Lesson video

Hello and welcome.

My name is Ms. Harrison.

I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Today's lesson is called The biomes of India.

Grab everything you might need and let's begin our learning.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to list some of India's biomes and use a geographic information system, GIS, to investigate one of these biomes.

Before we can begin this learning, we need to define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords in today's lesson are: biome, temperate, tropical, and GIS.

Biome: this is a large region of the world with places that have similar climates, vegetation, and animals that have adapted to living there.

Temperate: this is the region between the tropics and the polar areas.

Tropical: the region between the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south.

And GIS.

A GIS is a geographic information system.

It is a computer system that captures and displays geographic data to help understand spatial patterns.

Fantastic.

Now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we are going to explore in today's lesson is, what biomes does India have? Have you ever wondered why deserts are so dry or why rainforests have so many trees and animals? That's because different parts of the world have different climates, plants, and animals that have adapted to those environments, and these areas are called biomes.

Lucas has said that he learned about biomes at primary school, and Sam said, "Major world biomes include tropical forests, deserts, and tundra." I would like you to think, what type of biomes might there be in India? Pause the video here whilst you have a think, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's go and explore the different biomes India has.

India has a diverse range of biomes.

These include the desert, mangrove, mountain or alpine, savanna or grassland, temperate forest, and tropical forest.

So you can see that India is a country of vast contrast.

What are biomes? Select one answer.

Is it A, the different types of vegetation found on Earth; B, regions of the world which have similar climates, landscapes, plants, and animals; or C, communities of plants and animals? Pause the video here whilst you have a think, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is B, regions Of the world which have similar climates, landscapes, plants, and animals.

Well done if you managed to identify that correctly.

Deserts are a type of biome with very little rainfall and sparse vegetation, but did you know that not all deserts are hot and some are cold? India has both hot and cold deserts.

One of the most famous is the Thar Desert, which stretches across India and Pakistan.

It covers a massive 200,000 kilometres squared, about the same size as England and Scotland combined.

Because deserts have extreme temperatures, plants and animals have special adaptations to survive there.

Mangroves are special forests made up of trees and shrubs that grow in coastal areas where the land meets the sea.

These plants are adapted to survive in salty water and changing tides.

Their roots stick out to the water to help them to breathe.

One of the most famous mangrove forests is the Sundarbans, which stretches across India and Bangladesh.

It is the largest forest in India and one of the biggest mangrove forests in the world.

The Sundarbans are home to the famous Bengal tiger as well as crocodiles, snakes, and many species.

Mangroves protect coastal areas from storms and erosion, making them very important for the environment.

Mountain or alpine biomes are found at high altitudes.

One of the most famous alpine biomes is the Himalayas.

It's located in the north of India.

These regions are cold and harsh with very little oxygen.

Few species can survive, but some hardy species like shrubs manage to grow.

Animals like the snow leopard and yaks have thick fur and special adaptations to survive the extreme cold.

Grasslands, also known as savannas, are large open areas covered mainly by grasses, shrubs, and few scattered trees.

They're found in different parts of the world and are home to many animals that graze on the grass.

In India, the Banni grassland is the largest grassland located in the Gujarat.

It provides habitat for plants and animal species, including some that are threatened.

The region is important for biodiversity and local communities who depend on it for grazing livestock.

Grasslands help maintain a healthy balance in nature, supporting herbivores like deer and predators like jackals.

What are the Sundarbans? Is it A, an area of grassland; B, a desert; C, a mangrove forest; or D, a mountain range? Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Excellent.

The answer is C, a mangrove forest.

Well done if you managed to identify that correctly.

Temperate forests are found in temperate regions between the polar and tropical areas.

These forests have cooler temperatures and distinct seasons, including warm summers and cold winters.

In India, temperate forests are mainly found in the northernmost regions like Himachal Pradesh.

These forests are home to a variety of trees like oak, pine, and maple.

Animals such as bear, deer, and red foxes live here.

India is one of 10 most forest-rich countries in the world, making these forests important for biodiversity and the environment.

Tropical forests are found in the tropics where the climate is hot and humid all year round.

These forests receive a lot of rainfall, making them lush and full of biodiversity.

In India, tropical forests are found in Western Ghats, a mountain range along the western coast of the country.

These forests are home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including elephants, tigers, leopards, and rare birds.

Many of these species here are found nowhere else in the world, making it one of the most important biodiversity hotspots.

Did you know that the Western Ghats are so rich in wildlife that they're sometimes called the Amazon of India? True or false? Most of India is covered in desert.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is false.

I would now like you to explain why this answer is false.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The reason why this statement is false is because India has a range of biomes, including desert, grassland, tropical forests, and temperate forests.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

I would now like you to complete the table below.

