INDIAN BIODIVERSITY LANDSCAPE

India is a megadiverse country, ranked seventh in species richness, ninth in birds, and fifth in reptiles, accounting for nearly 7% of recorded species.

BIOGEOGRAPHIC REALMS
• Himalayan Region – Palearctic Realm
• Rest of India – Malayan Realm

BIOMES OF INDIA
1. Tropical Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen Forests
• Rainfall: 200+ cm; Temperature: 22°C+
• Areas: Western Ghats (western slopes), NE states, Andaman–Nicobar
• Features: Stratified vegetation, tall trees (up to 60 m), no fixed leaf-shedding time
• Species: Rosewood, Ebony, Mahogany, Aini

2. Tropical Deciduous Forests (Monsoon Forests)
• Rainfall: 70–200 cm
• Moist Deciduous (100–200 cm): NE India, Himalayan foothills, Odisha, Western Ghats
• Dry Deciduous (70–100 cm): Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Central India
• Species: Teak, Sal, Shisham, Mahua, Sandalwood

3. Tropical Thorn Forests
• Rainfall: < 50 cm
• Areas: Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, MP
• Features: Leafless shrubs, xerophytic plants
• Species: Babool, Ber, Khejri, Palas

4. Montane Forests
A. Montane Temperate Forests
• Areas: Middle Himalayas, Nilgiris
• Species: Deodar, Oak, Rhododendrons, Ferns, Juniper

B. Montane Subtropical Forests
• Areas: Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Western Ghats
• Species: Cinnamon, Rhododendron, Sal, Laburnum, Pomegranate

5. Littoral & Swamp Forests
• Salt-tolerant plants (mangroves)
• Areas: Sundarbans, Andaman–Nicobar Islands
• Features: Mudflats, estuaries, tidal creeks

TEN BIOGEOGRAPHIC ZONES OF INDIA
1. Trans-Himalayas – Cold deserts of Ladakh, Lahaul–Spiti; Snow Leopard, Black‑necked Crane  
2. Himalayas – Hangul, Musk Deer, Markhor, Bharal  
3. Deserts – Thar & Kutch; Caracal, Desert Cat, Great Indian Bustard  
4. Semi-Arid – Transition zone; Lions, Caracal, Jackal  
5. Western Ghats – Nilgiri Langur, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr  
6. Deccan Peninsula – Largest zone; Chital, Nilgai, Gaur, Wild Buffalo  
7. Gangetic Plains – Rhino, Elephant, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer  
8. North East India – Richest primate diversity; Hoolock Gibbon, Golden Langur  
9. Islands – High endemism; Narcondam Hornbill, corals  
10. Coastal Region – Beaches, mangroves, coral reefs; Lakshadweep & Andaman coasts

FAUNA CLASSIFICATION
• Vertebrates – Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals  
• Invertebrates – 98% of all species; includes:  
  – Annelids (earthworms)  
  – Mollusks (mussels, oysters)  
  – Echinoderms (sea stars, sand dollars)  
  – Protozoa (amoeba, flagellates)  
  – Arthropods (insects, crustaceans)  
  – Arachnids (spiders, scorpions)

FLORAL DIVERSITY
1. Bryophytes
• Require water for reproduction; grow in moist, shady places
• Examples: Mosses, Liverworts, Marchantia

2. Pteridophytes
• Vascular plants; reproduce via spores; have roots, stems, leaves
• Examples: Ferns, Marsilea, Horsetails

3. Gymnosperms
• Naked seeds; pollination through direct air contact
• Examples: Pine, Cycas, Cedrus

4. Angiosperms
• Flowering plants; seeds enclosed in fruits
• Largest plant group (~300,000 species)
• Examples: Mango, Apple, Banana, Cherry
 

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Subject: Environment

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