A BRIEF REVISION OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS (01:25 PM):

BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS (CONTINUATION FROM THE PREVIOUS CLASS) (01:31 PM):

• Deccan plateau:
• The largest biogeographic region of India.
• It covers Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,  Telangana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.
• Hard rocks. 
• Temperature: Hot weather conditions.
• Precipitation: 50 cm - 200 cm.
• Vegetation: Tropical moist and dry deciduous, tropical thorn, grasslands.
• Tree species: Teak, Neem, Mahua, Palash (flame of the forest), Babul, Khair, Tendu, Red sanders, etc.
• Wildlife: Tigers, Elephants, Cheetal, Blackbuck (State Animal of Andhra Pradesh), Barking deer, Sambhar deer, Neelgai, Swamp deer (State Animal of Madhya Pradesh), Indian Bison/Gaur (largest bovine species), Great Indian Bustard, Sloth beer, Monitor Lizard, etc.
• Protected areas: Panna Tiger Reserve, Panna Biosphere Reserve, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh N.P. and Tiger Reserve, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Durgavati T.R., Pench N.P., Tadoba N.P., Melghat T.R (Crater lake is situated in it), Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Pachmarhi B.R., Guru Ghasidas N.P., Simplipal N.P., and B.R., Srisailam Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve (Largest Tiger Reserve area of the country), Daroji Sloth Beer Sanctuary, Bannerghatta N.P., Papikonda N.P., Seshachalam B.R., etc.
• North-East Biogeographic region (02:05 pm):
• Nature of topography: Totally hilly region except for the plains of Assam.
• Temperature: Remains higher.
• Precipitation: Approx. 200 cm/annum (Bay of Bengal branch).
• Biodiversity: One of the richest and exhibits high endemism.
• Vegetation: Wet Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen, Moist deciduous.
• Trees: Bamboo, Teak, Carnivorous plants (Pitcher plant).
• Wildlife: Great Indian Hornbill (also found in western ghats), Amur Falcon, One Horned Rhino (90% found in Assam only), Tigers, Elephants, Red Panda (State animal of Sikkim), Sangai deer/dancing deer (Phumdis - Floating biomass), Bengal florican (one of the three Bustard bird of India), Golden langur (Endemic to north-east), Hoolock Gibbon, Pygmy hog, Mithun (FSSAI officially recognized it as food animal), Gaur etc.
• Protected areas: Kaziranga N.P., Kaibul Lamjao N.P., Manas T.R./Biosphere Reserve, Orang N.P./T.R., Dehing Patkai N.P., Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (have a high density of rhinoceros), Buxa T.R., Dampa T.R., etc.
• Coastal and Islands (02:26 pm):
• Nature of topography: Low elevation, plains, brackish water.
• Temperature: Moderately high.
• Precipitation: Varies.
• Vegetation:
• Andaman: Wet and Semi Evergreen; Western coast: Semi-Evergreen; Coromondal cost: Dry Evergreen.
• Mangrows, Coral reefs.
• Four major patches of coral reefs in India: Andaman & Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar, and Gulf of Kutch.
• (Not found in the eastern coast).
• Volcano: Narcondam and Barren.
• Wildlife:
• Coast: Tiger, Olive Ridley Turtles, Saltwater crocodiles, Irrawaddy Dolphins, Fishing cats (state animal of West Bengal), Dugong (Sea cow) (an indicator of water pollution), etc.
• Island: Saltwater crocodiles, Dugong, Leatherback sea turtle, Nicobar Megapode (critically endangered), etc.
• Protected areas: Sundarbans (Ramsar site, T.R, B.R. ), Gahirmatha, Bhitarkanika, Chilka Lake, Kolleru Lake (Ramsar site), Guindy N.P. (Known for crocodiles and snakes), Gulf of Mannar B.R. (Ramsar site), Pichavaram (Ramsar site), Galathea N.P., etc.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS (02:49 PM):

• i) Habitat loss:
• Reasons:
• Deforestation, land degradation, and soil erosion, urbanization, destruction of natural wetlands and water bodies, fragmentation of forests, forest fires, etc.
• Forest fire: Fire in the forest in an uncontrollable manner and spread from one part to another.
• It is most common in the Western Ghats and Uttarakhand.
• Conditions favoring forest fires:
• Usually occurs in deciduous and thorn forests.
• Dry seasons.
• Human habitats nearby to the forest area.
• Dry and warm air.
• Types:
• Crown fire, Ground fire, and Bush fire (Australia).
• Causes:
• Natural:
• Dry winds, Arid conditions, Lightning, Rolling of stones, Swaying of bamboo.
• Anthropogenic:
• Unintentional:
• Negligence by tourists, Power lines, Negligence by surrounding villages as well as by tribals living inside the forests, etc.
• Intentional:
• Shifting cultivation, Stubble burning, burning the forest for species replacement, Poaching purposes, and other illegal activities, etc.
• How to control forest fire (03:20 pm):
• Education and awareness.
• Developing forest fire lines.
• Strict implementation of rules.
• Controlled burning.
• Using specific sign boards inside the forests.
• Fire drills for forest officials.
• ii) Overexploitation (03:26 pm):
• Reasons:
• Overgrazing, cutting of trees, shifting cultivation, monoculture practices, extensive commercial agricultural practices, overfishing, bottom trawling, excessive extraction of groundwater, Excessive use of pesticides, etc.
• iii) Pollution (03:34 pm):
• Water pollution:
• Eg: Algal blooms and eutrophication, excessive release of sewage and industrial waste into rivers (Gangetic dolphin), coral bleaching, destruction of mangroves, oil spills, the release of hot water from thermal and nuclear power plants, etc.
• Air pollution:
• Eg: Smog and Ozone holes reducing the photosynthetic capacity, Lichens do not survive in polluted air, fly ash, acid rain, etc.
• Soil Pollution:
• Eg: Soil erosion results in loss of topsoil, Struble burning
• Light pollution:
• Eg: Disturbance of natural biological cycles, disturbance of natural migratory cycles/routes
• Radiation pollution:
• Eg: Decrease in the number of house sparrows.
• iv) Climate change (03:37 pm):
• Reasons: 
• Global warming (Eg: Coral bleaching, bird migration), Ocean warming, Ocean acidification, disturbance in the ocean circulation pattern, loss of biodiversity of taiga and polar region, etc.
• (Note: The faculty played an informative video on the main screen from 03:57 pm to 04:07 pm).

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: Continuation of Biodiversity.