Exploring Tropical Flora and Fauna Wonders

Life in the tropical and subtropical regions is characterized by lush biodiversity, vibrant ecosystems, and a warm climate. These regions with diverse flora and fauna, situated near the equator, boast rich and diverse flora and fauna, including tropical rainforests and unique wildlife. The abundance of sunlight and rainfall fosters a dynamic environment that supports a myriad of plant and animal species.

Life in the Amazon Basin: Rich Diversity of Flora and Fauna in Equatorial Jungle

• Region: This region with diverse flora and fauna lies close to the equator; between 10°N and 10°S, is a haven for diverse flora and fauna.
  • Numerous tributaries join the Amazon River to form the Amazon basin . 
  • The river basin drains portions of Brazil, parts of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Columbia and a small part of Venezuela.
• Climate: Both days and nights are almost equally hot and humid.
  • The skin feels sticky. It rains almost everyday.
  • The day temperatures are high with very high humidity. 
  • At night the temperature goes down, but the humidity is high.
• Forests and Vegetation: The forests are so thick that the dense “roof” created by leaves and branches does not allow the sunlight to reach the ground. 
  • The ground remains dark and damp.
  • Only shade tolerant vegetation may grow here. Cash crops like coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown.

• Flora and Fauna: Orchids, bromeliads grow as plant parasites. The rainforest is rich in Flora and Fauna.
• Birds such as toucans, hummingbirds, macaws are found..
• Animals like monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs are found.
  • Various species of reptiles and snakes also thrive in these jungles. Crocodiles, snakes, pythons, anaconda and boa constrictor are some of the species.
  • Several species of fishes including the flesh-eating Piranha fish are also found in the river.

• People of the Rainforest: People grow their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest.
  • As hunting and fishing are uncertain, the women keep their families alive by feeding them the vegetables they grow. 
  • They practice “slash and burn agriculture”.
  • The staple food is manioc, also known as cassava that grows under the ground like the potato.
  • They also eat queen ants and egg sacs.
• Changing Scenario: Developmental activities in the Amazon Basin are leading to destruction of biologically diverse flora and fauna rainforest. 
  • Deforestation  is turning lush forests into barren landscapes.

Life in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin: Rich Harvests and Diverse Flora and Fauna Tapestry

• Region: The Ganga-Brahmaputra basin  lies in the sub-tropical region with diverse flora and fauna that is situated between 10°N to 30°N latitudes.
  • The tributaries of the river Ganga like the Ghaghra, the Son, the Chambal, the Gandak, the Kosi and the tributaries of Brahmaputra drain this region with diverse flora and fauna.
• Climate: The area is dominated by monsoon climate. 
  • The monsoon brings rains from mid-June to mid-September.
  • The summers are hot and the winters cool.
• Forests and Vegetation: The soil is fertile, hence agriculture is the main occupation of the people where flat land is available to grow crops.
  • The main crop is paddy, and other crops grown are Wheat, maize, sorghum, gram and millet. 
  • Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are also grown. Banana plantations are seen in some areas of the plain.
  • In West Bengal and Assam, tea is grown in plantations.
  • Silk is produced through the cultivation of silk worms in parts of Bihar and Assam.
  • In the mountains and hills, where the slopes are gentle, crops are grown on terraces.
• Flora and Fauna: The vegetation cover of the area varies according to the type of landforms. 
  • In the Ganga and Brahmaputra plain tropical deciduous trees grow, along with teak, sal and peepal.
• Thick bamboo groves are common in the Brahmaputra plain.
• The delta area is covered with mangrove forests.
• In parts of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, coniferous trees like pine, deodar and fir can be seen. 

• People of the Basin: The environment plays a dominant role in the distribution of the population. 
  • The mountain areas with steep slopes have inhospitable terrain. 
    • Therefore less number of people live in the mountain area of the Ganga- Brahmaputra basin.
  • The plain area provides the most suitable land for human habitation. 
  • The population density of the plains is very high.
    • The Ganga-Brahmaputra plain has several big towns and cities such as Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata.

Sahara Desert Life’s Resilience with Unique Flora and Fauna

• Region: The Sahara desert is located in the continent of Africa , having an area of around 8.54 million sq. km. 
  • It is the world’s largest desert.
  • It touches eleven countries – Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Western Sahara.
• Climate: The climate of the Sahara desert is scorching hot and parch dry.
  • It has a short rainy season. 
  • The sky is cloudless and clear. 
• The moisture evaporates faster than it accumulates.
• Days are extremely hot. 
• The temperatures during the day may soar as high as 50°C and the nights may be freezing cold with temperatures nearing zero degrees.
• Forests and Vegetation: The vegetation here includes cactus, date palms and acacia.
  • In some places there are oasis – green islands with date palms surrounding them.
  • Crops such as rice, wheat, barley and beans are also grown. 
    • Egyptian cotton, which is famous worldwide, is grown here.
  • Camels, hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, many varieties of snakes and lizards are the prominent animal species living there.

• People: The Sahara desert is inhabited by Bedouins and Tuaregs. 
  • These groups are nomadic tribes rearing livestock such as goats, sheep, camels and horses.
    • These animals provide them with milk, hides from which they make leather for belts, slippers, water bottles; hair is used for mats, carpets, clothes and blankets.
  • They wear heavy robes as protection against dust storms and hot winds.
  • The oasis in the Sahara and the Nile Valley in Egypt supports settled population
    • The discovery of oil in Algeria, Libya and Egypt is transforming the Sahara desert.
    • Other minerals of importance that are found in the area include iron, phosphorus, manganese and uranium.