Question 14Discuss the geographical conditions and highlight ecological significanceGS1GS1

पश्चिमी घाट के ऊपरी भाग में शोला वनों के विकास के लिए उत्तरदायी भौगोलिक परिस्थितियों पर चर्चा करें। इनके पारिस्थितिक महत्व को स्पष्ट कीजिए। Discuss the geographical conditions responsible for the development of shola forests in the upper reaches of the Western Ghats. Highlight their ecological significance. (Answer in 250 words)

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Answer Strengths Gaps Keywords

Introduction

The shola forests are temperate grassland forests that develop in the alpine regions.

13 words

Main Body

Geographical conditions:

1Low temperature due to increased altitude

2Orographic precipitation over the western ghats leading to meadows

3Zone of limit of rainfall → during orographic precipitation the winds like are and cause rainfall. However if we increase in altitude, there is a limit beyond which precipitation does not occur due to dew point forming low in atmosphere → The leads to formation of sholas as temperate meadowsland

Ecological significance:

1Floral significance:

← Medicinal plants like Agnyapache are found

← Short trees, sparse there

← Neelakrinmji flowers

Ecological significance (continued):

1Floral significance:

← Medicinal plants like Agnyapache are found

← Short trees, sparse there

← Neelakrinmji flowers

2Faunal significance:

← Breeding zone of Nilgiri Tiger in the region

← Also one of high biodiversity zones (5) Himallis found (Also Nilgiri, mortem fauna in the Asmudel and Bombay sellis)

3Tribes inhabit in these → motty scored pine (Key) RTGs like Indian Poniyone, Kotekolar

(Challenges)Deforestation of sholas in recent times

(a) Invasive Species thread (Key) Lantana Coming cutting sholas clearing

3Tropical of sholas

180 words6 paragraphs

Conclusion

The sholas serve as a distinctive landscape that must be ecologically protected for efficient Himalayan environment relationship

17 words

Diagram

Pyramid diagram showing vegetation zones of Western Ghats from tropical deciduous at bottom to shola forest, with labels for Orograpic Landscape, Wet temperate, Dry temperate, and other zones

Clear geographical explanation of shola formation
Good use of diagram showing vegetational layers
Links altitude, precipitation, and temperature
Mentions ecological significance

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Page 33

Topper

Ishitha Anand

AIR 50

Subject & Paper

GS1GS1

Topic

Salient features of World's Physical Geography

Important Geophysical Phenomena and geographical features

Shola forests of Western Ghats

Writing Stats

210

Total words

Paragraphs

Scientific and analytical

Tone