Conservation Of Plants And Animals Online Test 8th Science Lesson 22 Questions in English

Explanation

Our planet earth is filled with so many species of plants and animals. According to the scientists there are about 70 – 100 lakh species on the earth.

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The sum total of all these animals is called biodiversity. Bio means life, diversity means variety or different. Thus bio-diversity means variety of life forms on the earth and the essential interdependence of all living things. Forests are abundant with fruit trees and flowers and inhabited by chirping birds, prancing deer and plenty of other animals. All through the literature of ages, it has been mentioned that India is full of forests filled with wildlife.

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Forests provide many important goods such as timber, paper and medicinal plants. They control water runoff, protect soil, and regulate climate changes. But the forests all around the world are being destroyed.

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Destruction of forests in order to make the land available for different uses is known as deforestation. Deforestation has resulted in several ecological imbalances such as increase in temperature, deficiency in rainfall etc. It has also resulted in the extinction of several species of animals and plants.

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Deforestation may be caused by nature or it may be due to human activities. Fires and floods are the natural causes for deforestation.

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Human activities which are responsible for deforestation include agricultural expansion, cattle breeding, illegal logging, mining, oil extraction, dam construction and infrastructure development.

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With increasing population, there is an overgrowing demand for food production. Hence, large amounts of trees are chopped down for crops and for cattle grazing. More than 40% of the forests are cleaned to obtain land and to meet the needs of agriculture.

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With the expansion of cities more land is needed to establish housing and settlement. Requirements like construction of roads, development of houses, mineral exploitation and expansion of industries also arise due to urbanisation. Forests are destroyed to meet all these needs.

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Mining of coal, diamond and gold require a large amount of forest land. So, a large number of trees is cut down to clear the forest area. Moreover, the waste that comes out from mining pollutes the environment and affects the nearby plants.

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To provide water supply to the increasing population, large size dams are constructed. Hence, a great-extend of forest area is being cleared.

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We need wood to meet the needs of our daily life. Wood-based industries like paper, match-sticks, furniture need a substantial amount of wood supply. Wood is the most commonly used fuel. Thus, a large number of trees are being cut down for fuel supplies. Some people are involved in illegal wood cutting and destroys number of trees. This is the main reason for the destruction of some valuable plants.

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Chipko Movement is primarily a forest conservation movement. The word ‘Chipko’ means ‘to stick’ or ‘to hug’.

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Sunderlal Bahuguna was the founder of Chipko movement. It was started in 1970s with the aim of protecting and conserving trees and preserving forest from being destroyed.

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In many forests, fires are usually expected from time to time. They may be caused by humans, accidents or natural factors. Forest fires wipe out thousands of acres of forest land each year all over the world. This has tremendous effects on biodiversity and the economy as well.

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Every year 1.1 crore hectares of forests has been cut down around the world. In India alone 10 lakh hectares of forests are destroyed which has resulted in so many harmful effects.

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There has been a long history of interdependence between man and the forests. Our survival without forest will be very difficult. They supply us the oxygen we need, cause rainfall and provide so many things needed for our life. But increase in population has resulted in the destruction of forests.

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More than 80% of the world’s species remain in the tropical rainforest. Reports say that about 50 – 100 species of animals are being lost each day as a result of destruction of their habitat.

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Widespread trees in the forests protect the soil from the heat of the sun. When the trees are cut down, soils are exposed to the sun’s heat. Extreme temperature of the summer dries up the moisture and makes the nutrients to evaporate. It also affects the bacteria that helps in the breakdown of organic matter.

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Trees suck the water from the roots and release the water into the atmosphere in the form of vapour during transpiration. When trees are cut down the amount of water vapour released decreases and hence there is a decrease in the rainfall.

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Trees absorb and store a large amount of water with the help of their roots. When the trees are cut down, the flow of water is disrupted and it leads to flooding in some areas.

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Amazon forest is the largest rain forest in the world, located in Brazil. It covers 6000000 square km. It helps to stabilize the earth’s climate and slow global warming by fixing Co2, and producing 20% of the world’s oxygen in the process. It has about 390 billion trees. It is the lungs of the planet.

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Carbon dioxide along with water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone forms the green-house gases. These gases are responsible for global warming.

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We inhale oxygen present in the atmosphere and release carbon dioxide as waste. In turn trees absorb the carbon dioxide and provide us the oxygen during photosynthesis. Deforestation reduces the number of trees and hence the amount of carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere.

