Question.
What factors are responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India?
( Chapter - 5 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife, Cass 9 NCERT Contemporary India -I )
Answer.
India has a huge diversity of plants and animals, which is why our country is one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world.
The distribution of plants and animals in India is determined by three factors which are as follows.
- Relief (Land and Soil)
- Climate (temperature, photoperiod, and precipitation)
- Human factors (erosion, mining, deforestation, urbanization, agriculture)
Role of land in the distribution of plants and animals in India:
Land, directly and indirectly, affects plant and animal communities. The nature of the land affects the growth of natural vegetation, with flat land usually devoted to agriculture. Plateaus and mountainous regions are usually devoted to grasslands and forests, and this provides a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.
Role of soil in the distribution of plants and animals in India:
The different types of soil provide the basis for a variety of vegetation and wildlife. For example, the sandy soil of the desert is home to Cactus and thorny shrubs, while the wet and marshy soil is home to mangrove vegetation.
Coniferous trees grow on hill slopes with some depth of soil.
Role of temperature in the distribution of plants and animals in India:
On the slopes of the Himalayas and in the hills of peninsular India, at altitudes as high as 915 meters, temperature affects the type of vegetation and wildlife. Changes in vegetation from tropical forests to subtropical temperate and alpine vegetation can be seen in the Himalayan region due to the effect of temperature.
Role of photoperiod (sunlight) for the distribution of plants and animals:
Variation in latitude, altitude, season, and length of day results in variation in the duration of sunlight.
Trees grow faster in summer due to the longer duration of sunlight.
Role of precipitation in the distribution of plants and animals in India:
In general, areas with heavy rainfall have more dense vegetation than areas with less rainfall. This is the reason why the western part of the Western Ghats has more dense forests and is richer in wildlife than the eastern part of the Western Ghats.
Role of human factors in the distribution of plants and animals in India:
Human factors such as erosion, urbanization, agricultural activities, and mining negatively affect the distribution of plants and animals.
For example, highly urbanized areas such as Delhi and Puducherry have low levels of forest and animals, while least urbanized states such as Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have the largest area under forest cover.
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