine, cedar is an important variety of trees in these forests. The woods of these trees are very useful for:-
§ For making pulp, which is used to manufacturing paper and newsprint.
§ For making Match boxes.
§ For making packing boxes.
Ø Animals such as silver fox, mink, polar bear are common here.
v GRASSLANDS
Ø Grasslands are found in the regions of moderate rainfall. They are of two types: -
v THORNY BUSHES
Ø Thorny bushes are found in west margin of continents or dry deserts.
Ø These are found in areas with scanty rain and scorching heat.
Ø Here the trees as acacia, palm, dates, babool, kikar etc.
v TUNDRA VEGETATION
Ø It is found in polar areas.
Ø Mosses, lichens and very small Shrubs are found in cold regions. This is called tundra type vegetation.
Ø The animals of this region have thick fur and long hair and thick skin to protect themselves from the cold climatic conditions.
Ø Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, polar bear are common here.
v OTHER FACTS
Ø Taiga: - It means pure or untouched in the Russian language.
Ø Rhododendrons: -These are tall trees with blooms of bright flowers on tall trees. These are found in higher altitude. It is the state flower of Uttarakhand.
Ø They are very dense and are found in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics.
Ø The trees in this forest don’t shed their leave altogether, so they appear green almost the years so known as evergreen forests. They also known as tropical rainforests.
Ø Hardwood trees such as rosewood, ebony, mahogany etc. are common here.
Ø Tropical rainforest of Brazil are so dense that they are called as lungs of the Earth. World largest snake, Anaconda found in these forest.
v Tropical Deciduous Forests
Ø These are also called as monsoon forests.
Ø They shed their leaves in the dry season to conserve water.
Ø They are found in the large part of India, Northern Australia and in Central America.
Ø Trees like sal, teak, neem and shisham are found here. They are used in making furniture.
Ø Tigers, lions, elephants, langoors and monkeys are the common animals of these regions.
v Temperate Evergreen Forests
Ø Temperate evergreen forests are commonly found along the eastern margin of the continents.
Ø In these forests both hard and softwood trees such as oak, pine, eucalyptus, etc. are found.
v Temperate Deciduous Forests
Ø Temperate deciduous forests are found in the north eastern part of USA, China, New Zealand and Chile.
Ø They shed their leaves in the dry season.
Ø Trees like oak, ash, beech etc. and animals like deer, foxes, wolves are common in these forests.
Ø Birds like pheasants, monals are also found here.
v Mediterranean Vegetation
Ø Mediterranean vegetation is mostly found in the areas around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Ø They also found outside the actual Mediterranean region in California in the USA, south west Africa, south western South America and South west Australia
Ø Mediterranean vegetation is mainly comprised of citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives and grapes. So, this region is known as ‘Orchards of the world.
Ø These forest regions have hot dry summers and mild rainy winters.
v Coniferous Forests
Ø Coniferous forests are also known as Taiga.
Ø These forests are found in the higher latitudes of Northern hemisphere.
Ø The trees are tall, softwood evergreen trees. Chir, pine, cedar is an important variety of trees in these forests. The woods of these trees are very useful for:-
§ For making pulp, which is used to manufacturing paper and newsprint.
§ For making Match boxes.
§ For making packing boxes.
Ø Animals such as silver fox, mink, polar bear are common here.
v GRASSLANDS
Ø Grasslands are found in the regions of moderate rainfall. They are of two types: -
Tropical
Grasslands | Temperate Grasslands |
It
occurs on either side of the equator and extend till the tropics. | Temperate
Grasslands are found in mid-latitudes. |
This grass can
grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in
height. | The grass is usually short and nutritious. |
Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards are common in tropical grasslands (Fig. | Wild buffaloes, bisons, antilopes are common in
the temperate region. |
East
Africa- Savanna Brazil-
Campos Venezuela-
Llanos | Argentina-
Pampas N.
America- Prairie S.
Africa- Veld C.
Asia- Steppe Australia-
Down |
v THORNY BUSHES
Ø Thorny bushes are found in west margin of continents or dry deserts.
Ø These are found in areas with scanty rain and scorching heat.
Ø Here the trees as acacia, palm, dates, babool, kikar etc.
v TUNDRA VEGETATION
Ø It is found in polar areas.
Ø Mosses, lichens and very small Shrubs are found in cold regions. This is called tundra type vegetation.
Ø The animals of this region have thick fur and long hair and thick skin to protect themselves from the cold climatic conditions.
Ø Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, polar bear are common here.
v OTHER FACTS
Ø Taiga: - It means pure or untouched in the Russian language.
Ø Rhododendrons: -These are tall trees with blooms of bright flowers on tall trees. These are found in higher altitude. It is the state flower of Uttarakhand.
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