Question

Look at the figure Answer the following questions:

1. What does the figure show?
2. What do the numbers on the figure represent?
3. How does latitude influence the vegetation?
4. How does latitude influence the fauna of a place?
5. Which latitude will have more biodiversity?

Answer 1

1. The figure shows the vegetation and animal life from the equator to polar areas.
2. The numbers in the figure represent latitudes.
3. Vegetation in any area depends upon the elements of climate such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil condition and amount of insolation received. These conditions vary with latitude. For example, in the lower latitudes that is near the equator there is a hot and wet climate, so dense evergreen forests grow. But in higher latitudes due to extreme cold climate and heavy snowfall, there are hardly trees but mosses and lichen grow.
   Following vegetation grows in different latitudes.
   0° to 10°N and S - Dense, evergreen, hardwood forest
   5° to 30°N and S - Tropical deciduous forest
   10° to 20°N and S - Tropical grasslands
   20° to 30°N and S - Tropical Desert.
   30° to 40°N and S - Mediterranean (Evergreen and Deciduous Forest)
   40° to 50°N and S - Temperate Deciduous Forest.
   40° to 55°N and S - Temperate Grasslands
   50° to 55°N - Taiga (Coniferous Forests)
   65° to 90° N - Tundra
4. As the vegetation changes with latitude, depending upon vegetation and climate, fauna also changes as per the following.
   0° to 10°N and S - Monkeys, birds from the vulture family, hornbills, parrots, various species of insects, butterflies, and reptiles. 
   5° to 30°N and S - Microscopic organisms to large elephants, hippopotamus, rhinos, tiger, lion, gaur, monkeys, etc.
   Birds: Coucal, hornbills, Asian koel, peacock, vultures, falcon, pigeons, sparrows, etc.
   Insects: Ants, butterflies, insects, and worms are in plenty.
   10° to 20° N and S - Rich in herbivore animals, ranging from rabbits to elephants. Main species - antelopes, buffalo, zebra, rhinos, wild beasts, giraffes, warthogs, etc. The carnivore like cats, lions, leopards, cheetah, wild dogs, jackals, hyenas, etc.
   Birds: Vulture, great Indian bustards, Twitter, and ostriches.
   20° to 30° N and S - Mainly carnivores, camels, rats, mongoose, desert turtles, many species of snakes, types of lizards, goats, sheep, donkeys, etc.
   Insects: Houseflies, beetles, moths, types of termites, etc.
   30° to 40° N and S- Rabbits, deer, goats, pigs, horses, brown bears, fix, berry deer, wild cats, goats, and sheep.
   Birds: Vultures, eagles,
   Alligators, reptiles.
   Insects: Various types of insects and honeybees.
   40° to 50° N and S - Animals having thick and soft fur-like brown bears, red fox, sable, mink, etc. are found.
   Birds: Peregrine, falcon, woodpecker, cardinals.
   Insects: Many types of insects.
   40° to 55° N and S - Rich and varied animal life. Herbivores include gazelles, zebras, wild horses wolves, deer, rabbits, the coyote is a carnivore. Ostriches are found in veld grasslands. Kangaroos and dingoes are found in the Downs of Australia.
   50° to 55°N -The animals have thick hides and a thick layer of fats and are hairy. E.g., reindeer, grizzly bears, elk, caribou, etc., are herbivores. Fox mountain lions, puma, and panthers are the carnivores.
   65°N to 90°N - Very scarce animal life. Thick fur and layer of fats in their body helps them to face very cold climate. Herbivores such as musk ox, bears, reindeer, caribou, lemming, rabbits along with carnivores like Arctic fox, dogs, jackals are found.
   Birds: Ptarmigan, ravens, snowy owls, and redpolls are found. The majority are migrants. Seals, walruses are found in coastal areas.
5. Biodiversity is very high at 0° to 10° N and S and 5° to 30° N and S.