Natural Vegetation Flashcards

1
Q

Natural Vegetation

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

flora

A

plants of a particular region which is of the same/similar species and is considered as a group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

vegetation

A

a group of plant species living in harmony with each other in a particular environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

forest

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

productive functions of forest

A

provide wood for furniture industrial work, fuel etc., materials for handicrafts, medicinal herbs, fruits, essential oils.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

protective functions of forest.

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

regulatory function of forest

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Accessory functions of forests

A

Habitat for wildlife
Aesthetics.
Re-creations as National Parks, Sanctuary etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Tropical evergreen forests- Climate/ Distribution

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Tropical evergreen forests- characteristics

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Tropical evergreen forests- forest prod.

A

Mahogany, Ebony, Chapala, Rosewood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Moist Deciduous forests- climate/ distribution.

A

rainfall: 100-200 cm
temp: 24 degrees to 27 degrees
humidity: 50% - 80%
Distribution: West Maharashtra, Karnataka, T.N., NE region, foothills of Himalayas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Moist Deciduous forests- characteristics.

A

trees of same species found in clusters, shed leaves for four to six weeks in the winter months, not very dense, most exploited forests.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Moist Deciduous forests- forest prod.

A

Mahua, Mulberry, Palas, teak, Sal, Semul, Sandalwood.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Dry Deciduous Forest- climate/distribution.

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Dry Deciduous forest- characteristics.

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Dry Deciduous forest- forest prod

A

teak, sal, axel wood, rosewood
fruits
mostly cleared up for agriculture.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Thorn Forest- climate/distribution

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Thorn Forest- Characteristics

A

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.

20
Q

What are xerophytes?

A

trees that have adapted themselves to survive in drought like situations.

21
Q

Thorn Forest- forest prod.

A
acacia, khair,
ber: fruit, pickle, beverage
babool: bark gum medicinal value
date palm: astringent, cough syrup
neem: cosmetics, soaps, medicinal value.
22
Q

What are Tidal Forests?

A

wetlands formed between terrestrial and aquatic systems where water table is high.

23
Q

Tidal Forest- climate/distribution

A

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.

24
Q

Tidal Forest- Characteristics

A

mangrove trees have stilt roots and Pneumatophores, wet shifting soil.

25
Q

stilt roots

A

roots that wind around each other to allow mangroves to survive in shifting soil.

26
Q

pneumatophores

A

vertically rise above ground to absorb Oxygen.

27
Q

Tidal Forest- forest prod.

A

mangrove trees: fuel
Sundari trees: construction purpose
amur, palm, screw pine, cane, rhizophora

28
Q

Mountain Forest- other names

A

Anaimalai, Palani, Sholas(Nilgiris)

29
Q

Mountain Forest- climate/ distribution

A

rainfall: 100-300 cm
temp: 12 degrees - 13 degrees
humidity: 56% to 65%
Himalayan zone, Vindhyas, Nilgiris, Western Ghats

30
Q

Mountain Forest- characteristics(variation in vegetation)

A
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
31
Q

Mountain Forest - forest prod.

A

magnolia, cinchona, plum, wattle

32
Q

Causes of deforestation

A

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.

33
Q

Effects of deforestation

A

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

34
Q

Conservative measures to protect remaining forests

A
Afforestation
Re- afforestation
Planting trees around factories
making forest corridors.
use of hydro electricity, solar power, wind energy- instead of fuelwood
35
Q

What is afforestation ?

A

planting trees on barren land/ badlands

36
Q

What is re-afforestation ?

A

plating trees on degraded/ uncultivated land.

37
Q

What is a forest corridor ?

A

cleared corridor between 2 reserved forests.

38
Q

What is the function of a forest corridor ?

A

allows dispersal and migration of animal species

39
Q

what are the aims for Social forestry?

A
  1. satisfy needs, wants and aspirations of people and government
  2. Fulfill recreational needs of people.
  3. to build a socio-economic system that allows for joint managements of forests and its products.
  4. all-round rural development.
  5. to provide fuel wood, fodder and other forest products to locals without causing excessive harm to forests
40
Q

How does social forestry plan to achieve its aims?

A
  1. restoration, reallocation, and reorganization of existing forests in India.
  2. by efficient conservation of soil and water
41
Q

How does social forestry help in all round development of rural areas.

A
  1. develop cottage industries by providing raw materials.

2. increase employment opportunities of people in rural areas.

42
Q

How is dung used in social forestry?

A

dung is used as manure to increase agricultural produce.

43
Q

What is Agro-forestry?

A

system of managing a piece of land through combined production of agricultural and forest crops.
Intermediate stage between agriculture and forestry.

44
Q

What are the aims of Agro-forestry?

A
  1. efficient land use in accordance to socio-cultural practices of locals
  2. conserve and improve land so as to get combined output of agricultural and forest products.
  3. make best use of available land, livestock and man power.
45
Q

How does agro-forestry help forests?

A

1.reduces load on natural forests for the obtaining of forest products.

46
Q

How does agro-forestry increase land quality?

A
  1. checks soil erosion, maintain fertility of soil.

2. maintains ecological balance and effective utilization of farms.