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The solar energy falling on the earth’s surface is reflected into the atmosphere. A part of this energy is reflected by the green house gases back to the earth to keep it warm and a part goes into the space. But gases such as methane and carbon dioxide accumulating in the atmosphere trap the heat energy inside the atmosphere leading to increase in temperature. This is called global warming. This results in the melting of glaciers in the polar region and affects the living organisms like polar bear

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Indigenous people live in and depend on forests for their survival. They get their food and many other resources from the forests. Destruction of forests affects their livelihood.

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Afforestation is the process of planting trees, or sowing seeds, in a barren land to create a forest. As we all know due to deforestation the climate is changing alarmingly in these days and there is no seasonal rainfall. Because of this many cities are facing water scarcity and many of the lands are becoming barren.

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The term social forestry was first used in 1976 by the then National Commission on Agriculture, Government of India. It means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren land with the purpose of helping the environment, social and rural development.

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Importance of afforestation is given below:

• Afforestation helps the wild animals and even humans to have shelter and to find their food source.
• Through afforestation we can increase the supply of oxygen. Trees planted can increase the water vapour in the atmosphere to get the rainfall
• By planting trees, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be reduced and thus the effects of air pollution, green-house gases and global warming can be controlled.
• Afforestation enables us to avoid desertification of land

Explanation

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in the year 1977. GBM has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004.

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Reforestation is the natural or intentional replanting of the existing forests that have been destroyed through deforestation. Reforestation may sound similar to afforestation but both of them are not same.

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Reforestation may sound similar to afforestation but both of them are not same. Reforestation is replanting of trees in a land area which had lost its forest cover for some reason. But afforestation is growing forest in an area which originally had no tree cover. Reforestation is an effective strategy to fight global warming.

Explanation

Importance of reforestation is given below:

• Reforestation improves the quality of air we breathe by reducing carbon dioxide in it.
• The effects of deforestation can be checked and global warming can be reduced.
• Reforestation restores habitat loss and degradation and threats to species.
• Forest restoration can reverse the damage done by soil erosion.  Reforestation will revive the watersheds which are important aspects of environmental well-being.
• Reforestation maintains the water cycle of the area as trees absorb moisture through the leaves and roots.
• Transpiration of trees helps to restore the moisture of the atmosphere and to maintain the temperature in the local environment.

Explanation

Deforestation: When the plants or trees are cut down, it is called deforestation. Deforestation has a negative effect on the environment.

Reforestation: When the plants or trees are grown or planted, it is called reforestation. Reforestation has a very good effect on the nature, as it builds the environment.

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Explanation

Our country is a home for variety of species and rich flora and fauna. Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular area. Fauna is the animal life occurring in a particular area.

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Each year, 22nd May is celebrated as World Biodiversity Day. Biodiversity is a term used to describe the different plants, animals, marine life, microorganisms, insects, habitats, ecosystem etc. that make our planet so unique and so fascinating.

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The Royal Bengal Tigers, the Asiatic Cheetah and several other birds are found in India. But due to various reasons like environmental pollution, deforestation, loss of habitat, human interference, poaching and hunting many animals in India are extinct and many are endangered.

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Species which no longer exist on earth are called extinct species. e.g. Dinosaurs, Dodo. Falcon is bird which is getting rare nowadays.

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An endangered species is an animal or a plant that is considered to be at the risk of extinction. It means that there are only few of them left on the earth and soon they might extinct. It is reported that nearly 132 species of plants and animals are critically endangered in India

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Snow leopard, Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Purple frog and Indian giant squirrel are some of the endangered animals in India.

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Many algae, fungi, bryophytes, ferns and gymnosperms are disappearing with the destruction of forests. And, each disappearing species may take away with it many species of animals and microbes which depend on them for food and shelter.

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Prawns, oysters, lobsters, crabs, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, beetles, dragonfly, grasshoppers, fish and even frogs are dying of absorbing poisonous gases through their skin. Locust is one insect which has almost disappeared from India

Explanation

• Reptiles: Some lizards, turtles, crocodiles and gharials.
• Birds: Falcon, eagle, hawk, vulture, peacock-peahen, pigeon, duck.
• Mammals: Wild cats such as tigers, lions, deer such as chinkara and blackbuck, chiru (Tibetan goat), musk deer, rhino, elephants, blue whale, flying squirrel.

