An Overview of Flora and Fauna, Practice Problems and FAQs

We all are part of an ecosystem. An ecosystem is considered as a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. You know that it includes abiotic and biotic components. Examples include pond ecosystems.

Fig: Pond ecosystem

Can you tell me what are the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem? Yes, abiotic components include water, air, inorganic ( like nitrogen) and organic (like carbohydrates) nutrients present in soil, water and air. Biotic components include living organisms like producers, consumers and decomposers. Flora and Fauna are the most important part of the biotic components. So let’s understand more about flora and fauna in this article.

Table of contents

• Flora
• Taxonomic hierarchy - Common to plants and animals
• Importance of flora
• Fauna
• Importance of fauna
• Importance of plants and animals
• Differences between flora and fauna
• Practice Problems
• FAQs

Flora

Flora is a collective word that represents a group of plant life present in a particular geographic area. It generally represents the entire Kingdom Plantae or Metaphyta. This word originated from Latin and means ‘Goddess of the flower.’ Flora of a region depends on various factors prevailing in that area. It differs based on the location. For example, desert plants and aquatic plants. These plants possess adaptations to thrive in that particular area. Cactus plants (Opuntia) are found in deserts and they show adaptations such as modified leaves or prickles to help them save water and protect themselves from predators.

Fig: Flora

Taxonomic hierarchy - Common to plants and animals

While categorising the organism, the relationship between each organism will make them get added in a particular group or category. Hence the organisms with similar characteristics will get into the same group. Each category is called a taxon and these taxa are arranged in different levels.

The framework by which taxonomic groups or taxons are arranged in definite order, from lower to higher categories or in progressively complex categories is called taxonomic hierarchy. It is also called the Linnaean hierarchy because it was first proposed by Linnaeus. He first used only five categories and they were the class, order, genus, species and variety. Phylum includes different classes of animals. The term Phylum is used in the classification of animals and the term Division is used in the classification of plants. For example, division Thallophyta includes class Rhodophyceae (red algae), class Phaeophyceae (brown algae) and class Chlorophyceae (green algae). The last one was discarded and three more added in its place, so that now there are seven obligate categories as follows:

• Kingdom
• Division
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species

Fig: Categories in taxonomic hierarchy

Above the Kingdom there is one more taxonomic category, which is the domain. Categories in the hierarchy are thus in ascending order. Hence as we go from the lowest rank i.e., species towards the Kingdom the number of similar characters decreases.

Importance of flora

The following are the importance of flora:

• They provide food, like fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses etc.
• They produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis.
• They provide medicines. Examples include tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), poppy (Papaver somniferum) etc.
• They help to reduce soil erosion.
• They reduce air pollution.
• They provide shade during the hot and sunny days.
• We obtain oils, spices and perfumes from the plants.
• They provide paper, timber, wood etc.
• They provide fibres like cotton, jute, etc.

Fig: Importance of flora

Fauna

The animals present in a region are referred to as fauna. Fauna, or ‘Faunus,’ is the name of the goddess of Earth and fertility in Roman mythology. The Kingdom Animalia or Metazoa includes a wide variety of animal types. The classification of Kingdom Animalia is considered more complex than the classification of plants.

Fig: Fauna

Classification of fauna

On the basis of origin fauna is classified into the following types:

Cryofauna

It includes the animals that live in or close to the cold regions. Examples include Polar bears (Ursus maritimus).

Fig: Polar bear

Epifauna

It includes the aquatic animals that live on the bottom of an aquatic body. Examples include star fishes (Asterias) and barnacles (Cirripedia).

Fig: Star fish

Cryptofauna

It includes the animals that live in protected or concealed microhabitats. Examples include sponges and ascidians.

Fig: Sponges

Benthic fauna

It includes the animals that live on top of the sediment settled at the seafloor. Examples include oysters and mussels.

Fig: Mussel

Infauna

It includes those aquatic organisms that live within the bottom substratum of the water body. Examples include snails and flatworms.

Fig: Apple snail

Limnofauna

It includes the organisms that live in freshwater. Examples include rohu (Labeo rohita).

Fig: Rohu

Macrofauna

It includes the large animals present in a particular region or time. Examples include earthworms, snails etc.

Fig: Earthworm

Meiofauna

It includes the small benthic invertebrates that live in both freshwater and marine environments. Examples include copepods, polychaetes etc.

GIF: Nereis

Mesofauna

It includes the macroscopic soil animals. Examples include the members of the phylum Arthropoda or Aschelminthes.

Fig: Spider

Microfauna

It includes very small animals. Examples include the protozoans.

GIF: Paramoecium

Stygofauna

It includes the organisms that live in groundwater systems or aquifers. Examples include Bathynella sp.

Troglofauna

It includes those small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to the dark surroundings. Examples include cockroaches and arachnids.

Fig: Cockroach

Xenofauna

It includes alien organisms that are similar to animals.

Avifauna

It includes all the birds. Examples include macaw, crow etc.

Fig: Macaw

Pisci fauna

It includes all the fishes. Examples include shark, Catla etc.

