1. KASHMEERA N.A.KASHMEERA N.A.
II SEM MSc.ZOOLOGYII SEM MSc.ZOOLOGY
ROLL NO:37ROLL NO:37
CHRIST COLLEGECHRIST COLLEGE

2. Term biome was coined by the American
ecologist Frederic Clements.
“Largest land unit which is convinient to
recognize” – Eugene.P.Odum.
The chief character of a biome is
depicted by climax communities with their
dominant life forms.
Biomes are grouping of ecosystems with
similar environment and vegetation
structure.

3. Tropical rain forests Grasslands Deserts ChapparalsTropical rain forests Grasslands Deserts Chapparals
Temperate deciduous Boreal forests Tundras SavannaTemperate deciduous Boreal forests Tundras Savanna
forestsforests

4. “The planet's lungs.
Home to people and
wildlife. Engines of
green economies.
Forests are essential
to life on Earth ”

5.  Forest biomes are characterised by the
vegetation with densely growing trees having
a closed ,or nearly so,canopy cover.
It include a complex assemblage of
different kinds of biotic communities.
 The nature of soil,wind and air currents
determines the distribution of forest
vegetation.

6. Normally ecologists recognize amoung forest
communities such features as their
evergreen nature,
whether deciduous or indeciduous,
whether broad-leaved as in temperate forests
or needle-like as in conifers.
On the basis of these features the forest
biomes of the world have been classified into
following –
coniferous forest
tropical forest
temperate forest

10. Tropical rain forests occur near the equator in Central and
south America ,central and western Africa
,southeastAsia,Malaya,Borneo,New guinea and Northwest
Australia.
In India the main areas of tropical forest are found in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands; the Western Ghats, and the
greater Assam region in the north-east.
Tropical rain forests are amoung the most diverse
communities on earth.

11. One of the major characteristics of tropical forests is their distinctOne of the major characteristics of tropical forests is their distinct
seasonality: winter is absent, and only two seasons are present (rainyseasonality: winter is absent, and only two seasons are present (rainy
and dry).and dry).
The length of daylight is 12 hours and varies little.The length of daylight is 12 hours and varies little.
Canopy in tropical forests is multilayered and continuous, allowing littleCanopy in tropical forests is multilayered and continuous, allowing little
light penetration.light penetration.
Humidity - high and constant.Humidity - high and constant.
Temperature is on average 20-25° C and varies little throughout the year:Temperature is on average 20-25° C and varies little throughout the year:
the average temperatures of the three warmest and three coldest monthsthe average temperatures of the three warmest and three coldest months
do not differ by more than 5 degrees.do not differ by more than 5 degrees.
Annual rainfall – 200 to 225 cm.Annual rainfall – 200 to 225 cm.
High rate of leaching makes soil useless for agricultural purpose.High rate of leaching makes soil useless for agricultural purpose.

12. Flora is highly diverse: one square kilometer may contain as many as 100 different
tree species.
Trees are 25-35 m tall, with buttressed trunks and shallow roots,
mostly evergreen, moderate size, leathery dark green leaves.
The extremely dense vegetation of the tropical rainforests remains vertically
stratified .

13. Tall trees are often covered with
vinesvines
lianaslianas
epiphyticepiphytic
orchidsorchids
bromeliadsbromeliads

14. Under the tall trees is a continuous evergreen carpet, the canopy layer, some 25
to 35 meters tall.
The lowest layer is an understorey of trees, shrubs, herbs like ferns and palms
Palms fernsPalms ferns

15. Invertebrate density and abundance are very high in tropical rainforests,Invertebrate density and abundance are very high in tropical rainforests,
The common invertebrates of these forests areThe common invertebrates of these forests are
Isopods spiders planarians leeches.Isopods spiders planarians leeches.
Snails millipedes centipedes scorpionsSnails millipedes centipedes scorpions

16. most common insectsmost common insects
Heteropterans orthopterans blattidsHeteropterans orthopterans blattids
Mantids phasmids bees termitesMantids phasmids bees termites
antsants

17. common vertebratescommon vertebrates
Rhacophorus malabaricus
chameleons
agamids
geckoes

18. many species of snakes
many species of birds, social birds being
predominant

19. Mammals with nocturnalMammals with nocturnal
and arboreal habits areand arboreal habits are
most commonmost common
leopardsleopards
slothssloths
monkeysmonkeys
giant flying squirrelsgiant flying squirrels
anteatersanteaters
jungle catsjungle cats