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Explanation

Whether a particular species is endangered or not is determined by the following ways:

• When the geographical range of the species is limited.
• The population of the species is limited i.e., less than 50 adult individuals.
• When the population has decreased or will decrease by more than 80% in 10 years.
• If the population is less than 250 individuals and is continuously declining at 25% for the past three years.
• There is a high possibility of extinction in the wild.

Explanation

Yeoman Butterfly has been declared state butterfly of Tamil Nadu. This species is endemic to Western Ghats. It is among 32 butterfly species found in Western Ghats.

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Causes for Endangerment:

• Loss of habitat: Trees that provide food and shelter to so many species are destroyed due to human intervention
• Over hunting and poaching: Large number of animals is hunted for their horns, skin, teeth and many other valuable products.
• Pollution: Number of animals are affected by pollutions like air pollution and water pollution. In the recent years more number of animals is affected by wastes in the form of plastic.
• New habitat: Sometimes animals are taken by people to new habitat where they do not naturally live. Some of them may extinct and some may survive. Th e new ones may also get attacked by the species already living there and cause their extinction.

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At one time Dinosaur, ferns and some gymnosperms were wide spread on the earth. They disappeared from the earth, may be due to shortage of space and food or due to climatic change.

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Nature is beautiful and it is filled with different plants and animals. For maintaining healthy ecological balance on the earth, animal and plant species are important. They have medicinal, scientific, ecological and commercial value. Each organism on the earth has a unique place in food chain that contributes to the ecosystem.

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Some of the animal species are endangered mainly because of hunting and poaching. If it is controlled there can be a significant change in the number of endangered animals. Controlling pollution can have a positive impact on animals, fish and birds all over the world.

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When we consume more, more pollutants are put into the environment. By consuming less, we can protect the ecosystems. Animals often mistake plastic for food and hence plastics harm and cause endangerment of many species. Limiting the amount of plastic and recycling it can save the endangered animals.

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Planting the native trees like Neem tree, Umbrella tree and Banyan tree in our surrounding will be helpful for the animals. Many birds and animals find shelter in those trees.

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In order to preserve the plants and animals, government has taken lot of initiatives and some acts have been passed to protect them. For example, Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation project initiated in India in 1972 to protect the Bengal Tiger. It was launched on 1st April 1973 and has become one of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures.

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Corbett National Park was the first National Park in India to be covered under project Tiger. Due to ‘Project Tiger’ the population of Tiger has increased in India from 1400 in 2006 to 2967 in 2018.

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The government has enacted the following Acts

1. Madras Wildlife Act, 1873. 2. All India Elephant Preservation Act, 1879. 3. The Wild Bird and Animal Protection Act, 1912. 4. Bengal Rhinoceros Preservation Act, 1932. 5. All India Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 6. Environmental Protection Act, 1986.

Explanation

The Red Data Book is the file for recording rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi. Even some local sub-species that exist within the territory of a state or country are recorded in red data books. Red data book gives important data for observational studies and monitoring programmes on habits and habitats of rare and endangered species.

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Red Data Book is maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

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Red Data Book was founded in 1964 with the aim of maintaining a complete record of every species that ever lived.

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The Red Data Book classifies species mainly into three categories namely, threatened, not threatened and unknown. This Book also has information as to why a species has become extinct along with the population trends and its distribution.

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The Red Data Book contains colour-coded information sheets like black for species which are extinct, red for species that are endangered and so on. They are arranged according to the extinction risk of many species and subspecies.

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Advantages of the Red Data Book:

• It helps to evaluate the population of a particular species.
• The data given in this book can be used to evaluate the species at the global level.
• The risk of a species becoming globally extinct can be estimated with the help of this book.
• It provides guidelines for implementing protective measures for endangered species.

Explanation

World Wildlife Day is observed on March 3rd every year. Red Data Book is maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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India, a mega-diverse country with only 2.4% of the world’s land area, accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species, including over 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals.

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The country’s diverse physical features and climatic conditions have resulted in a variety of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal and marine ecosystems which harbour and sustain high biodiversity and contribute to human well-being.

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Four out of 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots, the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the North-East, and the Nicobar Islands, can be found in India.

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India became a State Member of IUCN in 1969, through the Ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Surveys conducted by the Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provide the data for this book.

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The IUCN India Country Office was established in 2007 in New Delhi. Red Data Book of India contains the conservation status of animals and plants which are found in the Indian subcontinent.

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According to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) there has been 60% decrease in the size of population of animals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians over the past 40 years. In order to leave something for the future generation, we need to conserve it now.

