Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Class 9: Notes, MCQs & Questions and Answers
A complete revision resource for Natural Vegetation and Wildlife, covering India’s major vegetation types, flora and fauna, wildlife, conservation and NCERT exercise questions.
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Quick Revision Notes
Factors affecting natural vegetation
Relief and land
Landforms influence vegetation directly and indirectly. Fertile level land is often used for agriculture, while undulating and rough terrain can support grasslands and woodlands.
Soil
Different soils support different vegetation. Sandy desert soils favour thorny vegetation, while wet, marshy and deltaic soils support mangroves.
Climate
Temperature, humidity and precipitation strongly influence the character and extent of vegetation. With increasing altitude, falling temperature changes vegetation belts.
Wildlife and ecosystem
Vegetation provides habitat and food for wildlife. Plants, animals and microorganisms interact with their physical environment as parts of an ecosystem.
Major vegetation types of India
| Vegetation type | Key features | Important examples |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Evergreen | Heavy rainfall, warm and wet conditions, dense multilayered vegetation. | Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, cinchona. |
| Tropical Deciduous | Most widespread; seasonal leaf fall; divided into moist and dry deciduous. | Teak, sal, shisham, sandalwood, bamboo. |
| Thorn Forests & Scrubs | Dry areas; scattered trees, thorny bushes and plants adapted to limited moisture. | Acacia, palms, euphorbia, cactus. |
| Montane Forests | Vegetation changes with altitude from broad-leaved forests to conifers and alpine vegetation. | Oak, chestnut, pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce, cedar. |
| Mangrove / Tidal Forests | Coastal and deltaic areas influenced by tides; plants are adapted to saline and waterlogged conditions. | Sundarbans and other tidal coastal areas. |
Wildlife, conservation and biodiversity
Wildlife diversity
India supports a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles and other species. The chapter highlights elephants, one-horned rhinoceros, tigers, lions, deer, Himalayan animals and many wetland birds.
Threats to species
Habitat loss, hunting, pollution, reckless cutting of forests and the introduction of alien species can disturb ecosystems and threaten plants and animals.
Protected areas
National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves help protect natural habitats, biodiversity and endangered species.
Medicinal plants
The chapter also connects biodiversity with human use, including medicinal plants and other resources selected from India’s diverse natural environment.
66 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife MCQs with Answers
Test your understanding of natural vegetation, flora and fauna, forest types, wildlife, conservation and important geographical terms.
1 Which of the following positions does India occupy in the world with regard to plant diversity?
2 From the point of view of natural vegetation and wildlife, India belongs to which of the following categories?
3 Which one of the following is not included in the group of non-flowering plants?
4 Which of the following types of vegetation does not belong to the category of natural vegetation?
5 Which of the following terms is used for the original plant cover of an area which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time?
6 Which of the following terms is used for a plant community which has grown naturally without human aid and interference?
7 Which of the following terms is used for plants which are at present part of natural vegetation but have originally come to India from abroad?
8 Which of the following terms is used for virgin vegetation which is purely Indian in origin?
9 Which of the following terms is used to denote plants of a particular region or period?
10 Which of the following terms is used to denote animal species of a particular region or period?
11 Which of the following factors influence the type and distribution of natural vegetation?
12 Which of the following types of vegetation is common in fertile, level lands?
13 Which of the following types of vegetation usually develops on undulating and rough terrains?
14 Which of the following types of vegetation grows in the sandy soil of the desert?
15 Which of the following types of vegetation grows in wet, marshy soil?
16 The character and extent of vegetation are mainly determined by which of the climatic factors?
17 Due to which of the following reasons does the vegetation on the slopes of the Himalayas and the hills of the peninsula above the height of 915 metres change from tropical to subtropical, temperate and alpine vegetation?
18 Which of the following types of vegetation grows in areas with mean annual average temperature of above 24°C?
19 Which of the following types of vegetation zones is found in the higher reaches of the Himalayas with mean annual average temperature below 7°C?
20 Trees grow faster in which of the following seasons?
21 Why are the southern slopes in Himalayan region covered with thick vegetation as compared to northern slopes of the same hills?
22 Why are the western slopes of the Western Ghats covered with thick forests and not the eastern slopes?
23 Which of the following types of resources can forests be considered as?
24 How do forests influence the climate of a place?
25 By which of the following ways do forests control the soil cover of an area?
26 Due to which of the following reasons has the vegetation of most of the areas been modified or replaced or degraded?
27 India’s natural vegetation has undergone many changes due to which of the following factors?
28 Which of the following states and union territories of India has the largest percentage of its area under forest cover?
