Test: Vegetation & Wildlife - 1 - UPSC MCQ

Tropical Evergreen and Semi Evergreen forests found in specific regions of India are known for their stratified structure, tall trees, and evergreen appearance. These forests thrive in warm and humid areas with abundant precipitation and high temperatures. The vegetation in these forests includes a variety of trees such as rosewood, mahogany, aini, and ebony. The continuous greenery in these forests is due to the absence of a specific season for leaf shedding, flowering, and fruition, contributing to their lush appearance throughout the year.

• Tropical rainforests of India are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, which fringe the Arabian Sea, the coastline of peninsular India, and the greater Assam region in the north-east. Small remnants of rainforest are found in Odisha state.

• Monsoon forest – Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Thorny bushes - The Thorn Forests and Scrubs are found in regions where the rainfall is less than 70cm. The vegetation in these forests is thorny trees and bushes. The Thorn Forests are found in the semi-arid areas of Gujarat & Rajasthan. Tidal forest – Sunderbans

1. Tropical Evergreen forests are characterized by trees reaching heights of up to 60 meters or above. This statement is correct. In the given text, it is mentioned that trees in these forests can reach great heights up to 60 meters or more.

2. Tropical Evergreen forests are found in regions with an annual precipitation of over 200 cm and mean annual temperature above 22°C. This statement is also correct. The text specifies that these forests are found in warm and humid areas with such climatic conditions.

3. The British replaced oak forests in Garhwal and Kumaon with teak for railway construction. This statement is incorrect. According to the text, the British replaced oak forests with pine (chir) for railway construction, not teak.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Tropical Deciduous Forests in India undergo a distinct transformation as the dry season sets in, leading the trees to shed their leaves entirely, hence creating a landscape resembling a vast grassland with naked trees. This shedding is a survival strategy to conserve water during the dry period. These forests are prevalent in regions with rainfall between 70-200 cm and are further categorized into moist and dry deciduous forests based on water availability. Key species in these forests include teak, sal, shisham, and mahua, among others.

• The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve was established in 2001 and includes 3,500.36 km2 of which 1828 km2 is in Kerala and 1672.36 km2 is in Tamil Nadu. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a national wildlife park in Tinsukia, Assam, India.

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is located about 12 km north of Tinsukia town of Assam covering an area of 350 km2. Dihang-Dibang or Dehang-Debang is a biosphere reserve established in 1998. It is in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Mouling National Park and the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary are located fully or partly within this biosphere reserve.

• The reserve spreads over three districts: Dibang Valley, Upper Siang, and West Siang. Nokrek National Park, or Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, is a national park located approximately 2 km from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India. UNESCO added this National park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.

Tropical Rainforest – Bamboo, Cinchona and Forest Mahogany

Tropical Deciduous – Neem, Teak, Shisham and Sal

Mountain Forest – Pine, Deodar and spruce

Thorn Forest - Kikar, Babul, Date, Palm

Ranthambore National Park is a vast wildlife reserve near the town of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, northern India. It is a former royal hunting ground and home to tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles.

• A national park is a park in use for conservation purposes. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns.

• Although individual nations designate their national parks differently, there is a common idea: the conservation of ‘wild nature’ for posterity and as a symbol of national pride.

• The biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests - Found in the Western slope of the Western Ghats: Correct. Tropical evergreen forests are indeed found in the Western slope of the Western Ghats, as well as in the hills of the northeastern region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These forests thrive in warm and humid areas with high annual precipitation.

2. Tropical Deciduous Forests - Found in the hills of the northeastern region: Incorrect. Tropical deciduous forests are typically found in regions with moderate rainfall, such as the plains of the Indian subcontinent. They are not specifically characteristic of the hills of the northeastern region.

3. Tropical Thorn Forests - Found in the deltaic regions: Incorrect. Tropical thorn forests are found in arid and semi-arid regions, such as Rajasthan. They are not found in deltaic regions, which are more likely to have mangrove or tropical forests.

4. Montane Forests - Found in the Himalayan heights: Correct. Montane forests are found in the mountainous regions and are characteristic of the Himalayan heights, where the climate is cooler and supports temperate vegetation.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

1. Tropical Evergreen forests are found in areas with an annual precipitation of over 200 cm and mean annual temperature above 22°C.
This statement is correct. Tropical Evergreen forests thrive in warm and humid areas with high annual precipitation exceeding 200 cm and temperatures above 22°C.