For each type of biome, write a brief description and list an example of a place in India where it is found.

We are going to focus on the deserts, mangroves, mountain or alpine, savanna or grassland, tropical forests and temperate forests.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Well done on this task.

Let's check our answers.

Your answer might have included some of the following points.

For desert, they have little rainfall and vegetation and it can be hot or cold, and the example is the Thar Desert.

Mangroves: this is a type of forest found in the intertidal zone, and the example is the Sundarbans.

Mountain or alpine: these are found at high altitudes and are cold and windy, and the example is the Himalayas.

Savanna or grassland: these are open areas of land with grasses, shrubs, and sometimes trees, and the example is the Banni grassland.

Temperate forest: this is located in the temperate region between the polar and the tropical regions, and the example is Himachal Pradesh.

Tropical forests: they're located between the tropics where the climate is hot and humid, and the example is the Western Ghats.

Well done if you managed to complete your table.

What would be a great idea is if you could look at a map and try and locate these places in India.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson, what can we find out about the Western Ghats? The Western Ghats are a mountain range that stretches for 1,600 kilometres along the western coast of India, about 30 to 50 kilometres inland from the Arabian Sea.

These ancient mountains pass through six Indian states like Kerala, Goa, and Gujarat.

The Western Ghats are one of the world's eight hottest biodiversity hotspots, meaning they're home to the incredible variety of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

The region is famous for its tropical forests, waterfalls, and unique wildlife, including elephants, tigers, leopards, and rare frogs.

A fun fact for you is that the Western Ghats are so ecologically important that they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A geographic information system can be used to investigate the Western Ghats.

The ArcGIS geography visualizer is an example of a GIS.

This basemap uses satellite imagery.

What does it tell you about India? Pause the video here whilst you take a closer look, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Well done.

Lucas has said that the area of light brown looks like a desert.

Aisha has said that she can see snow-capped Himalayas.

Sam said that the green shows vegetation.

Well done if you managed to identify any of these points.

How far do the Western Ghats stretch? A, 16 kilometres; B, 160 kilometres; C, 1,600 kilometres; or D, 16,000 kilometres.

Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is C, 1,600 kilometres.

Well done.

Lucas said that the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas.

Isn't that interesting? Different map layers can be added to show different types of data.

For example, this map shows layers of land cover.

The main type of forests in the Western Ghats are tropical forests.

The Western Ghats are one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

Their dense tropical forests provide a habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals, many of which are endemic.

This means that they aren't found anywhere else on Earth.

This region is home to over 7,000 species of plants, 508 different species of birds, 139 species of mammals, including tigers, leopards, and elephants, 179 species of amphibians, including rare and colourful frogs.

Because of its unique biodiversity, the Western Ghats are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are crucial for India's environmental health.

Scientists are still discovering new species in the West Ghats every year.

This map layer shows global precipitation.

Some places in India are much wetter than others.

The Western Ghats are located in an area with high annual rainfall.

This map shows annual average temperatures.

The Western Ghats, along with most of India, have a warm climate.

Izzy and Sam are having a discussion.

Who is correct? Sam said, "GIS has limited use.

It can only tell us where places in the world are." Izzy said, "GIS can be used to find out lots of information about a place, such as land cover, rainfall, and temperature." Pause the video here whilst you decide who is correct, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Izzy is correct.

Well done if you managed to get that right.

Unfortunately, much of the dense forest in the Western Ghats has been lost over the years, and this has happened for a number of reasons.

The forests were cut down for timber.

People needed wood for construction, furniture and other use and logging took a large toll on the forest, and many trees were cut down faster than they could regrow.

As the population grew, more land was needed for farming.

Farmers cleared forests to grow crops like tea, coffee, and rice, and this led to a massive reduction in forest cover.

As cities and towns grew, the more land was required for buildings, roads, and industries.

The forest areas were cleared to make space for these urban developments.

Because of all these activities, the dense forest that once covered the Western Ghats has been greatly reduced.

In some areas, the forest cover is now much thinner and the ecosystem that depends on these forests are at risk.

While much of the forest has been lost, there have been efforts to conserve what remains.

Governments, environmental organisations, and local communities have taken action to protect these forests.

Some of the most important efforts include: the Indian government has established several protected areas to conserve the remaining forests.

These are now managed as national parks or wildlife sanctuaries where activities like logging and farming are not allowed.

Protected areas such as the Silent Valley National Park are critical for preserving biodiversity and maintaining health of the ecosystem.

Various conservation programmes aim to restore and protect the remaining forested areas.

For example, efforts have been made to protect endangered species by ensuring that they have safe habitats to live in.

In some areas, local communities have been involved in the conservation process.

