Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow based on your understanding of m passage.

Biomes are defined as plants, which are evolved in response to climatic conditions and animals adapted to plants as per source food and shelter. This means types of plants and animals communities present in defined climatic conditions are different from other climatic zones. There are basically threat broad climatic conditions influencing biotic communities (temperature, sunshine and precipitation). In addition, local edaphic factors play important role in variation of biological communities with same climatic conditions.

Biome classification is based on average rainfall, potential evapo-transpiration and means annual temperatures. These factors may also vary depending on longitude, latitude and altitude. Whittaker also proposed biome classification based on gradient analysis. There are extreme climatic conditions in certain types of biomes while other has uniform climatic throughout the years. These biomes also differ in species diversity, stratification and canopy cover. Biomes occurring on both sides of equator are known to be rich in biodiversity, evergreen and stratified, while polar and hot desert biomes are very characteristic due to limitation in various climatic factors. Within tropical bromes, there are a number of different units which are known us desert, moist deciduous, deciduous, thorny and grasslands, each having set of climatic ranges and biotic communities.

These naturally occurring biological communities are under threat due to various developmental activities, trade, rapid utilization for health, food and economical purposes etc.

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As these biomes play an important role in regulating various ecological functions, their protection and conservation have been undertaken under various initiatives, rules and regulations and legislation.

1. Explain basis of biome classification with example.

Ans. Biome classification is based on overage rainfall, potential evapo-transpiration and means annual temperatures.

1. Tundra Biome: e.g. fragile ecosystem.

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2. Alpine Biome: e.g. insects.

3. Forest Biome: e.g. grizzly bear.

4. Tropical savanna Biomes: e.g. tropical grasslands.

5. Grassland Biomes: e.g. wild horse.

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6. Desert Biomes: e.g. fruit pat.

2. Describe the role of altitudinal changes in biotic communities.

Ans. The average rainfall, potential eve transpiration and man annual temperatures factors may also vary depending on longitude, latitude and altitude. Within tropical biomes these are numbers of different units when are known as desert, moist deciduous, deciduous thorny and grasslands, each having set of climatic ranges and biotic communities.

3. Explain characteristics of desert biome.

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Ans. Desserts are the biome formed in the driest of environments. Temperature may range from very hot deserts to very cold as in cold deserts. Major hot deserts of the world are situated near the tropics of cancer and Capricorn, with a rainfall of less than 10 mm. The hot and cold deserts may also be distinguished by differences in plant population which are mostly succulent type (e.g. cactus, palo verde trees, creosote bush etc.) Most clod desert have sage bush.

4. Is CITES relevant in protection and conservation of biomes?

Ans. CITES (Conventional on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is an international agreement between governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The text of the convention was agreed upon in 1973, and CITES entered into force on 1 July, 1975. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival and it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 40,000 species of animals and plants.

CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention (‘joined’ CITES) are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties-in other words they have to implement the Convention it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES, is implemented at the national level.

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5. Mention types of protected areas in India. Explain their significance.

Ans. They are ecological/biogeographical areas where biological diversity along with natural and cultural resources is protected, maintained and managed through legal or other effective measures. They are delimited on i.e. basis of biological diversity, e.g., cold desert (Ladakh and Spiti), hot desert (Thar), wetland (Assam), saline swampy area (Sunderbans) etc. Protected areas include national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves.

National Parks:

They are areas maintained by government and reserved for betterment of wildlife. Cultivation, grazing forestry and habitual manipulation are not allowed. There are 89 national parks in India (2005) occupying nearly 1.1% of geographical area.

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Sanctuaries:

They are tracts of land with or without lake where wild animals/fauna can refuge without being hunted. Other activities like collection of forest products, harvesting o timber, private ownership of land, tilling of land, etc. are allowed.

Biosphere reserves: They are multipurpose protected areas which are meant for preserving genetic diversity in representative ecosystems of various natural biomes and unique biologic communities by protecting wild populations, traditional life style of tribals and domesticate plant/animal genetic resources.