2. The semi evergreen forests in India are found primarily in the deltaic regions.
This statement is incorrect. Semi evergreen forests are found in the less rainy parts of regions that also have tropical evergreen forests, such as the western slopes of the Western Ghats and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, not primarily in deltaic regions.

3. The British replaced oak forests in Garhwal and Kumaon with pine (chirs) for commercial use.
This statement is correct. The British exploited the forests commercially and replaced oak forests with pine (chirs) to meet their needs, such as laying railway lines.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.

Moist Deciduous →Dry deciduous →Wet evergreen →Semi-evergreen.

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests - Found in the Western Ghats: Correct. Tropical evergreen forests are indeed found in the western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

2. Montane Forests - Found in the Rajasthan Desert: Incorrect. Montane forests are found in mountainous regions such as the Himalayas, not in desert areas like Rajasthan.

3. Tropical Thorn Forests - Found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Incorrect. Tropical thorn forests are typically found in desert and semi-desert areas such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, not in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

4. Littoral and Swamp Forests - Found in deltaic regions: Correct. Littoral and swamp forests are indeed found in deltaic regions, such as the Sundarbans in West Bengal.

• Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur.

• The park is majorly famous for its panthers and is one of the best locations in India to see the majestic predators in its natural habitat. The panthers can be easily spotted even during the day time busy at their ordinary quest- hunting and taking proper care of their young ones.

Social forestry, as classified by the National Commission on Agriculture, focuses on the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands to aid in environmental, social, and rural development. It encompasses activities such as urban forestry, rural forestry, and farm forestry. Urban forestry involves managing trees in urban areas, while rural forestry promotes agro-forestry and community forestry. Agro-forestry combines tree cultivation with agriculture, while community forestry engages communities in tree planting on public lands for mutual benefits.

Statement I correctly describes the characteristics of Tropical Evergreen forests in India, emphasizing their stratified nature with different layers of vegetation and the impressive height of trees. This aligns with the features mentioned in the provided text regarding the structure of these forests.
However, Statement II is incorrect. The British colonial exploitation of Indian forests was primarily driven by economic motives rather than preservation. The British aimed at utilizing the forests for commercial purposes such as timber for construction, railway lines, and plantations like tea, rubber, and coffee. Their activities led to significant alterations in the structure and composition of Indian forests, shifting the focus from conservation to exploitation.

Statement-I correctly describes the characteristics of tropical evergreen forests in India, highlighting their typical locations and environmental requirements. These forests indeed thrive in warm and humid regions with specific precipitation and temperature conditions.
Statement-II accurately depicts the historical context of the British exploitation of Indian forests. The British colonial administration recognized the economic value of forests and initiated large-scale exploitation, altering forest structures and compositions for economic gains. This statement provides a historical perspective on the human impact on India's forests during the colonial period.
Therefore, both statements are factually correct, and Statement-II further elucidates the underlying motivations behind the exploitation of India's tropical forests by the British colonial rulers.

1. Teak - Tropical Deciduous Forests: Correct. Teak is a major species found in the moist deciduous forests, which are a type of tropical deciduous forests.

2. Babool - Montane Forests: Incorrect. Babool is typically found in tropical thorn forests, which occur in areas with less rainfall.

3. Deodar - Tropical Thorn Forests: Incorrect. Deodar is found in the montane forests, specifically in the western Himalayan ranges.

4. Laurel - Southern Mountain Forests: Correct. Laurel is a tree species found in the temperate regions of the Southern Mountain Forests, particularly in the Western Ghats.

Thus, only pair 1 and pair 4 are correctly matched. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

Tropical Evergreen and Semi Evergreen forests are primarily found in the western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India. These forests thrive in warm and humid areas with high annual precipitation and temperatures, supporting diverse flora and fauna. The unique characteristics of these forests contribute to their ecological significance and biodiversity, making them vital components of India's natural heritage.

1. Statement 1 is correct: Tropical Deciduous Forests in India are indeed classified into moist and dry deciduous forests based on the availability of water. Moist deciduous forests are found in regions receiving rainfall between 100-200 cm, whereas dry deciduous forests are found in areas with rainfall between 70-100 cm.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Tropical Thorn Forests occur in areas receiving less than 50 cm of rainfall, not between 70-100 cm.

3. Statement 3 is correct: Montane Forests in the northern mountain ranges do show a succession of vegetation types, ranging from tropical to tundra, as the altitude increases. This includes deciduous forests at lower altitudes, wet temperate forests, and eventually alpine pastures and tundra vegetation at the highest altitudes.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B