Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Class 7 Notes | Geography Chapter 6

Key Terms for This Chapter

Natural Vegetation

The plant life that grows in an area without any human interference. It is determined by climatic conditions and soil.

Ecosystem

A system formed by the interaction of all living organisms with each other and with the physical factors of the environment in which they live.

Biome

A very large ecological area on the earth's surface, with fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment.

Tropical Evergreen Forests

Dense, multi-layered forests found in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall throughout the year. They do not shed their leaves all at once.

Tropical Deciduous Forests

Also known as Monsoon Forests, these are found in regions with seasonal rainfall. Trees shed their leaves during the dry season to conserve water.

Taiga

The Russian name for Coniferous Forests found in the higher latitudes (50°-70°) of the Northern Hemisphere. They consist of tall, softwood evergreen trees.

Tundra

A type of biome where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. Found in polar regions, it consists of mosses, lichens, and very small shrubs.

Grasslands

Regions where the vegetation is dominated by grasses. They occur in regions with moderate to low rainfall.

Factors Influencing Natural Vegetation

The type and thickness of natural vegetation vary from place to place primarily because of the variation in two key climatic factors: temperature and moisture (rainfall). Areas with high temperature and abundant rainfall support dense forests. As the amount of moisture decreases, the size of trees and their density reduces, leading to the growth of grasslands in regions of moderate rain. In regions with very low rainfall, like hot deserts, or extremely low temperatures, like polar areas, only thorny shrubs and scrubs or mosses and lichens can grow. Besides climate, other factors like slope and thickness of soil also play a crucial role. For example, steep slopes of mountains usually have a thinner soil layer and support less vegetation compared to gentle slopes. Similarly, fertile plains with thick soil cover can support rich agricultural and forest growth. Therefore, the combination of these factors determines the unique biome of any given location on Earth.

Forests at a Glance: Tropical vs. Temperate

Classification of Natural Vegetation

Must Remember

• Vegetation growth depends primarily on two factors: Temperature and Moisture.
• Tropical Evergreen forests are called 'Rainforests' and have no specific season for trees to shed leaves.
• Tropical Deciduous forests are called 'Monsoon forests' and their trees shed leaves in the dry season.
• Mediterranean regions are known as the 'Orchards of the world' for their fruit cultivation.
• Coniferous forests, found in high latitudes, are also called 'Taiga'. They have softwood trees useful for making pulp.
• Tropical grasslands are called Savanna in Africa, Campos in Brazil, and Llanos in Venezuela.
• Temperate grasslands have different local names: Prairies (North America), Pampas (Argentina), Veld (South Africa), Steppe (Central Asia), and Downs (Australia).
• Tundra vegetation consists of mosses, lichens and very small shrubs found in polar regions.
• Thorny bushes are found in dry desert regions and have adaptations like deep roots and waxy leaves to reduce water loss.
• The change in vegetation type as one moves from the equator to the poles is similar to the change seen while moving up a high mountain.

Exam Focus: Map Work and Characteristics

In exams, you will often find map-based questions asking you to identify the type of vegetation in a marked region. Practice locating major forest and grassland belts on a world map. Also, create a table comparing different vegetation types based on climate, key trees, and wildlife. This is a high-scoring question format. Remember the local names for temperate grasslands (Prairies, Pampas, Veld, etc.) as they are frequently asked in MCQs and fill-in-the-blanks.

Quick Revision Check

• Which forests are also known as monsoon forests? Tropical Deciduous Forests are also known as monsoon forests because they are found in regions with seasonal rainfall.
• Where are thorny bushes typically found? Thorny bushes are typically found in hot and dry desert climates where rainfall is scarce.
• Name two hardwood trees commonly found in tropical evergreen forests. Rosewood and Ebony are two common hardwood trees found in tropical evergreen forests.
• What is the local name for temperate grasslands in South Africa? The local name for temperate grasslands in South Africa is Veld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions