Flora and fauna in forest ecosystem - class-VIII

Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) is an extinct sirenian discovered by Europeans in 1741. At that time, it was found only around the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia; its range was more extensive during the Pleistocene epoch, and it is possible that the animal and humans previously interacted. Some 18th-century adults would have reached weights of 8–10 t (8.8–11.0 short tons) and lengths up to 9 m (30 ft). Steller's sea cow was named after Georg Wilhelm Steller, a naturalist who discovered the species in 1741 on Vitus Bering's Great Northern Expedition when the crew became shipwrecked on Bering Island. Much of what is known about its behavior comes from Steller's observations on the island, documented in his posthumous publication On the Beasts of the Sea. Within 27 years of discovery by Europeans, the slow-moving and easily caught mammal was hunted into extinction for its meat, fat, and hide.

The polar bear is completely adapted for its survival in the cold polar regions. It has white furry skin, that helps it survive the extremely cold climate conditions. It has paws and feet so that it can move swiftly in snow. It can also hide as it gets camouflaged in white snow.

Different species require different temperature and climatic conditions to survive and reproduce. They can survive only in those particular areas which have favourable conditions for them. Such species are known as endemic species of that particular area or zone or state or country.

Species is a group of individuals that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Splitting of existing species into daughter species or transformation of existing species into a new one without formation of any lineage species is termed as speciation. 

 The species which are found primarily, most abundantly or spend most of their time in ecotone or community boundary are known as edge species.

Endemic species are those that are native to a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, or country, and are not found naturally anywhere else.

Endemic means a species which is native to a place and is not found anywhere else in the world. Endemic basically means indigenous. The more endemic species at a place more is the biodiversity of that place. Another example includes the Nilgiri tahr, also known as Nilgiri Ibex is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and some part of Western Ghats of Kerala.

Banyan is an endemic species of India. Endemic means a species which is native to a place and is not found anywhere else in the world. Endemic basically means indigenous. The more endemic species at a place more is the biodiversity of that place. Another example includes the Nilgiri tahr, also known as Nilgiri Ibex is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and some part of Western Ghats of Kerala.

Endemic means a species which is native to a place and is not found anywhere else in the world. Endemic basically means indigenous. The more endemic species at a place more is the biodiversity of that place. For example, the Nilgiri tahr also known as Nilgiri Ibex is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and some part of Western Ghats of Kerala.

Endemic plants and animals are those species that are specific to a particular geographic region. Because they are only found in certain locations, they require special conservation efforts.

Australia has many endemic species - species which occur nowhere else on Earth. Australia has more endemic plants than 98% of the world's countries, and more endemic non-fish vertebrates than any other country on Earth. They have more endemic mammals than any other country, more endemic birds than 99% of the world's countries, more endemic reptiles by far than any other country, and more endemic amphibians than 97% of the world's countries. Some of the best-known examples are kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus, wallaby and wombat. 

Endemic species are those species which occur in a restricted area. Seas from the barriers to free intercontinental movement and separates the continents, causing evolution and endemism. Hence, the correct answer is  option C.

Endemic species are those species which are found in particular area. Indian alligator and Indian giant squirrel are endemic to India.

Endemic plants are those that are confined or restricted to a defined geographical location only. They are not found anywhere else. For example- Holgrem's buckwheat (Eriogonum holmgrenii).

Endemic species are restricted to a given area for various reasons like some special requirements for optimum growth, soil and other environmental conditions etc. Biodiversity hotspots are the regions with very high levels of species richness and a high degree of endemism.

Gorillas and chimpanzees are native to the tropical forests and savannas of the African continent.

Orangutans are great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, specifically on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.

An endemic amphibian of India means an amphibian which is native to India and is not found anywhere else in the world. Examples include Blythophryne beryet, Bufoides kempi, Bufoides meghalayanus, etc. Around 60% of Indian ambhibian specieas are endemic . Such great number contributes to such a great biodiversity.

A) Black pepper is native to India, primarily from the Malabar region and the western ghats.

Endemic plant means a plant which is native to India and is not found anywhere else in the world. Almost one out of four species of flowering plants found in the country are endemic to it. Tamil Nadu accounts for the highest number of species followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra. About 33% of flowering plants species are endemic to India.

Endemic means a species which is native to a place and is not found anywhere else in the world. Endemic basically means indigenous. The more endemic species at a place more is the biodiversity of that place. For example, the Nilgiri tahr also known as Nilgiri Ibex is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and some part of Western Ghats of Kerala.

Peculiar primitive animals found in Madagascar but absent in Africa are Lemurs. For example, Indri indri lemur also known as babakoto is the largest living lemur on Earth. It as a head-and-body length of about 64–72 cm (25–28 in) and a weight of between 6 to 9.5 kg (13 to 21 lb). It occurs in Madagascar. It plays an important part in the myths of the residents of Madagascar, and legends with various stories in existence accounting for its origin. According to IUCN, it is classified as a critically endangered species.

Endemic species are species which are native to a place and are not found anywhere else. Islands have a higher number of such as they are separated from other land masses by large expanses of water. Communities in such islands are called as oceanic island communities. Human intervention is less because of the water and thus endemism is high.

Nepenthes khasiana is an endemic plant to India. It is the only species of pitcher plant which is endemic to our country. Endemic means a species which is native to a place and is not found anywhere else in the world. Endemic basically means indigenous. The more endemic species at a place more is the biodiversity of that place. For example, the Nilgiri tahr also known as Nilgiri Ibex is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and some part of Western Ghats of Kerala. So, the correct answer is 'Nepenthes khasiana'.

An endemic taxon is defined by its limited geographic distribution, meaning it is found exclusively in a specific area.

A) The correct answer is 33%.

Endemic species are those restricted to a specific geographic region, unlike cosmopolitan species which are found widely across the globe.

Endemic species are restricted to a given area for various reasons like some special requirements for optimum growth, soil and other environmental conditions etc. India ranks 47%, Australia - 80% and Hawaii- 82%.

Occurrence of endemic species in South America and Australia is due to continental drift. Continental drift is the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface. Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

• Habitat destruction occurs when natural habitats are no longer able to support the species present, resulting in the displacement or destruction of its biodiversity.
• The growth of the human population has impacted the planet and affected biodiversity. The need for food, space and raw materials has resulted in the destruction of habitats and pollution.
  
• Introduction of invasive species causes harm to wildlife in many ways. When a new and aggressive species is introduced into an ecosystem, it may not have any natural predators or controls. Invasive species can also alter the abundance or diversity of species that are important habitat for native wildlife.

The variety of plants which are found in a particular region at a time is known as flora. This flora includes all the type of plant life and can be organised into different categories as native plants, agricultural, horticultural, floral and weeds. The flora of a particular region at a time is documented and then published. This helps to maintain a record of the type of plants in the region which existed at a particular time. 

The distribution boundaries of flora (plants)and fauna(animals) sorting into major bio-geographic regions.

Fauna is a term which refers to all of the animal life found within a specified region, time period, or both. The plants of the earth produce the oxygen that is breathed by the fauna and in turn, the fauna exhales the carbon dioxide that the flora needs to live. The existence of one species depends upon the existence of the other.

The living components of an ecosystem are known as biotic resources. These include human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries and livestock. Flora means the plants and fauna means the animals of the particular area. The components of the ecosystem interacts with each other and are interdependent on each other for their need of survival. The human activities like deforestation and pollution are a major threat to the biotic resources.

Flora is a taxonomic tool that provides an index and description of all plant species found in a particular geographic area.

Flora is the plant life existing in a particular area. Fauna is the animal life which is present in the particular area. The type of flora and fauna found in a particular region determines the biodiversity in a particular region. The biodiversity in a particular geographical location depends on abiotic factors like soil, water, air, wind etc.

• Flora is the plant life of a particular region, habitat or time. Fauna is the animal life occurring in a particular region, habitat or time.
  
• These are a typical collection of plants or animals found in a specific time or place. An example of flora is North American flora, which contains Cannabaceae endlicher family of plants.
  
• An example of fauna is Sonoran Desert fauna. They form an important renewable natural resource.
  
• They are renewable resources as both plants and animals can reproduce and thus are replenished in an ecosystem.
  

Biosphere reserves can be defined as the areas which are meant for protection of biodiversity. Pachmarhi reserve is distributed in three districts which include Hoshangabad, Betul, and Chindwara. Flora is the plant life which is found in this region. Some of the important timber species of the reserve are teak and sal. Wild mango is an endemic species of mango which is found in this reserve. 

River Dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India. It is a fully aquatic mammal that resides exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. It is relatively small compared to other dolphins, having evolved to survive in warm, shallow water and strong river currents. Their ears have specific adaptations to their aquatic environment. Dolphins are one of the oldest creatures in the world.

Some plants are used for sacred and ceremonial purposes and are known as sacred plants. 'Prosopis cineraria' known as Jammi, Shami, Khejri Tree, or Ghaf, is a species of flowering tree belonging to the pea family, Fabaceae. Shami is important in the Hindus and is worshipped as part of Dasara festival. The importance lies during the tenth day of the Dasara Festival when it is worshipped in various parts of India. So, the correct answer is 'Prosopis cineraria'.

The springbok is a medium-sized antelope, thus a carnivorous animal. It is found mainly in southern and southwestern Africa. It is the sole member of the genus Antidorcas. It was first described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1780. Three subspecies of spring-bok are identified.

Flora contains the actual account of habitat and distribution of plants of a given area. These provide the index to the plant species found in a particular area.

The Deccan plateau is a large triangular plateau in India covering most of the southern part and northern part. It is bounded by the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats and the western Satpura Range. The climate of the region varies from semi-arid in the north to tropical in most of the region with distinct wet and dry seasons. Rain falls during the monsoon season and in summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. 

Satpura national park is located in the regions of Madhya Pradesh. The fauna is the animal life which is found in a particular region. The fauna of this park comprises of wild bear, leopards, barasingha, bison, wild buffaloes, black buck, sloth bear, fox, porcupine, squirrel, etc. 

The regions in India have been categorized into floristic regions on the basis of the flora found in this region. Clarke divided the regions among Asia into 6 floristic regions. Later, in 1907, Hooker divided the regions in India into 8 regions. These 8 regions include,

Flora is considered as the plant life found in a particular region at a time. The fauna is considered as the animal life of that region. The flora, fauna, microorganisms and all the other life forms in the particular region is together known as biota. This is the collection of the life forms in a particular region at a particular period. The whole biota on the Earth is responsible for the composition of biosphere.

Biosphere reserves can be defined as the areas which are meant for protection of biodiversity. Pachmarhi reserve is distributed in three districts which include Hoshangabad, Betul, and Chindwara. It mainly consists of three wildlife conservation units. The giant squirrel is known to have a big huge and fluffy tail. These are endemic species and are found in specific regions. Several species as rhesus monkey, Indian giant squirrel, and flying squirrels are endemic to the area.

The animal life which is found in a particular region at a particular period of time is known as fauna. This includes the various different types of animals found in that area. On the basis of the habitats, size and the environments in which the animals are found, the animals are classified into various different types of fauna as megafauna, cryofauna, microfauna, etc. The animals or the organisms which can live in or close to ice are known as the cryofauna. 

Bandhavgarh was declared as the Bandhavgarh tiger reserve due to the program of protection of tiger. Project Tiger was started in 1972. As project tiger extended its activities and area of influence, the main fauna of this park was known to be the white tiger. These are the endemic species which are protected and preserved in these areas.