Natural Vegetation And Wildlife - Class 9 Geography - Extra Questions

When do trees of the tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves?

Trees of these forests shed their leaves in dry summer.


Which are the most widespread forests of India?

The tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread forests of India.


Name two evergreen broad-leaf trees. 

Oaks and chestnuts are two evergreen broad-leaf trees.


Name some coniferous trees. 

Pine, deodar, silver fir, sprice and cedar are some conferous trees


Write a short note on Teak.

Teak is a tropical hardwood tree species placed in the flowering plant family.  Some forms of teak are known as Burmese teak, Central Province teak, as well as Nagpur teak. T. grandis is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. It has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicles) at the end of the branches. These flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers). The large, papery leaves of teak trees are often hairy on the lower surface. Teak wood has a leather-like smell when it is freshly milled and is particularly valued for its durability and water resistance. The wood is used for boat building, exterior construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and other small wood projects.

Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh but is naturalised and cultivated in many countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Myanmar's teak forests account for nearly half of the world's naturally occurring teak. Molecular studies show that there are two centres of genetic origin of teak: one in India and the other in Myanmar and Laos.


Name any three trees found in monsoon deciduous forests and state one use of each of these trees.

Three trees found in monsoon deciduous forests are Sal, Teak and Palas.
Uses:
Sal: Its timber is used for making beams, planking and railing of bridges, doors, etc.
Teak: Its timber is used for house construction and furniture.
Palas: Its leaves are used for rearing shellac worms.


Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
Tropical Rain Forests occur in the areas which receive ______ rainfall.

Tropical Rain Forests occur in the areas which receive heavy rainfall. They are so dense that sunlight doesn’t reach the ground.


Name the tree, the timber of which could be used for the following. A sweet smelling timber which yields an oil, used for making handicrafts.

Sandalwood.


i. Name the forest which is commercially most important in India.
ii. Name two trees which grow in this forest.

(i) The tropical deciduous forests are the commercially most exploited forests in India.

(ii) Two trees which grow in this forest are teak and sal.



Very Short Answer Type Questions:
What is the special feature of mountain vegetation?

The trees are conical in shape.


Very Short Answer Type Questions:
What are called bushes?

Small plants are called bushes.


Short Answer Type Questions:
Write a note on mountain vegetation.

Mountain vegetation is found on the mountains at higher altitudes (heights). This kind of vegetation differs according to variation and increase in altitude. As the height increases, the temperature decreases. Thus, trees at a higher altitude are conical and form the coniferous forests. Some main species of trees are chir, deodar and pine.


Long answer type questions:
What are the steps taken to conserve wildlife?

The government has taken many steps in order to protect Indian wildlife. They are
1. The Indian Wildlife Act was passed by the government in 1972 for the protection of plants and animal species.
2. The Act banned hunting and poaching of animals and provided legal protection to their habitats.
3. The central and state governments have established many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in order to protect forests and wildlife.
4. Various projects regarding the conservation of endangered species such as tiger and one-horned rhino have been initiated by the government.
5. The government, through the introduction of a joint management programme, has involved local communities in the management of forests.


Previously asked problems:
Write three measures to conserve ecosystem.

answer required

Conservation of the ecosystem at a high order level is the need of an hour. 
Following are the steps to conserve ecosystem:
1. Avoid the use of non-degradable waste such as plastics that release that release harmful intoxicants in the atmosphere.
2. We should say no to plastic bags and use paper or cloth bags.
We should make use of the available natural resources and avoid the use of conventional resources that are in danger of extinction such as petrol, diesel, etc.
3. We should plant more and more trees and make the area surrounding you clean and green because 'if we have to live in this modern age we should garbage'.
4. Make less use of greenhouse gases spreading components like A.C, Refrigerator, etc. to make the hole in the ozone layer less and less.
5. At last, we should develop a scientific attitude and have love towards our nature as we know ''nature is not for our greed but for our need.''


