India

India As per the international ‘biome’ type of classification based upon climate, fauna and flora and the soil conditions, India can be divided into ten different biogeographic zones (Fig. . and table . ). soil microbial diversity along with the different trophic members • increases ecosystem productivity and provide food resources • act as water traps, filters, water flow regulators and water purifiers (forest cover and vegetation) • climate stability (forests are essential for rainfall, temperature regulation, CO absorption, which in turn regulate the density and type of vegetation) • forest resource management and sustainable development • maintaining balance between biotic components • cleaning up of pollutants – microbes are the biggest degraders of molecules including many anthropogenic ones which are present in effluents, sewage, garbage and agro-chemicals Table . . Biogeographical Zones Of India S. No. Biogeographical Zones Biotic Provinces Area % Biota . Trans Himalaya Comprises mountain areas of Ladakh (J&K), North Sikkim and Lahaul and Spiti of H.P . % Alpine steppe vegetation, richest wild sheep and goat community in the world (renowned for its quality wool), Chiru, black rocked crane, etc., . Himalayas The entire mountain chain running from western to north eastern India . % Alpine forest, orchids, rhodotendrons, wild sheep, mountain goats, shrew, snow leopard, panda etc., . Indian Desert The extremely arid area west of the Aravalli hill range comprising of the sand desert of Rajasthan (Thar) and the salt desert of Gujarat (Kutch) . % Thorn forests, deciduous forest, wild ass (endemic), Indian bustard, camel, foxes,snakes etc., XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- Biodiversity and its Conservation . Semi-arid zones The zones in between the desert and the Deccan plateau including the Aravalli hill range . % Thorn and deciduous forest, mangroves, Nilghai, black buck, four horned antelopes, sambar, chital, spotted deer, Asiatic lion, tiger, leopard, jackal etc., . Western Ghats Mountain ranges from Sat Pena in South Gujarat to the southern most tip of Kerala % Evergreen to dry deciduous forests, Nilgiri langur, Indian elephant. Nilgiri tahr (state animal of Tamilnadu), the grizzled squirrel and