Study Material
GEOGRAPHY CLASS IX CHAPTER - 5
NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE
Important Point
Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
Natural Vegetation: The naturally growing plant cover; without human aid; is called
natural vegetation. The vegetation which has been left undisturbed by humans for a
long time is called virgin vegetation.
Flora: Plant species of a particular region or period are called flora.
Fauna: The animal species of a particular region or period are called fauna.
Factors which affect the diversity of flora and fauna:
RELIEF:
Land: Land directly and indirectly affects the natural vegetation. Nature of land
influences the type of vegetation. If the land is level and fertile, it is mainly used for
farming. If the land is uneven then grassland and woodlands develop over it.
Soil: Different types of soil are fit for different types of vegetation. For example; sandy
soil is fit for cactus and thorny bushes, while wet and marshy soil is fit for mangrove
vegetation.
CLIMATE
Temperature and Humidity: Temperature and humidity are the main factors which
determine the character and extent of vegetation. An area with high temperature and
high humidity supports evergreen forest, while an area with high temperature and low
humidity supports thorny bushes.
Photoperiod (Sunlight): The duration of sunlight is called photoperiod. Photoperiod
depends on latitude, altitude, season and duration of the day. Trees grow faster in
summer because of longer photoperiod.
Precipitation: If an area gets heavy rainfall, it is suitable for the growth of dense
vegetation. On the other hand, an area with scanty rainfall is suitable for thorny bushes.
, Ecosystem: All the plants and animals in an area are interdependent on each other. The
plants and animals; alongwith their physical environment make the ecosystem. A very
large ecosystem is called a biome. Biomes are identified on the basis of plants.
TYPES OF VEGETATION
There are five major types of vegetation in India: Tropical Rainforests, Tropical
Deciduous Forests, Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs, Montane Forests and
Mangrove Forests.
Tropical Rain Forests
The tropical rainforests are confined to areas of heavy rainfall. Such areas are in
the Western Ghats, upper parts of Assam, Tamil Nadu coast and the island
groups of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar.
Areas which receive more 200 cm of rainfall and have a short dry season are the
best area for tropical rainforest. Almost all kinds of vegetation; like trees, shrubs
and creepers; are found in such a forest. The forest has a multilayered structure.
Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona are some of the commercially
important trees of tropical rainforests.
Elephants, monkey, lemur and deer are the common animals in these forests.
Apart from them, a large number of birds, bats, sloth, scorpions and snails are
also found in tropical rainforests.
Tropical Deciduous Forests
Tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread forests of India. They are spread in
those regions which get rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm. They are also called the
monsoon forests. The trees of tropical deciduous rainforests shed their leaves during
summer.
These forests can be divided into two types on the basis of availability of water.
(a) Moist Deciduous Forest: The moist deciduous forests are found in areas which
receive rainfall between 200 cm and 100 cm. Such forests are found mainly in the
eastern part of India; like northeastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas,
Jharkhand, West Orissa and Chhattisgarh. They are also found on the eastern slopes of
the Western Ghats.
(b)Dry Deciduous Forest: The dry deciduous forests are found in those regions which
receive rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm. Such forests are found in the rainier parts
of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Teak, bamboo, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, mulberry are some of
the commercially important trees in these forests. Lion, tiger, pig, deer and elephant are
GEOGRAPHY CLASS IX CHAPTER - 5
NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE
Important Point
Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
Natural Vegetation: The naturally growing plant cover; without human aid; is called
natural vegetation. The vegetation which has been left undisturbed by humans for a
long time is called virgin vegetation.
Flora: Plant species of a particular region or period are called flora.
Fauna: The animal species of a particular region or period are called fauna.
Factors which affect the diversity of flora and fauna:
RELIEF:
Land: Land directly and indirectly affects the natural vegetation. Nature of land
influences the type of vegetation. If the land is level and fertile, it is mainly used for
farming. If the land is uneven then grassland and woodlands develop over it.
Soil: Different types of soil are fit for different types of vegetation. For example; sandy
soil is fit for cactus and thorny bushes, while wet and marshy soil is fit for mangrove
vegetation.
CLIMATE
Temperature and Humidity: Temperature and humidity are the main factors which
determine the character and extent of vegetation. An area with high temperature and
high humidity supports evergreen forest, while an area with high temperature and low
humidity supports thorny bushes.
Photoperiod (Sunlight): The duration of sunlight is called photoperiod. Photoperiod
depends on latitude, altitude, season and duration of the day. Trees grow faster in
summer because of longer photoperiod.
Precipitation: If an area gets heavy rainfall, it is suitable for the growth of dense
vegetation. On the other hand, an area with scanty rainfall is suitable for thorny bushes.
, Ecosystem: All the plants and animals in an area are interdependent on each other. The
plants and animals; alongwith their physical environment make the ecosystem. A very
large ecosystem is called a biome. Biomes are identified on the basis of plants.
TYPES OF VEGETATION
There are five major types of vegetation in India: Tropical Rainforests, Tropical
Deciduous Forests, Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs, Montane Forests and
Mangrove Forests.
Tropical Rain Forests
The tropical rainforests are confined to areas of heavy rainfall. Such areas are in
the Western Ghats, upper parts of Assam, Tamil Nadu coast and the island
groups of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar.
Areas which receive more 200 cm of rainfall and have a short dry season are the
best area for tropical rainforest. Almost all kinds of vegetation; like trees, shrubs
and creepers; are found in such a forest. The forest has a multilayered structure.
Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona are some of the commercially
important trees of tropical rainforests.
Elephants, monkey, lemur and deer are the common animals in these forests.
Apart from them, a large number of birds, bats, sloth, scorpions and snails are
also found in tropical rainforests.
Tropical Deciduous Forests
Tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread forests of India. They are spread in
those regions which get rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm. They are also called the
monsoon forests. The trees of tropical deciduous rainforests shed their leaves during
summer.
These forests can be divided into two types on the basis of availability of water.
(a) Moist Deciduous Forest: The moist deciduous forests are found in areas which
receive rainfall between 200 cm and 100 cm. Such forests are found mainly in the
eastern part of India; like northeastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas,
Jharkhand, West Orissa and Chhattisgarh. They are also found on the eastern slopes of
the Western Ghats.
(b)Dry Deciduous Forest: The dry deciduous forests are found in those regions which
receive rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm. Such forests are found in the rainier parts
of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Teak, bamboo, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, mulberry are some of
the commercially important trees in these forests. Lion, tiger, pig, deer and elephant are