Short answer type questions:
Why is conservation of wildlife very essential? Give two reasons.

answer required

Killing of wild animals and birds on the large scale by man is a serious threat that wildlife is facing for its survival. This disturbs the food chain and also the ecosystem. We can understand better with the help of an example; snake as a wild animal is in great demand for making fancy leather goods so, snake skin sells at high at a high price in the market. To earn money easily some people kill snakes indiscriminately in large numbers. This killing of snakes disrupts the food chain and creates imbalance in the nature. Do you know the snake is a friend of the farmer as it eats vermin’s like rats, mice which are pests and damage the crops?  So, it is very important to conserve wildlife to maintain the ecological balance in nature and also for preservation.
Steps to be taken for the Conservation of Wildlife are:

1. Some of the laws should be made to ban the killing or capturing of endangered animals or birds. It should be made a punishable offense. Such laws should be enforced strictly and should not remain on paper only.
2. Indiscriminate killing of wild birds and animals, whether are in abundance should not be allowed by the forest authorities.
3. The more number of National Parks and Sanctuaries should be established for preserving the natural habitats of wild animals and birds throughout the country.
4. The Department of Government should conduct a periodic survey in all the forests regarding the conservation of wildlife. They should have the knowledge about the population of all the species of wild animals and birds, so that they can be helped during the time of floods and famines.
5. Special attention should be paid even by us also to the conservation of endangered species of wild animals and birds to prevent their extinction altogether.



Previously asked problems:
Explain any three steps taken for preserving wildlife in India.

answer required

The government has taken many steps in order to protect Indian wildlife. They are
1. The Indian Wildlife Act was passed by the government in 1972 for the protection of plants and animal species.
2. The Act banned hunting and poaching of animals and provided legal protection to their habitats.
3. The central and state governments have established many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in order to protect forests and wildlife.
4. Various projects regarding the conservation of endangered species such as tiger and one-horned rhino have been initiated by the government.
5. The government, through the introduction of a joint management programme, has involved local communities in the management of forests.


The deltas of the Narmada and the Tapti rivers have mangrove forests. Write importance of it.

Mangroves are the salt tolerant coastal forest ecosystems found in the tropical, subtropical and intertidal regions of the world. They are reservoirs of various species of plants, microbes and animals. They also serve as a shoreline protection.


Why is the Malabar Coast covered with thick evergreen forests?

  • Malabar Coast which is located on the western coast of India receives highest rainfall from south west monsoons. The monsoon strikes Malabar Coast in the month of June and by November leaves the country.
  • This is the reason why there are thick evergreen forests on the Malabar Coast.



Write short note on Evergreen forest and Deciduous forest.

1. Evergreen:

The Tropical Evergreen Forests lie on either side of the equator in places that receive more than 80% of annual rainfall. The hot and humid condition causes the luxuriant growth of a variety of vegetation.

In some places, the growth is thick that sunlight rarely reaches the ground. Forests of Amazon and Congo Basin are dark and gloomy in many places.

Common hardwood trees are Mahogany, Ebony and Rosewood, all of which are of great commercial value. There are Mangrove Forests in some coastal swamps and deltas. As these forests are dense and gloomy, no large animals can live here. Monkeys, birds, snakes, etc., are the common animals as they can climb to the treetops.

Mediterranean Forests and found on the western coast of continents approximately along the 400 North and South latitudes. These regions have a hot, dry summer and mild wet winter. Therefore, the plants found here are those that can protect themselves against loss of moisture in summer.

Trees are short with small, leathery leaves and long roots. Some trees like the cork have thick barks and some have spiny leaves. Most of the trees bear fruits that are exported all over the world. Common trees are cork, oak, olive and chestnut.