GIF: Shark

Microfauna

It includes microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses etc. Examples include Chlorobium.

Fig: Chlorobium

Importance of fauna

The following are some of the importance of fauna:

• Cattles are used for the production of milk and meat.
• Animals like camels, horses and elephants are used for transportation.
• Fowls like hens and ducks are used for the production of eggs and meat.
• Members of Kingdom Animalia like dogs, cats, sheep, fishes, birds and goats are domesticated.
• Fishes are used for food, manures, fish oils, glues, and medicinal purposes.
• Honey bees are used for the production of wax and honey.
• Silkworms produce silk.
• Animals like donkeys, horses, and elephants are used for carrying heavy loads.
• Animal litter is used as a source of manure.
• Sheeps are reared for their meat and wool.
• Animal skins are used for making leather.
• Many industries depend on animals like marine exports, pearl and leather producers etc.

Fig: Importance of fauna

Importance of plants and animals

The following are the importance of plants and animals:

Required for the ecological harmony

Plants and animals are critical for the survival of human beings. The oxygen released by plants is used by animals for respiration. The carbon dioxide released by the fauna is used by the flora in photosynthesis. Some animals and plants have medicinal properties. They are part of the food webs and chains. Proper maintenance of them is required for ecological balance. Animal and plant wastes are used as manures. Decomposers and detritivores are required for nutrient mobilisation and nutrient cycling.

GIF: Photosynthesis in plants

Aesthetic benefits

Both the flora and fauna provide aesthetic benefits. We have biosphere reserves, national parks, forests, zoos, botanical gardens, sacred groves and other places to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Fig: Forest

Local economic growth

Local people benefit from tourism. The income is generated mainly by the natural attractions like flora and fauna present in that region. Examples include the diverse flora and fauna of the Amazonian forests. This brings in an estimated $50 million annually to the Brazilian economy.

Fig: The Amazonian rainforest

Industrial growth

Many industries depend on the flora and fauna prevalent in the region. For example, near the shores we have marine food processing units.

Fig: Plant and animal products

Plant and animal life in the Indian Continent

The Indian Continent is considered as the combined areas of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The flora and fauna of this continent varies. It includes 2000 different bird species, 500 distinct animals, 30.000 distinct insect types, a variety of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. Elephants, the Royal Bengal tiger, rhinos, bison, and lions are among the country's wildlife species. The diverse flora includes the Alpines, deciduous forests, softwoods, evergreen forests, oaks, pines, spruces, laurels, deodars, maples, bamboos, and tall grasses.

Differences between flora and fauna

The following are the major differences between the flora and fauna

Practice Problems

1. Biology is the science of _______________.

1. Biome
2. Living processes
3. Life forms

(D) Both B and C

Solution: Biology is the study of living organisms. It can be classified into Botany (study of plants) and Zoology (study of animals). It involves studying about the life forms and the living processes happening in them.

• Life forms: Living beings are known as life forms.
• Living processes: The processes occurring in living beings that are responsible for their growth, movement, reproduction and ultimately life, are known as living processes. Hence the correct option is ‘D’.

2. Each kind of animal, plant, or organism that we see, represents a ____________.

(A) Species

(B) Population

(C) Genus

(D) Family

Solution: Species are the group of organisms that have fundamental similarities between them and can naturally interbreed. Different species have morphological differences and members belonging to different species cannot naturally interbreed. We see different types of plants, animals and organisms around us and they all are of different species. For example, Mangifera indica (mango) is a type of plant and Panthera leo (lion) is an animal. Hence the correct option is ‘A’.

3. _______________ make sure that each organism has only one name around the world.

(A) Local name

(B) Scientific name

(C) Trivial name

(D) All of the above

Solution: Scientific names are the names given to organisms by biologists which are accepted worldwide. Scientific names follow the rules of binomial nomenclature given by Carolus Linnaeus. According to this universally accepted system of nomenclature, the name of an organism has two parts: a generic name followed by a specific name. For example, Mangifera indica. Hence the correct option is ‘B’.

4. The biological classification of animals and plants was first proposed by ______________.

(A) Aristotle

(B) Whittaker

(C) Linnaeus

(D) Bentham and Hooker

Solution: Aristotle was the pioneer in classifying organisms into plants and animals. He further classified plants as shrubs, herbs and trees, based on the morphological characters of plants. He also classified animals based on presence or absence of blood. Hence the correct option is ‘A’.

Fig. Aristotle

FAQs

1. What is meant by Verdura?

Answer: A plant or a part of the plant other than a fruit which is used as food is called Vendura.

2. Which country is well known for its flowers?

Answer: The largest flower producing country in the world is the Netherlands. It contributes around 68% of the annual flower production.

3. Which is considered as the longest-living insect?

Answer: The queen of termites is known to live for around 50 years. Some scientists say that they may live upto 100 years.

4. What is the main difference between microflora and flora?

Answer: Flora is a collective word that represents a group of plant life present in a particular geographic area. It generally represents the entire Kingdom Plantae or Metaphyta. The collective word that represents bacteria and other microorganisms in a host is microflora.

Fig: Microflora