Many of the people who live near the Western Ghats rely on the forest for their livelihoods, such as collecting forest products or running ecotourism businesses.

By working together with conservationists, local communities can help protect the forest while also benefiting economically.

Increasing awareness about the importance of these forests is also a key part of conservation.

Educating people about the value of the Western Ghats and their biodiversity can encourage them to take part in conservation efforts and support policies that protect the environment.

GIS can be used to zoom in closely on the Western Ghats.

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected forest area in the Western Ghats and the whole of India.

The Nilgiri Hills are part of the Western Ghats.

True or false? The Western Ghats region is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is true.

I would like you to explain why this answer is true.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The reason why the statement is true is because it is home to thousands of species of plants and animals.

Many of these species aren't found anywhere else in the planet, and this is what we call endemic.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

I would now like you to mark the location of the Western Ghats on the map of India.

Lucas has said, "If you can, use a GIS, atlas, or other sources of information to find out more about the Western Ghats." Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Well done.

Before we check our answers, we're going to complete one more task.

I would like you to complete the fact file to record what you've learned about this region.

Pause the video here whilst you take a closer look at this table and you complete the fact file on the type of biome, location, description, climate, and its interesting fact.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Well done.

Let's check our answers.

For the first question, I asked you to mark the location of the Western Ghats on the map of India.

You should have been able to locate it like I have on the screen.

Well done if you managed to do that correctly.

I then asked you to complete the fact file to record what you've learned about this region.

Your fact file may include some of the following points.

Type of biome: tropical forest.

Its location: mountain range that stretches 1,600 kilometres along the western coast of India, about 30 to 50 kilometres in land.

Description: it's a dense forest which is home to thousands of plant and animal species, many of which aren't found anywhere else in the world.

Climate: it's warm, wet, and humid.

Interesting fact: the tropical forests here are home to around 30% of the world's Asian elephants and 17% of the world's tiger population.

Well done if you managed to include any of the following points.

You've done brilliantly.

Fantastic.

We've come to the end of our lesson on the biomes of India, and you've worked really hard, but before we end this lesson, let's summarise everything that we've learned today.

Today we explored biomes.

Biomes are large communities of plants and animals that are especially adapted to a particular climate.

India is home to a variety of biomes, from hot deserts to lush forests, each with its own unique wildlife and vegetation.

Let's take a closer look at some of these biomes, including the Great Thar Desert and the tropical forest of the Western Ghats.

We'll also touch on how we learned about geographical information systems and how they can help us to study biomes.

In India, there are several types of biomes, including deserts, which are dry, sandy areas with very little rainfall, and these can be hot or cold.

Savannas or grasslands, and these are scattered trees and are home to grazing animals.

Forests, these are dense areas of trees and vegetation, often found in wet and humid regions.

Each biome has its own unique ecosystem where plants and animals interact and depend on each other for survival.

One of the most well-known biomes in India is the Great Thar Desert.

This desert is one of the largest deserts in the world, and part of it lies in the northwestern region of India, mainly in Rajasthan.

The Thar Desert has extremely dry climate, with very little rainfall throughout the year.

Despite the harsh conditions, some plants and animals have adapted to survive.

For example, cacti and thorny bushes store water to survive the heat.

Camels, known as the ships of the desert, can go for long periods without drinking water.

Even though the life in the Thar Desert is tough, it has its unique and fascinating ecosystem that plays an important role in India's geography.

On the opposite end of the climate spectrum, India has a tropical forest like those found in the Western Ghats.

The Western Ghats are a mountain range along the western coast of India and are considered one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

The tropical rainforest here receives heavy rainfall, creating a humid environment where many plant and animal species thrive.

These forests are home to thousands of species, including many that are found nowhere else in the world.

These forests are incredibly important, not only for the wildlife, but also for the humans as they help to maintain the climate and provide fresh water to many rivers.

To understand biomes like deserts and forests, scientists and geographers use a tool called geographical information system.

GIS is a digital system that helps map and analyse landscapes using satellite images and data.

With GIS, we can track changes in biomes such as deforestation in the Western Ghats or desert expansion in the Thar Desert.

Scientists also use GIS to study wildlife movements, climate patterns, and land use changes, helping with conservation and planning.

GIS is an essential tool for understanding India's diverse landscape and protecting its natural environment.

India's biomes are incredibly diverse, ranging from the hot and arid Thar Desert to the lush and tropical Western Ghats.

Each of these biomes supports a unique variety of plants and animals that have been adapted to their specific environment.

By using GIS technology, scientists can study and protect these biomes more effectively.

Understanding biomes helps us appreciate the world and the importance of conservation.

Well done on today's lesson.

You've done brilliantly.

I look forward to learning with you again very soon.