Common animals found here are a variety of goats, red fox, jackal and birds like the spoonbill and endangered golden eagle. The climate and soil of this region is ideal for fruit growing especially citrus fruits. A large number of people are engaged in horticulture. Some wheat is also grown.
Coniferous Forest are belt of evergreen trees that stretch across the continents of North America, Europe and Asia, roughly between 550 and 650 N latitude. These forests have large areas covered with a single variety of trees. The trees, which are conical, have needle-shaped leaves to withstand the severe cold and heavy snowfall. The common trees are pine, cedar, fir and spruce. Animals with thick fur inhabit these forests and thus many inhabitants of this region are hunters. The fox, reindeer and bear are valued for their fur.

2. Deciduous:

The Tropical Deciduous forests occur just north and south of the hot and wet equatorial forests. This region has a distinct dry season; therefore, the trees shed their leaves at the onset of summer or winter. The most valuable trees are the teak and sal, oak and elm. This region has a great variety of animals like the lion, tiger, elephant, bear, and buffalo. There are smaller animals like the fox, a variety of deer, wild ass and monkeys.

Most of these areas receive moderate to heavy rainfall, which is seasonal. The climate is favorable for the growing of food crops like rice, wheat and millets in the drier parts. A large number of people are engaged in agriculture and related industries.


What are the main characteristics of the tropical deciduous forests?

Main characteristics of Tropical deciduous forests:

These are the most widespread forests in India.
They are also called the monsoon forests and are spread over the region.
They receive rainfall between 70 cm and 200 cm.
Trees shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in dry summer.


Where do the tropical evergreen forests grow and why?

The tropical evergreen forests usually occur in areas receiving more than 200 cm of rainfall and having a temperature of 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. They occupy about seven per cent of the earth's land surface and habours more than half of the world’s plants and animals. They are found mostly near the equator. 
These forests are dense and multi-layered. They harbour  many types of plants and animals. The trees are evergreen as there is no period of drought. They are mostly tall and hardwood type. Leaves are broad and give out excess water through evapo-transpiration. 

In India, evergreen forests are found in the western slopes of the Western Ghats in States such as Kerala and Karnataka. They are also found in hills of Jaintia and Khasi. Some of the trees found in Indian Tropical Forests are rosewood, mahagony and ebony. Bamboos and reeds are also common.


Name any three main characteristics of the tropical evergreen forests in India.

Tropicalforests are characterized by the greatest diversity of species. They occur nearthe equator, within the area bounded by latitudes 23.5 degrees N and 23.5degrees S. One of the major characteristics of tropical forests is theirdistinct seasonality: winter is absent, and only two seasons are present (rainyand dry). The length of daylight is 12 hours and varies little.

(a) Features: 
1) These forests appear green throughout the year and have heavy rainfall of more than 200 cm with a short dry season. 
2) The trees reach great heights up to 60 metres or even above.
3) Since the region is warm and wet throughout the year, it has an abundant vegetation of all kinds – trees, shrubs, and creepers. 


Distinguish between Tropical Evergreen and Deciduous forests.

Tropical Evergreen Forest
1. This forest type is found in the regions that receive heavy rainfall. 
2. It is a dense, multilayered forest. It is found in the upper slopes of Western Ghats of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts. 
3. The major tree species of this forest are cinnamon, Malabar ironwood, panasa, java plum/jamun, jack, kindal, ayani and crape myrtle. 

Tropical Deciduous Forest
1. This type of forest lies in the margin of semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. 
2. The trees in this forest shed their leaves during the dry season. 
3. The trees reach up to a height of 30 metres. Some trees of this forest are silk cotton, kapok, kadamba, dog teak, woman's tounge, axlewood and siris. Bamboos are also common in this type of forests. 


Where the mountain forests are commonly found in India?

Mountain Forests
Mountain forests in India are normally classified into two types, i.e. the northern mountain forests and the southern mountain forests.

Deciduous forests are found in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Temperate forests found between an altitude of 1,000 and 2,000 m.

In the higher hill ranges of northeastern India; for example, hilly areas of West Bengal and Uttaranchal, evergreen broad leaf trees such as oak and chestnut are predominant.

