OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS (01:14 PM)

BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION (01:32 PM)

• Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species(Biology), Organisms and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
• The biogeographic classification of India involves 10 biogeographic zones with distinctive biogeographic characteristics.
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• There are a total of 10 biogeographic regions:

A) TRANS-HIMALAYA (01:46 PM)

• Spans across the region of Ladakh and parts of Kashmir, Lahaul Spiti Valley, and Northern Sikkim.
• TOPOGRAPHY
• a) High-elevated mountains
• b) Low-temperature 
• c) Low precipitation.
• d) Cloud burst.
• VEGETATION
• Barren, with very limited vegetation along the valleys.
• Sand dunes are also found because of the strong erosion.
• FAUNA
• Double humped camel is found here.
• Snow leopard.
• Yak.
• Tibetan antelope Chiru.
• Pashmina wool is famous here(Changthangi goat).
• The Changpa tribe raised the Changthangi goat.
• Tibetan wild ass is also found here.
• Black-necked crane.
• NATIONAL PARK
• a)Hemis National Park(Largest National park of India)
• b)Pin Valley National Park (Cold desert biosphere reserve)

B)HIMALAYAS (02:16 PM)

• TOPOGRAPHY
• Higher rainfall as compared to trans Himalayas.
• Huge variation of elevation. (1000-8000 m).
• Frequent changes in the topography are common.
• REGIONS
• J&K.
• Himachal Pradesh.
• Uttrakhand.
• Sikkim
• Arunachal Pradesh.
• VEGETATION
• Demarcated by elevation.
• Coniferous 
• Alpine.
• Vegetation includes chir pine.
• Rhododendrone (Endangered tree).
• Bugyals (Transhumance is practiced in the region)
• FAUNA
• Snow leopards
• Himalayan brown bear
• Kashmir stag (Critically endangered) also called Hangul.
• Himalayan Tahr.
• Elephants in the Shivalik region.
• Red panda.
• Musk deer.
• NATIONAL PARK
• Dachigham National Park
• Rajaji National park.
• Nanda devi Biosphere reserve(UNESCO recognised) and National park.
• Valley of Flowers National Park.
• Gangotri National Park.
• Namdapha National park.
• Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Maolin National Park.
• Dihang Dibang Biosphere reserve.

C)GANGETIC PLAINS

• AREA
• UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Lower part of UP.
• CHARACTERISTICS
• It is flat alluvial plains and one of the most fertile regions of India and this is the reason for the devastating destruction in this area.
• Climatic condition extreme: Too hot summer, Too cold winters.
• Precipitation decreases from East to west, However towards the north in the foothills of the Himalayas the rainfall increases.
• Both moist and dry deciduous is found.
• VEGETATION
• Sal, Teak, Sheesham.
• FAUNA
• Tiger, Gangetic dolphin, and Rhino are common here(Though 90% is confined to Assam, Rest 10 % is found here).
• Nilagi.Chinkara, Blackbuck, Swamp deer, Hog deer, Gharial, Magar, Saras crane(Tallest flying bird).
• NATIONAL PARK
• Jim Corbett National Park (First national park of India), It is also the first tiger reserve in India.
• Dudhwa National Park, UP.
• Pilibhit National park and Tiger reserve.
• Valmiki National park and tiger reserve.
• Gangetic Dolphin sanctuary i.e. Vikramshila.(India's first dolphin sanctuary).

D)SEMI-ARID (03:30 PM)

• REGIONS
• Eastern Gujarat, Rajasthan, Malwa plateau.
• VEGETATION
• Tropical thorn forest, Babul.
• FAUNA
• All four big cats, Blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard(Critically Endangered and also heaviest of all the flying birds), Saras crane.
• NATIONAL PARK
• Kuno Palpur national park.
• Sariska, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Keoladeo wildlife sanctuary, National park.

E)DESERT (03:50 PM)

• REGIONS
• Rajasthan, Gujarat.
• TOPOGRAPHY
• Salt pans are found.
• Overall precipitation less than 25 cm per annum.
• VEGETATION
• Xerophytic, Cactus.
• Sanddunes of western Rajasthan are known as Marusthal.
• Banni grassland near to Kutch region.
• FAUNA
• Tigers in some parts, Blackbucks, Leopards, Great Indian bustard, Asiatic wild ass.
• Kharai camels(Capable of swimming)
• NATIONAL PARK
• Wild ass sanctuary, Desert national park.

F)WESTERN GHATS (04:01 PM)

• REGION
• Starts from south of Tapi in Gujarat and ends in Kanyakumari.
• CHARACTERISTICS
• High precipitation in western ghats because of the sudden elevation because of which sudden upliftment of the winds.
• FLORA
• Red sandalwood, Neel kurunji etc.
• FAUNA
• Endemic in nature like lion-tailed macaque, Malabar civet
• Flying lizard, Asiatic elephant, Nilgiri tahr, King cobra, Barking dear, Malabar giant squirrel, Masheer.
• NATIONAL PARK
• Kudremukh National Park, Nagarhole National Park & tiger reserve, Bandipore National park & Tiger reserve, BR hills, Satyamangalam tiger reserve, Mudumalai tiger reserve, Silent valley national park.Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar tiger reserve.

The topic for the next class: Deccan peninsula, Northeast and Island biogeographic regions.