Table of Contents
FLORA AND FAUNA:The ecosystem is a complex,interconnected network comprised of biotic and abiotic elements.Biotic elements includes all living organisms such as plants,animals and microorganisms.Whereas abiotic components on the other hand include non living entities that are vital for the survival of life and these include soil,water,climate,air etc.Among all biotic elements,Flora and Fauna are the most fascinating and important ones.
MEANING:
The term flora means all plant lifehttps://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/illustration-showcasing-diverse-flora-fauna-thriving-earth_1055645-467.jpg and the term fauna represents all animal life.Let us go deeper into these terms,exploring their origins and thier etymologies.
FLORA
The term flora in Latin means “Goddess of the Flower.” Flora is a collective term that is mainly used for describing a group of plant life found in a particular region. The whole plant kingdom is representedhttps://keydifferences.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/flora-vs-fauna.jpg by this name.
Flora is classified and differentiated based on many factors. The best among them is the area in which they grow or found. Some grow in desert regions while some in water, some are found in hilly areas while some are fixed to a specific geographic location.
According to the place at which they grow, they also have adaptations. For example, Cactus plants are naturally seen in deserts. They have adaptations like modified leaves or prickles to preserve water and save themselves from predators.
The agricultural flora consists of plants cultivated by men for their use. Horticulture is the practice of growing ornamental and decorative flowers, which are also known as garden flora.
FAUNA
Fauna represents the animal life indigenous to a region. There are many explanations regarding the origin of the word. According to Roman mythology, Fauna or “Faunus” is the name of the goddess of fertility. Another suggestion is “Fauns” which means “Forest spirits.“
Animal kingdom is comprised of a variety of animal life forms. Hence, the classification of fauna is much more complex than the floral division. Therefore, for ease of classification;
- Birds are defined under the name Avifauna.
- Fishes under Pisci Fauna.
- Microorganisms including bacteria and virus are generally counted under animal kingdom, they are known as Microfauna.
- All unknown and undiscovered animals are named as cryptofauna.
Since time immemorial, there have been accounts of animals that have been thought to exist but have eluded the scientific community, thereby classifying them as cryptofauna or cryptids.
Most of these reports are just tales but until recently, a very few have documented through actual physical evidence and scientific scrutiny. One such example is the colossal squid. This cryptid has been allegedly been sighted since the 17th and 18th century, often being cited in the diaries and books of sailors.
It wasn’t until the 21st century when a real proof was found in the form of a live specimen being entangled in a fishing net. It was taken in and studied by scientists who concluded that it was a new species of squid. Since then, there has been confirmation about the existence of giant squids.
The earthhttps://st1.photogallery.ind.sh/wp-content/uploads/indiacom/rich-flora-and-fauna-201609-1474965345.jpg is beautiful because of all these life forms. Other life forms depend on them for various resources and exploit them.
Conservation of flora and fauna is thus important for future survival. Biosphere reserves, national parks, zoos and sanctuaries are a few instances of the measures taken by the government for conservation of flora and fauna. Another example is the Tiger project launched by the Government of India with the goal of saving the tigers in the country from extinction.
IMPORTANCE
The flora and fauna are important for the following reasons:
MAINTAINS ECOLOGICAL BALANCE:
Flora and fauna are very important for the human existence,it also maintains ecological balance. The flora produces oxygen that is consumed by the fauna for their respiratory activities. Fauna, in turn, produces carbon dioxide consumed by the flora for photosynthesis.
Flora and fauna hugely benefit mankind because of its medicinal and food offerings. Animals maintains the equilibrium by feeding on different plants and animals to balance their population on earth.
Animal droppings are also a source of fertilizer. The dead animals decay and act as a supplement minerals for other animals.
AESTHETIC VALUE:
The flora and fauna spread across the earth and its aesthetic value contribute to the aesthetic value of the earth. People visit several biosphere reserves, national parks and zoos, forests, botanical gardens, etc to enjoy the beauty of landmarks. This explains the importance of flora and fauna in our day to day lives.
EXPANSION OF LOCAL ECONOMIES:
Flora and Fauna contribute to the expansion of local economies through tourism. The flora and fauna of Amazon forests attract tourists and scientists which contributes to about 50 million dollars to the Brazilian economy.
Caribbean, Indonesia, Panama are other tourist locations that attract millions of people due to its widespread flora and fauna.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF INDIA:
The flora and fauna in India are diverse with a huge variety of plants and animal varieties. The popular fauna of India includes 500 different varieties of mammals, 2000 species of birds, 30.000 types of insects and several varieties of fish, amphibians and reptiles. Elephants, Royal Bengal Tiger, rhinos, bison, lions are some of the most common fauna found in the country.
India also contains a variety of flora that includes the Alpines, temperate forests, deciduous forests, evergreen forests, oaks, rhododendrons, pine, spruce, deodar, laurels, maples, bamboos and tall grasses,etc.