Chir, deodar, pine, etc. are the important species of temperate forests.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 m, Silver firs, junipers, pines, birch, and rhododendrons, etc. are found.

However, at higher altitude, the tundra vegetation is found and major species are mosses and lichens.

At a higher altitude, the southern mountain forests largely belong to the temperate type, which are locally known as ‘Sholas’ in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills. Some of the trees of economic significance include magnolia, laurel, cinchona, and wattle.


Name some of the commercially important trees that grow in the tropical evergreen forests.

Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona are some of the commercially important trees that grow in the tropical evergreen forests.


Mention two characteristics of the tropical evergreen forests.

(i) These forests have a luxuriant vegetation of all kinds-trees, shrubs and creepers giving it a multi-layered structure.
(ii) The trees reach great heights up to 60 m or even above.


Name the main trees found in tropical thorn forests.

The vegetation in these forests are thorny trees and bushes. The Thorn Forests are found in the semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Acacias, palms, euphorbias and cacti are the main plants found in these forests.


What are the main characteristics of the tropical thorn forests?

The three characteristics features of the thorn forests and scrubs are:

  • The thorn forests are found in the regions which receive less than 70 cm of rainfall. 
  • These forests are found in the semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
  • The trees of the thorny bushes have long roots that penetrate deep into the soil in search of water.
  • Leaves are thick and small to minimize evaporation. Some varieties of trees are acacias, palms, and cacti.


Give the location of the tropical evergreen plants.

The tropical evergreen forests are found in heavy rainfall areas of the Western Ghats and the Island groups of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar, upper parts of Assam and Tamil Nadu coast.


Why do the tropical evergreen forests appear green all the year round?

It is because there is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves.


Where are the tropical thorn forests found in the India and why?

The Thorn Forests are found in those states in our country where the average annual rainfall is too less or scanty. The semi-arid regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana & the dry parts of the Deccan plateau are very much suitable for the thorn forests to thrive well and even sustain themselves for a longer time-period.

The main features of such forests are :----

(i) Average annual rainfall is  less than 70 cm.
(ii) They have stunted forests with thorny bushes.
(iii) Important trees found in such forests are Babul, Kikar, Khair, Plums, Cactus, and Dates.
(iv) Such forests have plants with long roots so that they can move farther in search of nutrients in soil.
(v) Another characteristic feature is presence of sharp thorns to protect them from animals and also from uprooting.
(vi) Forests have heights from 6 metres to 10 metres.
(vii) Common animals found are donkeys, camel, rattle snake, porcupine, wild deer, Nilgai, rabbit.


Distinguish between the wet and dry tropical deciduous forests.

Difference between dry deciduous forests and moist deciduous forests:-
Dry Deciduous Forests-
1) Dry deciduous forests are found throughout the northern part of the country, except in the north eastern part. It is also found in Madhya Pardesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
2) They are found in the areas where the rainfall is between 70 cm to 100 cm.
3) The dominant species of trees found in these forests are Teak, Sal, Peepal etc.
Moist Deciduous Forests-
1) Moist deciduous forests are found almost throughout the India except in the western and north western part of India.
2) These forests are found in the areas where the rainfall is between 100 cm to 200 cm.
3) The dominant species of trees in these forests are Shisham, Sal, Teak, Mango, Rosewood etc


Give a brief account of the thorn forests and scrubs.

  • The thorn forests and scrubs are found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall. These forests, thus, exist in the north-western part of the country including semi-arid regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
  • The main plant species found in these forests are acacias, cacti, euphorbias and palms.
  • Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil in order to get moisture.
  • The stems are succulent to conserve water. 
  • Leaves are mostly thick and small.
  • The common animals found in these forests are rat, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses and camels.


Mention the wildlife found in the tropical deciduous forests.

The common animals found are lion, tiger, pig, deer and elephant. A huge variety of birds, lizards, snakes, and tortoises are also found here.


Where are moist deciduous forests found in India?

Moist deciduous forests are found in the eastern part of the country such as northeastern states along the foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West Orissa and Chhattisgarh and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.


