NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:

(i) To which one of the following types of vegetation does rubber belong to?

(a) Tundra

(b) Tidal

(c) Himalayan

(d) Tropical Evergreen

Answer: (d) Tropical Evergreen

(ii) Cinchona trees are found in the areas of rainfall more than

(a) 100 cm

(c) 70 cm

(d) less than 50 cm

Answer: (a) 100 cm

(iii) In which of the following state is the Simlipal bio-reserve located?

(a) Punjab

(b) Delhi

(c) Odisha

(d) West Bengal

Answer: (c) Odisha

(iv) Which one of the following bio-reserves of India is not included in the world network of bioreserve?

(a) Manas

(b) Nilgiri

(c) Gulf of Mannar

(d) Nanda Devi

Answer: (a) Manas

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) Define an ecosystem.

Answer: An ecosystem is the biological community (producers, consumers, and decomposers) of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

(ii) What factors are responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India?

Answer: The factors responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India are relief (land and soil) and climate (temperature, sunlight and precipitation).

(iii) What is a bio-reserve? Give two examples.

Answer: Biosphere Reserves are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal (marine) ecosystems. It is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest. For example, Sunderban and Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserves.

(iv) Name two animals having habitat in tropical and montane type of vegetation.

Ans. Elephant and gorilla have their habitat in tropical type of vegetation where as Kashmir stags and yak are found in montane type of vegetation.

3. Distinguish between (i) Flora and Fauna Answer:

(ii) Tropical Evergreen and Deciduous forests

Answer:

Answer: The major types of vegetation found in India are:

 (i) Tropical Evergreen Forests

(ii) Tropical Deciduous Forests

(iii) Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs

(iv) Montane Forests

(v) Mangrove Forests

i.   The wet temperate type of forests is found between a height of 1000 and 2000 metres. They have evergreen broad-leaf trees such as oaks and chestnuts predominately.

ii.   Temperate forests containing coniferous trees like pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar are found between 1500 and 3000 metres.

iii.   These forests cover mostly the southern slopes of the Himalayas, places having high altitude in southern and north-east India.

iv.   Temperate grasslands are common at higher elevations.

v.   The Alpine vegetation is generally found at the altitudes more than 3,600 metres above sea-level.

vi.   Silver fir, junipers, pines and birches are the common trees of these forests.

vii.   These grasslands are used extensively for grazing by nomadic tribes like the Gujjars and the Bakarwals.

viii.   At higher altitudes, mosses and lichens form part of tundra vegetation.

5. Quite a few species of plants and animals are endangered in India. Why?

Answer: Excessive exploitation of the plants and animal resources by human beings has disturbed the ecosystem. About 1,300 plant species are endangered and 20 species are extinct. The main causes for this major threat to nature are

i.   Hunting of animals for commercial purposes

ii.   Pollution due to chemical and industrial waste, acid deposits

iii.   Introduction of alien species

iv.   Reckless cutting of the forests to bring land under cultivation and inhabitation are also responsible for the imbalance

6. Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?

Answer: India is rich in its fauna. It is because India has variety of relief features, soils and climatic conditions. It influences the flora and fauna of the place. It has approximately 90,000 animal species. The country has about 2,000 species of birds. They constitute 13% of the world’s total. There are 2,546 species of fish, which account for nearly 12% of the world’s stock. It also shares between 5 and 8 per cent of the world’s amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Map Skills

On an outline map of India, label the following.

(i) Areas of Evergreen Forests

(ii) Areas of Dry Deciduous Forests

(iii) Two national parks each in Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western parts of the Country

Answer :