Natural Vegetation Flashcards
Natural Vegetation
Plant community that has grown naturally in a particular area without human assistance and has survived over a long period of time so as to allow species to adapt to the climate and soil.
flora
plants of a particular region which is of the same/similar species and is considered as a group
vegetation
a group of plant species living in harmony with each other in a particular environment
forest
a large area of land covered with trees and undergrowth of herbs, shrubs, creepers etc. which is home to thousands of plant and animal species.
productive functions of forest
provide wood for furniture industrial work, fuel etc., materials for handicrafts, medicinal herbs, fruits, essential oils.
protective functions of forest.
thick layer of humus- abs. water, raise water table, prevent ground water evaporation.
roots hold on to soil- prevent soil erosion, loss of nutrients, landslides.
decay of litter- improves soil fertility.
regulatory function of forest
water cycle- abs. from soil, transpired into air- which brings rains, rain water abs. by soil.
Oxygen/CO2- takes up CO2 given by plants and animals for photosynthesis and gives out Oxygen as waste prod. of Photosynthesis- which is used by animals.
Accessory functions of forests
Habitat for wildlife
Aesthetics.
Re-creations as National Parks, Sanctuary etc.
Tropical evergreen forests- Climate/ Distribution
rainfall: >200cm
temp: 25 degrees to 27 degrees
Humidity: > 77%
- found in western ghats, Garo Khasi Jaintiya hills, T.N. coast, Lakshadweep and A/N islands.
Tropical evergreen forests- characteristics
dense forests, tall trees that form a dense canopy due to which sunlight an not reach forest floor, thick undergrowth of creepers and shrubs on forest floor that make the forest difficult to exploit, trees of same species are not clustered together and species do not have same time of flowering or shedding which makes the forest look green all year round.
Tropical evergreen forests- forest prod.
Mahogany, Ebony, Chapala, Rosewood
Moist Deciduous forests- climate/ distribution.
rainfall: 100-200 cm
temp: 24 degrees to 27 degrees
humidity: 50% - 80%
Distribution: West Maharashtra, Karnataka, T.N., NE region, foothills of Himalayas.
Moist Deciduous forests- characteristics.
trees of same species found in clusters, shed leaves for four to six weeks in the winter months, not very dense, most exploited forests.
Moist Deciduous forests- forest prod.
Mahua, Mulberry, Palas, teak, Sal, Semul, Sandalwood.
Dry Deciduous Forest- climate/distribution.
rainfall: 70-100 cm of rainfall.
temp: 23 degrees to 27 degrees
humidity: 51% - 58%
Distribution: rainy parts of deccan plateau, dry parts of UP and Bihar.
Dry Deciduous forest- characteristics.
transition to moist deciduous in east and thorn forest in west.
stretches of teak with patches of grasslands
when leaves are shed- vast grasslands with naked trees.
Dry Deciduous forest- forest prod
teak, sal, axel wood, rosewood
fruits
mostly cleared up for agriculture.
Thorn Forest- climate/distribution
rainfall: < 50 cm
temp: 25 degrees to 27 degrees
humidity: < 47%
distribution: SW Punjab, Central and East Rajasthan, UP, Chhattisgarh, MP, some parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh.
Thorn Forest- Characteristics
xerophytes, stunted trees and patches of coarse grass.
Babool: long tap roots
Acacia: symbiotic relation with ants- live in thorns and attack animals that come to eat the plant.
What are xerophytes?
trees that have adapted themselves to survive in drought like situations.
Thorn Forest- forest prod.
acacia, khair, ber: fruit, pickle, beverage babool: bark gum medicinal value date palm: astringent, cough syrup neem: cosmetics, soaps, medicinal value.
What are Tidal Forests?
wetlands formed between terrestrial and aquatic systems where water table is high.
Tidal Forest- climate/distribution
rainfall: >200cm
temperature: 26 degrees to 27 degrees
distribution: marshy area, swamp, river delta
Ganga- Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna deltas
W.B., Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, A.N. islands.
Tidal Forest- Characteristics
mangrove trees have stilt roots and Pneumatophores, wet shifting soil.
stilt roots
roots that wind around each other to allow mangroves to survive in shifting soil.
pneumatophores
vertically rise above ground to absorb Oxygen.
Tidal Forest- forest prod.
mangrove trees: fuel
Sundari trees: construction purpose
amur, palm, screw pine, cane, rhizophora
Mountain Forest- other names
Anaimalai, Palani, Sholas(Nilgiris)
Mountain Forest- climate/ distribution
rainfall: 100-300 cm
temp: 12 degrees - 13 degrees
humidity: 56% to 65%
Himalayan zone, Vindhyas, Nilgiris, Western Ghats
Mountain Forest- characteristics(variation in vegetation)
evergreen broad leafed trees, coniferous trees, shrubs, creepers, ferns, lichens, moss 1000 - 2000 - moist deciduous forest 1500 - 1750 - coniferous trees- chirr, pine 2250 - 3000 - pine, spurce > 3000 - alpine grass near snow line- lichens, mosses beyond snowline- no vegetation. W.B. and Uttarakhand - chestnut, oak
Mountain Forest - forest prod.
magnolia, cinchona, plum, wattle
Causes of deforestation
Population growth- forests converted to cultivated areas
Dairy farming and Cattle rearing - forests converted to pastures
overgrazing - degradation of soil fertility.
Dams - cause flooding - destruction of forested riverbanks.
Effects of deforestation
1.no forest cover leads to soil erosion due to which the load of rivers increases as the soil gets accumulated in the river.
There will be lass water to drink, may cause floods
2.Precipitation/Rainfall will reduce.
3.CO2 cycle will be disturbed- increase in amount of CO2 will cause global warming
Conservative measures to protect remaining forests
Afforestation Re- afforestation Planting trees around factories making forest corridors. use of hydro electricity, solar power, wind energy- instead of fuelwood
What is afforestation ?
planting trees on barren land/ badlands
What is re-afforestation ?
plating trees on degraded/ uncultivated land.
What is a forest corridor ?
cleared corridor between 2 reserved forests.
What is the function of a forest corridor ?
allows dispersal and migration of animal species
what are the aims for Social forestry?
- satisfy needs, wants and aspirations of people and government
- Fulfill recreational needs of people.
- to build a socio-economic system that allows for joint managements of forests and its products.
- all-round rural development.
- to provide fuel wood, fodder and other forest products to locals without causing excessive harm to forests
How does social forestry plan to achieve its aims?
- restoration, reallocation, and reorganization of existing forests in India.
- by efficient conservation of soil and water
How does social forestry help in all round development of rural areas.
- develop cottage industries by providing raw materials.
2. increase employment opportunities of people in rural areas.
How is dung used in social forestry?
dung is used as manure to increase agricultural produce.
What is Agro-forestry?
system of managing a piece of land through combined production of agricultural and forest crops.
Intermediate stage between agriculture and forestry.
What are the aims of Agro-forestry?
- efficient land use in accordance to socio-cultural practices of locals
- conserve and improve land so as to get combined output of agricultural and forest products.
- make best use of available land, livestock and man power.
How does agro-forestry help forests?
1.reduces load on natural forests for the obtaining of forest products.
How does agro-forestry increase land quality?
- checks soil erosion, maintain fertility of soil.
2. maintains ecological balance and effective utilization of farms.