What are the common animals found in the montane forests?

  • Montane regions are the ecosystems found in mountain regions. Animals found in this region include Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels.
  • The temperate conifer trees like Pine, Fir, Oak, Maple, Deodar, Laurel Spruce, Cedar, etc. is the vegetation found in this region. Montane forests are found mainly in slopes of Himalayan region in India.



Divide Tropical deciduous forests on the basis of the availability of water and explain them.

On the basis of the availability of water, tropical deciduous forests are divided into - 
Moist deciduous, and
Dry deciduous
The moist deciduous forests are found in areas having rainfall between 200 and 100 cm. As such these forests exist in the north-eastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkahnd, West Orissa and Chhattisgrah and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. These forests are a storehouse of trees like teak, bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum etc. The dry deciduous forests are found in areas having rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm. These forests are found in the rainier parts of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Trees like teak, sal, peepal and neem are found in these forests.


Give two characteristics of the thorn forests.

(i) Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil in order to get moisture.
(ii) The stems are succulent to conserve water.


Write the characteristic features of the thorn forests and scrubs.

The thorn forests and scrubs are found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall. These forests, thus, exist in the north-western part of the country including semi-arid regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
(ii)The main plant species found in these forests are acacias, cacti, euphorbias and palms.
(iii) Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil in order to get moisture.
(iv) The stems are succulent to conserve water. 
(v) Leaves are mostly thick and small.
(vi) The common animals found in these forests are rat, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses and camels.


Name some of the commercially valuable trees that grow in the tropical deciduous forests.

Bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun and mulberry are some of the commercially valuable trees that grow in the tropical deciduous forests.


Where are dry deciduous forests found?

These forests are found in the rainier parts of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.


Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
The Himalayas have ____________ kinds of forests.

Tropical forest
There are mainly two types of tropical forests that are found in the Himalayas - the tropical rainforests, and the tropical deciduous forests. The tropical rainforests are dense, evergreen, gloomy and similar to the forests of the Amazon basin and other equatorial areas.


Name some of the commercially improtrant trees that grow in the tropical evergreen forests.

Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona.


Explain the characteristics and distribution of tropical deciduous forests in India?

Tropical Deciduous Forests in India are the most widespread. Commonly also known as Monsoon forests, in the world, they are found in the belt along the equator, between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn as well as the humid subtropics.
Africa, India, South America, Central America and small islands in the Pacific are some of the places where they grow.
In India, they grow in the states of Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and parts of Maharashtra.


What is meant by natural vegetation?

Natural vegetation,
Natural vegetation refers to a plant community which has grown naturally without human aid. They have been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. We call this virgin vegetation. Thus, cultivated crops and fruits, orchards form part of vegetation but not natural vegetation. 


In which part of the India are tropical deciduous forest found?

The Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of east-central India. The ecoregion covers an area of 341,100 square kilometers (131,700 sq mi), extending across portions of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana states.


Name the two hardwood trees commonly found in tropical evergreen forest.

 Rosewood and ebony are hardwood trees commonly found in tropical evergreen forests


Which are the two factors on which the growth of vegetation mostly depends?

The two factors on which the growth of vegetation mostly depends are— temperature and moisture. 


Write two reasons why monsoon deciduous forest are commercially more valuable than other types of forests.

Two reasons:
(i) They are found in pure stands.
(ii) They are not very dense therefore easily accessible.


Give reason. Tropical deciduous trees shed their leaves in the dry season.

Deciduous plants lose their leaves to conserve water or to better survive dry weather conditions. Thus they regrow new foliage during the next suitable growing season.


State two reasons why Tropical Evergreen forests are difficult to exploit.

These forests are dense with many plants and climbers tangled to each other in these forests. 
Lack of means of transport makes it difficult to exploit it commercially.


Name the natural vegetation largely found in the following regions. The windward side of the Western Ghats.

Tropical Evergreen forest.