29 Which of the following states of India has the least percentage of its area under forest cover?
30 Which of the following states of India has the largest percentage of the area under forest cover?
31 Ebony, mahogany and rosewood trees are grown in which type of the following forests?
32 At which of the following places are Royal Bengal tigers found?
33 Moist tropical deciduous forests are more prominent in the eastern and central parts of India because:
34 The yak, shaggy-horned wild ox and the Tibetan antelope are found in which one of the following regions?
35 Which among the following natural vegetation is most predominant in India?
36 Which one of the following is the Biosphere Reserve of India?
37 Where in India do flamingos migrate to nest in large numbers?
38 Which forest is affected by tides in coastal areas?
39 Dachigam in Jammu and Kashmir is a
40 Plant community which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for long time, is termed as :
41 Which one of the following trees are found in tropical rainforests?
42 Which parts of Himalayas are covered with dense forest?
43 How many types of plant species are found in India?
44 In which of the following states is Dachigam wildlife sanctuary located?
45 Which one of the following states does not have the Tropical deciduous forests?
46 Ebony, Mahogany and Rosewood trees are grown in which of the following forests?
47 The elephants are found in the hot-wet forests of
48 Which of the following is not a important tree of tropical rainforest?
49 Which one of the following animals lives in the swampy and marshy lands of Assam and West Bengal?
50 A very large ecosystem on land having distinct type of vegetation and wildlife is called
51 Which medicinal plant has high antibiotic and antibacterial properties?
52 The Yak (ox) and the Bharal are found in
53 Silver fir is found in the following type of vegetation zone:
54 Trees in a thorn forest are:
55 Which is the natural habitat of the Indian lion?
56 Which one of the following types of vegetation does rubber belong to?
57 Which of the following trees is used for treating blood pressure?
58 Which of the following forests is found in heavy rainfall areas of the Western Ghats, island groups and upper parts of Assam?
59 Ebony and rosewood trees are found in the areas of rainfall:
60 In which of the following parts of India evergreen forests are found?
61 Tropical rainforests grow well in areas receiving __________ rainfall.
62 Most widespread vegetation in India is
63 In which year Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in India?
64 Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona are the important trees of?
65 Which one of the following bio-reserves of India is not included in the world network bio-reserve?
66 Which of the following types of natural vegetation have originally come to India from abroad?
MCQ Answer Key — Quick Revision
NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
1. Choose the right answer from the alternatives given below.
(i) To which type of vegetation does rubber belong?
A. Tundra B. Tidal C. Himalayan D. Tropical Evergreen
(ii) Cinchona trees are found in areas of rainfall more than:
A. 100 cm B. 50 cm C. 70 cm D. Less than 50 cm
(iii) In which state is the Simlipal bio-reserve located?
A. Punjab B. Delhi C. Odisha D. West Bengal
(iv) Which bio-reserve is not included in the world network of bio-reserves?
A. Manas B. Nilgiri C. Gulf of Mannar D. Nanda Devi
2. Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Define an ecosystem.
(ii) What factors are responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India?
(iii) What is a bio-reserve? Give two examples.
(iv) Name two animals having habitat in tropical and montane vegetation.
3. Distinguish between flora and fauna.
| Flora | Fauna |
|---|---|
| The plant life or vegetation of a particular region or period. | The animal life or animal species found in a particular region. |
Distinguish between tropical evergreen and tropical deciduous forests.
| Tropical Evergreen | Tropical Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Heavy-rainfall areas; dense, multilayered vegetation; trees remain green through the year. | Most widespread forest type; seasonal leaf fall; divided into moist and dry deciduous forests. |
| Examples include ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona. | Examples include teak, sal, shisham, sandalwood and bamboo. |
4. Name the different types of vegetation found in India and describe the vegetation of high altitudes.
High altitudes: Montane vegetation changes with height. Broad-leaved temperate forests occur at lower high-altitude levels, conifers such as pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar occur higher up, and alpine vegetation occurs above the upper forest limit. Near the snow line, only small shrubs, mosses and lichens may survive during the short summer.
5. Quite a few species of plants and animals are endangered in India. Why?
6. Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?
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Start with the revision notes, practise the 66 MCQs, then use the NCERT questions for written-answer preparation.