20. Major ground dwellingMajor ground dwelling
mammalsmammals
tigertiger
elephantelephant
samber deersamber deer
muntjacmuntjac
gaurgaur
spotted deerspotted deer
swamp deerswamp deer

22. • The temperate forest biomes are characterized by a moderateThe temperate forest biomes are characterized by a moderate
climate and broad-leaved deciduous trees,climate and broad-leaved deciduous trees,
which shed their leaves in fall, are bare over winter and grow newwhich shed their leaves in fall, are bare over winter and grow new
foliage in the spring.foliage in the spring.
• These forests are the characteristics of North America, Europe,These forests are the characteristics of North America, Europe,
Eastern Asia, Chile, part of Australia and Japan,Eastern Asia, Chile, part of Australia and Japan,
• with an annual rainfall of 75—150 cmwith an annual rainfall of 75—150 cm
• temperature of 10—20°C.temperature of 10—20°C.
• In these biomes the precipitation may be fairly uniformIn these biomes the precipitation may be fairly uniform
throughout the year.throughout the year.
• In India, at elevations of 2743.2m -3655.6m in Himalayas occurIn India, at elevations of 2743.2m -3655.6m in Himalayas occur
temperate vegetationtemperate vegetation
• Soils of temperate forests are podozolic and fairly deep.Soils of temperate forests are podozolic and fairly deep.

23. Trees are quite tall—about 40—
50m in height and their leaves are
thin and broad. The predominant
genera of this biome are:
Maple CottonwoodMaple Cottonwood
Beech Oak HickoryBeech Oak Hickory
Elm Cedar ChestnutElm Cedar Chestnut

24. undergrowth ofundergrowth of
scrubby rhododendrons.scrubby rhododendrons.
vinesvines
Lichen,mossLichen,moss

25. Millipedes Coleoptera OrthopteraMillipedes Coleoptera Orthoptera
SnailsSnails

26. Cricket frog salamanders snakesCricket frog salamanders snakes
Frill-necked lizardsFrill-necked lizards

27. Hawks woodpeckersHawks woodpeckers
Horned owlHorned owl

28. Gray fox Bob catGray fox Bob cat
SkunkSkunk
Racoon Moose Black bearRacoon Moose Black bear

29. Boreal forestsBoreal forests

30. Boreal forests or taigaBoreal forests or taiga
• Boreal forests, or taiga, represent the largest terrestial
biome.
• Occur between 50 and 60 degrees north latitudes,
• boreal forests can be found in the broad belt of Eurasia
and North America.
• Seasons are divided into short, moist, and moderately
warm summers and long, cold, and dry winters.
• The length of the growing season in boreal forests is 5
months.
• Temperature - very low.

31. • Precipitation is primarily in the form of
snow, 40-100 cm annually.
• Soil is thin, nutrient-poor, and acidic.
• Canopy permits low light penetration, and
as a result, understorey is limited.
• Another characteristic feature of this
biome is the presence of numerous lakes

32. • Flora consist mostly of cold-tolerant
evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves,
such as pine, fir, and spruce.

33. • Fauna include
woodpeckers, hawks,
owls,moose, bear,
weasel, lynx, fox, wolf,
deer, hares, chipmunks,
shrews, and bats

35. Mangroves are salt-tolerant plants of tropical and
subtropical intertidal regions of the world.
The specific regions where these plants occur are termed
as 'mangrove ecosystem'.
These are highly productive but extremely sensitive and
fragile.
Besides mangroves, the ecosystem also harbours other
plant and animal species.

36. The distribution of mangroves on Indian coastlines indicates that
the Sundarban mangroves occupy very large area followed by
Andaman-Nicobar Islands and Gulf of Kachch in Gujarat.
Rest of the mangrove ecosystems is comparatively smaller.
Over 1600 plant and 3700 animal species have been identified
from these areas.
According to a status report of the Government of India
publication, the total area of the mangroves in India, was
reckoned at about 6,740 km2.
This covered about 7% of the world mangroves (Krishnamurthy,
1987).
But a recent Indian Remote Sensing Data (Nayak, 1993) showed
that the total area of the mangroves decreased to 4,474 km2

37. The floral diversity of mangroves in India is great.
The Indian mangroves are represented by approximately 59 species
(inclusive of some mangrove associates) from 29 families.
Of the 59 species, 34 species belonging to 21 families are present along
the west coast.
The East coast of India and the Andaman and Nicobar islands show a
higher species diversity as well as unique distribution of mangrove flora.
The east coast is represented by 48 species belonging to 32 genera.