Mention two main characteristics of Tropical Rain Forests.

Two characteristics of tropical rain forests.
(i) They are dense, multi-layered and have many types of trees and shrubs.
(ii) Trees in these forests do not have a fixed time to shed their leaves, to flower or for fruition.


i. Name the forests which grow on the wind ward slope of the Western Ghats.
ii. Why do such forests grow in this region?

(i)   Tropical evergreen rainforests grow on the windward slope of the Western Ghats. 

(ii)  These forests grow in this region because the temperature here ranges between 25°C to 27°C and rainfall is above 250 cm.



Name the natural vegetation largely found in the following region. The Deccan Plateau.

Tropical Dry forest.


Identify the tree as per its characteristics mentioned below :
i. It yields wood that is hard and scented and is usually found in high altitudes.
ii. It is generally found in deltaic regions and is used to make boats.
iii. The furniture made from the wood of this tree is generally the most expensive.

1) Sandalwood.

2) Sundari.

3) Teak.



Give one important use of the following types of trees.
(i) Sundari
(ii) Sandalwood
(iii) Rosewood.

Uses of the following trees are.
(i) Sundari: Used for making boats.
(ii) Sandalwood: Used for making ornamental objects.
(iii) Rosewood: Used for making expensive furniture.


Name the tree, the timber of which could be used for the following. A soft and white timber used for making toys and match boxes.

Semul.


State two characteristics of Tropical Deciduous forests.

Characteristics of Tropical deciduous forests are:

i. They shed their leaves before the summer season.

ii. They are commercially the most exploited forests of India.



To which type of forest do the following trees belong?
i. Hintal and Sundari.
ii. Rosewood and Ebony.
iii. Deodar and Chir Pine.

  • (i)  Hintal and Sundari – Tidal or Littoral Forest
  • (ii) Rosewood and Ebony – Tropical Evergreen or Rain Forest.
  • (iii) Deodar and Chirpine – Mountain Forest.



Answer in a sentence:
What are the special characteristics of Mangrove forests?

Mangrove forests stabilise the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides and the intricate root system of mangroves also make these forests attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.


What are the special characteristics of Mangrove forest?

Mangroves are found mainly along the coastal regions. They are salt tolerant trees that grow over swamp soils. They have stilt roots/breathing roots that help them adapt to the harsh conditions.


Mention two reasons why Tropical Evergreen Forests are difficult to exploit for commercial purposes.

Tropical evergreen forests are difficult to exploit for commercial purpose because they are dense and found in mixed stands. Also. lack of means of transport makes it difficult to exploit these forests.


Name the tree, the timber of which could be used for the following. A hard durable timber used for ship building and furniture making.

Teak.


(i) Name an area in India where Tropical Monsoon forest is found.
(ii) How is this forest of great commercial value to India?

  • Tropical Monsoon forest is found in western ghats of India. It is in the rain-bearing region of western ghats.
  • This forest is of great commercial value to India due to the large availability of Teak, Sandalwood, Lac resin, medicinal values, etc.


Answer the following questions in a sentence each:
Why should mangrove forests be grown along the coast?

Mangrove forests should be grown along the coastline to check the impact of cyclonic winds and the soil erosion.


With reference to Littoral forest, answer the following questions:
(i) Why do the trees in this forest grow aerial roots?
(ii) Name one area in India where this forest is found.

  • An aerial root may be defined as a root which, for part of the day at least, is exposed to the air.
  • Aerial roots are a strange variation of plant roots, serving some of the same purposes as other roots, but with a twist.
  • They do attach to something for support, at least eventually, like trees, bark, or rocks, but they never become fully submerged in the soil.
  • They grow not from root tissue, but from the plant's stem or leaf tissues.
  • Some of the roots also have chlorophyll and can photosynthesize.
  • Littoral forests are found in Odisha coast, Tamil Nadu coast, Gujarat coast, Goa.


Answer the following questions in two to four sentences each:
Mention the characteristics of deciduous forests in India.