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Conservation is the protection, preservation, management of wildlife and natural resource such as forest and water. Conservation of biodiversity helps us to protect, maintain and recover endangered animals and plant species.

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Conservation is of two types. They are:

• In-situ conservation (within habitat)
• Ex-situ conservation (outside the habitat)

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In-situ conservation is achieved by protection of natural habitat and maintenance of endangered species in certain protected areas such as national parks, wildlife or bird sanctuaries and biosphere reserves.

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In-situ conservation is nothing but conservation of living resources within the natural ecosystem in which they occur. In India, there are about 73 national parks, 416 sanctuaries and 12 biosphere reserves.

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A National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife. Here, activities like forestry, grazing or cultivation are not permitted. The national parks cover an area of 100 – 500 square kilometres. In these parks a single plant or animal species are preserved.

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A sanctuary is a protected area which is reserved for the conservation of animals only. Human activities like harvesting of timber, collection of forest products and private ownership rights are allowed here. Controlled interference like tourist activity is also allowed.

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Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Human activities are allowed.
• Main aim is to protect a particular flora or fauna.
• There are no fixed boundaries.
• It is open to the general public
• Sanctuaries are usually formed by the order of Central or the State Government
• A sanctuary can be upgraded to a national park

Explanation

National Parks:

• No human activities are allowed
• Can include flora, fauna or any other objects of historical significance.
• Boundaries are fixed and defined
• Not usually open to the public
• National Parks are formed by the State or Central Legislature.
• A national park cannot be downgraded to a sanctuary

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Explanation

Biosphere is a protected area where human population also forms the part of the system. The area of these places will be around 5000 square kilometres. They conserve the eco system, species and genetic resources. These areas are set up mainly for economic development.

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85. Explanation

    Advantages of In-situ conservation:

    • Species can be adapted to their habitat.
    • Species can interact with each other.
    • Natural habitat is maintained.
    • It is less expensive and easy to manage.
    • Interests of indigenous people are protected

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Ex-situ Conservation is the conservation of wildlife outside their habitat. Establishing zoos and botanical gardens, conservation of genes, seedling and tissue culture are some of the strategies followed in this method.

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Zoological parks are the areas where wild animals are conserved. In India there are about 800 zoological parks.

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The oldest zoo is Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, established in the year 1759. In India the first Zoo was established in Barrachpur in the year 1800.

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The seed bank preserves dried seeds by storing them in a very low temperature. The largest seed bank in the world is the Millennium Seed Bank in England.

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Cryo Bank is a technique by which a seed or embryo is preserved at a very low temperature. It is usually preserved in liquid nitrogen at –196⁰ C. This is helpful for the conservation of species facing extinction.

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A Biodiversity Management Committee is set up in each local body according to the provisions of Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This committee prepares the People’s Biodiversity Registers with the guidance and technical support of National Biodiversity Authority and the State Biodiversity Boards.

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Biomagnification is the increase in contaminated substances due to the intoxicating environment. The contaminants might be heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic and pesticides such as polychlorinated biphenyls and DDT (Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloro ethane). These substances are taken up by the organisms through the food they consume. When the organisms in the higher food chain feed on the organisms in the lower food chain containing these toxins, these toxins get accumulated in the higher organisms.

Explanation

Causes of Bio-magnification:

• The agricultural pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers and fungicides are very toxic and are released into the soil, rivers, lakes, and seas.
• Organic contaminants cause adverse impact on the health of humans, animals, and wildlife
• Mining activities generate a large amount of sulphide and selenium deposits in water.

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Blue Cross is a registered animal welfare charity in the United Kingdom, founded in 1897 as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’. The vision of this charity is that every pet will enjoy a healthy life in a happy home.

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Blue Cross organisation was founded to care for working horses on the streets of London, UK. It opened its first animal hospital, in Victoria, London, on 15 May 1906.

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Captain V. Sundaram founded the Blue Cross of India, the largest animal welfare organization of Asia in Chennai in the year 1959. He was an Indian pilot and animal welfare activist. Now, Blue Cross of India is country’s largest animal welfare organizations and it runs several animal welfare events like pet adaptation and animal right awareness.

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Blue Cross of India has received several international and national awards. This organization is entirely looked after by volunteers. The main office is located at Guindy, Chennai, with all amenities like hospitals, shelters, ambulance services and animal birth controls, etc.

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CPCSEA stands for ‘The Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals’. It is a statutory committee set up under the Preservation of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It has been functioning since 1991 to ensure that animals are not subjected to unnecessary suffering during experiments on them.