38. Rhizophora apiculata (Red Mangrove):

39. Rhizophora mucronata (Red Mangrove):

40. Avicennia marina
Avicennia officinalis:

41. Acanthus ilicifolius

42.  Since mangroves are transition ecosystems, they give refuge toSince mangroves are transition ecosystems, they give refuge to
terrestrial, marine/brackish water as well as purely intertidalterrestrial, marine/brackish water as well as purely intertidal
organisms, making itself a richly diversed ecosystem.organisms, making itself a richly diversed ecosystem.
The mangroves may play a special role as nursery habitat forThe mangroves may play a special role as nursery habitat for
juveniles of fish whose adults occupy other habitatsjuveniles of fish whose adults occupy other habitats
the submerged mangroves roots, trunks, and branches providethe submerged mangroves roots, trunks, and branches provide
niche for bacteria, fungi, macroalgae, and invertebrates.niche for bacteria, fungi, macroalgae, and invertebrates.
The aerial roots, trunks, leaves and branches host other groups ofThe aerial roots, trunks, leaves and branches host other groups of
organisms.organisms.

43. A number of crab species live among the
roots, on the trunks or even forage in the
canopy.
Insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds and
mammals thrive in the habitat and contribute
to its unique character.
The mangrove fauna could also be classified
as a) Aquatic, b) Semi aquatic and c)
Terrestrial.

44. Zooplankton - mostly includes crustacean larvae
Insects - Apis dorsata (rock bee) and Apis mellifera (European bee).
Butterflies and moths
Salmona butterfly - Salvadora
Hybloea puera -Avicennia marina

45. Molluscs and Crustaceans
20 species of shellfish and 229 species of Crustaceans have been recorded
Mangrove Crab (Scylla cerata)
Telescopium telescopium - an indicator species for mangroves

46. • Fish : Mangroves are the breeding and nursery grounds for
several species of fish.
• There are a total of 105 species of fish which are typical
mangrove dwellers in India.
• Besides, many other species visit the mangrove environment
frequently or occasionally.
• Some common species are - scats, milk fish, mudskippers,
mullets, cat fish, perches, etc.
• Mud skippers. well adapted to alternating period of exposure to
air and submersion and is frequently seen hopping along the mud
at the water's edge

47. Reptiles
•
Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): This is
the largest crocodile found in India or in the world
• Sea Turtles : Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most
common sea turtle in Indian waters. Large nesting sites are found in
Odisha.
• the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Leatherback turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea)

48. • Water Monitor Lizard (Varanus
salvator) : They are a major predator of
crocodile and turtle eggs. Due to
overkilling and very long periods of
incubation (8-9 months) it has become
endangered in India.

49. • Both aquatic as well as tree dwelling birds are commonly found in
mangroves and associated areas
• About 177 species of resident and migratory birds are found in the
mangrove forests.
• The most common among these are
BIRDSBIRDS
Kingfishers storksKingfishers storks
herons sea eaglessea eagles
kiteskites

50. •Flamingoes flock the exposed mud flats, during
the low tides. They use mangrove environs as
breeding and feeding grounds
sand pipers Curlews duckssand pipers Curlews ducks

51. • Royal Bengal Tiger
(Panthera tigris tigris) :
one of the unique resident
species of mangroves of
the Sunderbans .
• Dugong (Dugong
dugong): the Sea Cow,
though a frequent
mangrove visitor, is not an
exclusive mangrove
dweller.
• Otters : Otters are also
visitors of mangroves and
often frequent them in
search of food and shelter

52. Crab eating macaqueCrab eating macaque
The crab eating macaque is an endangered species of monkey.The crab eating macaque is an endangered species of monkey.
In India it is found only in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.In India it is found only in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
This monkey has adapted to the coastal environment and dwellsThis monkey has adapted to the coastal environment and dwells
amongst the mangrove trees.amongst the mangrove trees.
Another adaptation is its skill in catching crabs which helps it to surviveAnother adaptation is its skill in catching crabs which helps it to survive
in the mangrove habitat.in the mangrove habitat.

53. In 2000, the tropical forests in our world looked something like
this:
© WWF / IAASA
If we did nothing, and carried on depleting our forests at the rate
we do today, then by 2100, here's what we'd be left with:
Forests: What future do we want?Forests: What future do we want?