  • The deciduous forests are found in areas with an annual rainfall of 100-200 cm. They have occupied a wide area largely on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Chotanagpur plateau, foothills oft he Himalayas, parts of Odisha and West Bengal. 
  • The trees in these forests shed their leaves during spring and early summer. Hence they are also known as ‘Monsoon Forests’. The important trees are Teak, Sal, Sandalwood, Kusum, Kanju, Myrobalan, Siris, Mango, Neem, Tamarind etc.


(i) Name a state in India where thorn and scrub forest is found.
(ii) Give two ways by which the trees that are found here have adapted to the climate.

  • The Thorn and Scrub forest are found in regions where the rainfall is less than 70 cms. They are found in states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka.
  • Plants typically have thick, waxy leaves that have developed to store moisture.
  • Most mammals are small and nocturnal(night time adaptability), able to change their body temperature rapidly and take advantage of the cool night temperatures


Very short answer type question.
Why do trees of tropical evergreen forests never shed their leaves altogether?

It is because there is no particular dry season.


Very short answer type question.
Name the trees found in the tropical deciduous forests.

Sal, teak, neem and shisham.


Very short answer type question.
What is the special features of tropical evergreen forests?

Thick canopies of the closely spaced trees are found here. As a result sunlight doesn't reach the ground in the forest. 


Short answer type question.
Mention the major features of tropical evergreen forests.

Major features of tropical evergreen forests are:
  • These forests are so dense that thick canopies are developed which do not allow the sunlight to penetrate inside the forest.
  • As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether. This keeps the forest evergreen.
  • Hardwood trees such as rosewood, ebony, and mahogany are found here.


Very short answer type question.
Where are shrubs found?

Shrubs are found in the dry and arid and semi-arid regions.



Short Answer Type Questions:
Mention the main features of thorny bushes. 

(i) Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country
(ii) The leaves are in the form of spines to reduce the loss of water. 
(iii) Cactus, khair, babool, keekar are important thorny bushes. 
(iv) They are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Eastern slopes of Western Ghats and Gujarat. 


Very Short Answer Type Questions:
Where are thorny bushes found?

The Thorn Forests are found in the semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The Thorn Forests and Scrubs are found in regions where the rainfall is less than 70cm. The vegetation in these forests are thorny trees and bushes.


Write the medicinal properties of the following plants:
Sarpagandha, Kachnar, Jamun, Babool, Neem. 

Sarpagandha: It is used to treat blood pressure.
Kachnar: It is used to cure asthma and ulcers. Its buds and roots are good for digestive problems.
Jamun: The powder of its seeds is used for controlling diabetes. The juice prepared from its ripe fruit is used to prepare vinegar.
Babool: Its leaves are used as a cure for eye sores.
Neem: It has high antibiotic and antibacterial properties.


How are thorn forests different from mangrove forests?

Differences between thorn forests and mangrove forests:
$$Thorn$$ $$Forests$$$$Mangrove$$ $$Forests$$

Rainfall in these forests is less than 70 cm.These types of forests develop in the deltaic region, and does not concern with the rainfall

Babool, kikar, palm, cacti and acacia are the main plants.Sundari is the major tree found in these types of forests. The others are agar and keora.

Found in semi-arid regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.Found in the deltas of Ganges, Mahanadi, Kaveri, Krishna and Godavari.


How are moist deciduous forests different from dry deciduous forests?

Differences between moist deciduous forests different from dry deciduous forests:
$$Moist Deciduous Forests$$$$Dry Deciduous Forests$$

Found in areas receiving rainfall between 200 and 100 cm.Found in areas having rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm.

These forests exist, therefore, mostly in the eastern part of the country - northeastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West Orissa and Chhattisgarh, and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.These forests are found in the rainier parts of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Teak is the most important species of this forest. Bamboo, sal, shisham, khair, kusum are other commercial species.Important trees found in these forests are teak, sal, peepal, neem.


Class 9 Geography Extra Questions