The Living Organisms And their Surroundings

Camels have long legs which help to keep their body away from the heat of the sand. They secrete small amount of urine, their dung is dry and they do not sweat so they lose little water from their bodies.

These scales protect fish and also help in easy movement through water. Gills help in using oxygen dissolved in water.

The presence of specific feature or habits, which enables a plant or animal to live in its surroundings, is called adaptation.

The plant and animals that live on land are said to live in terrestrial habitats. Example-forests, deserts etc.

The living things such as plants and animals in a habitat are called its biotic components. Non living things such as soil, water, air are abiotic components of a habitat.

Habitat of plant and animal that lives in water is called aquatic habitat. Example-ponds, sea etc.

The leaves in desert plants are either absent, very small or they are present in the shape of spines. They help in reducing transpiration.

Animals living in the mountain regions have thick skin or fur to protect them from cold.

Light brown colour of lion helps it to hide in dry grasslands when it hunts; the eyes in the front of face allow it to have correct idea about location of its prey.

They breathe in air through nostrils or blowholes located on the upper part of their head.

In terrestrial plants roots play role in absorption of water and minerals from the soil. Whereas in aquatic plants roots are reduced in size and their main function is to hold the plant in place.

Small changes that take place in the body of an organism over short periods, to overcome small problems due to changes in the surroundings are called acclimatisation.

In submerged plants leaves are often highly divided, through which the water can easily flow without damaging them.

The process of inhaling the air and exhaling the air is known as breathing.

It is through respiration that our body finally obtains energy from the food it takes.

Exchange of gases mainly takes place in plants through leaves. The leaves takes airs in, through tiny pores present on them and use the oxygen. They give carbon dioxide to air in respiration.

Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them are called stimuli.

The process of getting rid of wastes by the living organisms is known as excretion.

Some animals reproduce by laying eggs and some by giving birth to young ones. Whereas plants reproduce through seeds, or other plant parts such as bud, cutting stem.

Living things produce more of their own kind through reproduction.