Understanding the concept of biomes and bio-geographic zones of India.
Exploring India’s vertebrates and invertebrates diversity.
Identifying India’s key floral groups and their significance.
Examining India’s diverse wildlife regions and their unique characteristics.
Comprehending the Wildlife Protection Act and its schedule lists.
Biomes of India
A biome refers to large groups of plants and animals in specific climates. It encompasses the interaction of vegetation, animals, and soil. India’s five primary biomes are:
Tropical Humid Forests: Areas with dense, moisture-rich vegetation and diverse animal life.
Tropical Dry or Deciduous Forests: Known as Monsoon Forests, they experience seasonal dryness.
Warm Deserts and Semi-Deserts: Characterized by sparse vegetation, adapted to arid conditions.
Coniferous Forests: Predominantly found in cooler, mountainous regions with evergreen trees.
Alpine Meadows: High-altitude grasslands with specialized flora and fauna.
Bio-Geographic Zones of India
India’s biogeography focuses on the geographic distribution of plants and animals. It is categorized into 10 distinct bio-geographic zones:
Trans-Himalayas: Extension of the Tibetan plateau; high-altitude cold desert regions like Ladakh.
Himalayas: Mountain range with diverse biotic provinces; occupies 7.2% of the landmass.
Desert: West of the Aravalli hill range; includes both the salty desert of Gujarat and Rajasthan’s sand desert.
Semi-Arid: Transition zone between the desert and Deccan plateau, covering 15.6% of the country.
Western Ghats: Diverse biomes along the western coastline south of the Tapti River.
Deccan Peninsula: Largest zone with deciduous vegetation; constitutes 4.3% of the landmass.
Gangetic Plain: Defined by the Ganges river system; relatively homogenous in terrain.
North-East India: Non-Himalayan hill ranges with diverse vegetation.
Islands: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, hosting a variety of biomes.
Coasts: Includes both western and eastern coastlines, featuring the Lakshadweep Islands.
Important Note: Phyto-geography studies plant origins, distributions, and environmental interactions, while zoogeography focuses on the migration and distribution of animals.
Bio-Geographic Provinces of India
India’s bio-geographic zones are subdivided into 25 bio-geographic provinces, a classification first established by Rodgers and Panwar in 1988. This division assists in wildlife protection planning.
India’s fauna is incredibly diverse, including both vertebrates and invertebrates.
Vertebrates
Fishes: Cold-blooded, live in water, breathe using gills, and have scales and fins.
Amphibians: Cold-blooded, live on land and water, possess webbed feet, breathe using lungs and gills.
Reptiles: Cold-blooded, have scales and dry skin, lay eggs, and possess ear holes.
Aves (Birds): Warm-blooded, have feathers and wings, lay eggs, and have ear holes instead of ears.
Mammals: Warm-blooded, have hair or fur, give birth to live young, and nurse them with milk.
Invertebrates
Annelids: Segmented bodies, no limbs, found in diverse environments.
Mollusks: Often have soft organs covered by hard shells; some live on land (e.g., snails) while others in water (e.g., oysters).
Echinoderms: Marine species with radiating arms or spines (e.g., sea stars).
Protozoa: Single-celled organisms; smallest of all animals (e.g., amoebas).
Arthropods: Have jointed limbs and an exoskeleton, includes crustaceans (e.g., crabs), insects, and arachnids.
Floral Diversity in India
India ranks tenth in the world for plant diversity and fourth in Asia, holding 11% of the world’s known floral species.
Key Floral Groups
Algae: Autotrophic plants, usually aquatic, with freshwater types appearing green/blue-green and marine types red/brown.
Fungi: Non-chlorophyllous, grow as saprophytes or parasites. Notable examples include molds and mushrooms.
Bacteria: Micro-organisms, often saprophytic, soil-borne, and used in industries.
Lichens: A symbiotic combination of algae and fungi; thrive on rocks and tree trunks.
Bryophytes: Non-rooted, moisture-loving plants like mosses and liverworts.
Pteridophytes: Well-differentiated plants with vascular bundles; include ferns and clubmosses.
Gymnosperms: Naked-seeded plants with simple flowers; mostly found in Himalayas.
Angiosperms: Closed-seeded plants; account for more than 7% of the world’s flowering plants.
Important Note: India’s floral endemism is highest in the peninsular region, Eastern Himalayas, North-Western Himalayas, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Wildlife of India
India’s wildlife is diverse due to varied climatic and geographical conditions:
Himalayan Mountain System
Himalayan Foothills: Dominated by monsoon evergreen forests.
Western Himalayas: Features alpine pastures mixed with birch forests.
Eastern Himalayas: Houses coniferous forests and unique epiphytes.
Peninsular Region
Peninsular India: Home to tropical moist deciduous forests; dominated by sal and teak trees.
Indian Desert: The Thar Desert showcases flora like thorny trees and succulents.
Tropical Rain Forest Region
Located in Western Ghats and North-East India, these forests contain dense and diverse flora, including orchids and ferns.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Tropical rain forests with species like Dipterocarpus and Lagerstroemia dominate these islands.
Mangrove Swamps of Sunderbans
A unique delta ecosystem with pioneering species such as Sonneratia and Avicennia.