NCERT SOLUTIONS: Taxonomical Aids - Definition, Examples, Types (Botanical Garden, Zoological Parks, Herbarium, Museum and Key)

Taxonomic Aids

Taxonomic aid – An overview:

Taxonomic studies of various species of plants, animals and other organisms are useful in agriculture, forestry, industry and in general in knowing our bio-resources and their diversity. These studies would require correct classification and identification of organisms. Identification of organisms requires intensive laboratory and field studies. The collection of actual specimens of plant and animal species is essential and is the prime source of taxonomic studies. In this article, we will discuss about the definition, types, example, and an overview about the taxonomic aids.

Definition:

Biologist has established certain procedures and techniques to store and preserve the information as well as the specimens. Any technique and procedure which help in studying various species are called Taxonomic aids.

Examples of taxonomic aids:

Some examples of taxonomic aids are:

Botanical gardens, Zoological parks, Museum, Herbarium, Monograph, fore etc...,

Types of Taxonomical Aids:

1. Botanical Gardens: Botanical gardens are places where we grow various varieties of plants for scientific study. These botanical gardens help to educate people. Some important botanical gardens are:

· Acharya Jadish Chandra Bose Botanical garden (old name – Indian Botanical Garden). It is situated in Kolkata (Howrah). This garden is famous for The Great Banyan (Ficus Benghalensis) tree. It is 250 years old tree and has 2800 prop roots. It is also famous for Victoria amozonica (water lilly plant). The diameter of single leaf of this plant is 2.3 mtr.

· National Botanical garden – Lucknow

· Royal Botanical Garden – Kew (England)

Botanical Garden

Zoological Parks: These are enclosed places where wild animals were kept for scientific study or these are the places where wild animals are kept in protected environments under human care and which enable us to learn about their food habits and behaviour. These are mainly used for protection of endangered animal. These are also very helpful to educate people.

Zoological Parks

Museum: Museum is places where preserved organisms are placed.

Museum has collections of preserved plant and animal specimens for study and reference. Plants and animals specimens may also be preserved as dry specimens. Insects are preserved in insect’s boxes after collecting, killing and pinning. Larger animals like birds and mammals are usually stuffed and preserved. Museums often have collections of skeletons of animals too.

Museum

Herbarium: Herbarium is collections of dried, pressed, mounted plants. It is a store house of collected plant specimens that are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets.