Question

Match List-I with List-II 

List-I (Forest Type)		List-II (Indicator Tree Species)
A	Tropical wet evergreen	I	Shorea robusta
B	Tropical moist deciduous	II	Pinus roxburghii
C	Montane sub-tropical	III	Pinus wallichiana
D	Montane temperate	IV	Dipterocarpus species

• (A) - (II), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (III)
• (A) - (III), (B) - (II), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I)
• (A) - (I), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (II)
• (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)

Hint:

To distinguish between Himalayan pines in exams, remember that Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) is a sub-tropical species growing at lower altitudes, while Blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) is a temperate pine found at higher elevations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
According to Champion and Seth's classification of forest types of India, forest groups are categorized based on temperature, rainfall, elevation, and characteristic dominant tree species.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us correlate the indicator species with their respective forest zones:
1. Tropical wet evergreen forests: These forests occur in high rainfall zones (such as the Western Ghats and Northeast India). Tall, giant trees of the genus Dipterocarpus (e.g., Gurjan) are the classic indicator species here. Thus, (A) matches with (IV).
2. Tropical moist deciduous forests: These are characterized by high-quality timber species that shed leaves for a brief period in summer. Shorea robusta (Sal) is a dominant and characteristic indicator tree of these moist deciduous tracts in northern and central India. Thus, (B) matches with (I).
3. Montane sub-tropical forests: Located at lower montane elevations (generally 1,000 to 1,800 meters) in the Himalayas. Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) is the representative conifer dominant in sub-tropical pine forests. Thus, (C) matches with (II).
4. Montane temperate forests: Located in the higher, cooler Himalayan zones (typically 1,800 to 3,000 meters). Pinus wallichiana (Blue pine or Kail) is a key indicator conifer of these temperate zones. Thus, (D) matches with (III).
Compiling these coordinates gives: (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (III).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct matching sequence is given by option (D).