What is meant by fauna?

Fauna specifically refers to the animal life that exists in a particular region or ecosystem. It encompasses the various species of animals that inhabit a specific area, which can include both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Understanding fauna is crucial in geography because it helps in studying biodiversity, ecological interactions, and the health of ecosystems.

The other options refer to distinct concepts. Landforms pertain to the physical features of the Earth's surface, such as mountains and valleys. Plant ecosystems relate to flora, which describes the plant life in a region, encompassing different species of plants and their ecological relationships. Water resources refer to the supply and management of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Each of these concepts plays a unique role in geographical studies, but they do not refer to animal life specifically, which is the primary focus of the concept of fauna.