Subject: Social Science TOPIC: NATURAL VEGETATION-(NOTES).

Class: VII

Define Natural Vegetation.

The plant cover which grows naturally is known as natural
vegetation. Sometimes, they are modified by human activities. Thus,
natural vegetation now includes natural and semi-natural types of
vegetation.
Forests grow well in hot and humid climate; grasslands are found in
regions of moderate rainfall; shrubs are mainly found in dry areas.
In very cold climates, either there is no vegetation or mosses and
lichens grow.
Forest type Climate Place Names of Special
Trees Features
Tropical Hot, humid Amazon, Hardwood Logging
Evergreen climate, rainfall Orinoco river trees in these
Forest during the year basins in forests is
(equatorial South Mahogany, difficult;
forest or America, ebony and Commerci
Selvas) Congo basin rosewood al
of Africa, utilization
S.E. Asian is not
countries. possible.
Tropical Hot, humid, Monsoon regions Sal, teak, Trees shed
Deciduous rainfall during of Asia, parts of palm, their
(monsoon monsoon Central America, sandalwood, leaves in
forests) season, Brazil and shisham, the dry
distinct dry Northern bamboo; season
season. Australia. Leaves are
 Mangrove usually
trees are small
found in delta Forests
regions have a
thick,
undergrow
th of small
trees and
shrubs and
dense
thickets of
bamboo.
Temperate Temperate Eastern margin of softwood Lowlands
Evergreen climate- continents- South trees have
Forest Milder China, S.E. USA, mixed
summer and S.E. Brazil, pine, wattle, forests of
winter Uruguay, East oak, coniferous
coast of South eucalyptus and
Africa, Eastern deciduous
Australia. types;
Highlands
have only
coniferous
trees.
Timber of
these
forests is
considered
valuable.
Temperate Coastal Western Europe, Oak, ash, Trees are
Deciduous regions with N.E. China, birch, elm, deciduous,
Forest cool climate Japan, N.E. USA, poplar shed their
and moderate Southern Chile, leaves in
rainfall New Zealand autumn;
trees are
 leafless
during
cool,
winter
season;
new
leaves
sprout in
spring;
these
forests are
extensivel
y cleared
for
agriculture
and
industries.
Mediterrane Hot dry It is mostly found Citrus fruits Citrus
an summers and in the areas such as fruits such
Vegetation mild rainy around the oranges, figs, as
winters. Mediterranean olives and oranges,
sea in grapes are figs, olives
Europe,Africa, cultivated. and grapes
Asia. Other are
region where it is cultivated
found are because
California in people
USA, South west have
Africa, South removed
west America the natural
and south west vegetation
Australia. for
cultivation
.
Due to this
 there isn’t
much
wildlife
here.
Trees are
Coniferous Cold climate 50-70 N latitudes. Spruce, pine, tall,
Forests with most of fir, larch straight,
(Taiga) the family tree evergreen
precipitation with
in the form of narrow
snowfall needle like
leaves;
Trees are
softwood
and are
light in
weight;
Trees of a
forest are
of a
particular
species;
Lumberin
g is
therefore,
very
advantage
ous
Their
softwood
is used in
making
pulp,
paper,
furniture,
 match
sticks,
doors,
plywood,
sports
goods,
toys etc.

Tropical Vegetation Savannah The grasses Elephant,

Grassland grows in the grasslands of grow very zebras,
areas of Africa. tall. giraffes,
moderate to deer,
low amount of leopards
rainfall. are
common
in tropical
grasslands
.
Temperate Moderate Interiors of the grasses Rainfall is
Grasslands summer and continents in not
Known as winter with middle latitudes. enough for
Prairies in less rainfall Places between the growth
North 40-55 latitudes in of trees;
America, both hemispheres. Grasslands
Pampas in are more
South suitable
America, for cattle
Veldt in and sheep
South rearing;
Africa, In many
Downs in such
Australia grasslands,
and Steppes extensive
in Eurasia. farming is
 practised
to grow
wheat and
corn.
Desert Scorching heat Tropical desert The
Vegetation/ and Scanty are located on the vegetation
Thorny rain. Dry western margins cover is
Bushes desert. of the continents. scarce
here
because of
scanty rain
and
scorching
heat.
Tundra Winters are Around North Dwarf Fairly dry
Vegetation long and cold, Pole in Eurasia shrubs, weather;
summers are and North mosses, precipitati
short and America lichens, on mostly,
relatively grasses in the form
cooler. of
snowfall.

Wild Life-
Seal, Polar
bear, Artic
owl etc.

1. Define the following:

a) Biome: A natural vegetation zone which has wildlife unique to it.
b) Xerophytic plants: Plants that can adapt themselves to the hot and dry climate.
c) Marsupials: Mammals that carry their young ones in a pouch near the stomach.

II) Answer in brief

1. Which are the factors that determine the type of vegetation found in a
region?
 Temperature.
 Rainfall
 Type of soil
 Altitude.

2. Why lumbering an important occupation in the coniferous forests?

Ans- Coniferous forest has softwood, which is useful in making furniture,

matchsticks, paper, newsprint, plywood, sport good etc. which make
lumbering an important occupation. The forests are less dense, of pure stand
and have less undergrowth. Thus, are easily accessible which made lumbering
possible.

3. ‘The evolution of man has had tremendous impact on the other members of
the living world’-Justify.
Ans: Humans have constantly changed the environment to suit their needs:-
 Rising population and their growing demands have forced them to
exploit the natural resources more intensively.
 Human activities like agricultural, grazing, deforestation,
industrialization and urbanization affected our environment.
 Many species of flora and fauna have already become extinct and many
more have been threatened with extinction.
 So, we should consciously work towards preserving our rich
biodiversity.
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