The living organisms characteristics and habitats

Organisms:- Living creatures In the sea, plants and animals are surrounded by saline (salty) water. Most of them use the air dissolved in water.

Camels:- The body structure of a camel helps it to survive in desert conditions. Camels have long legs which help to keep their bodies away from the heat of the sand. They excrete small amounts of urine, their dung is dry and they do not sweat. Since camels lose very little water from their bodies, they can live for many days without water.

Fish:- Fish have slippery scales on their bodies. These scales protect the fish and also help in easy movement through water. Fish have flat fins and tails that help them to change directions and keep their body balance in water. Gills present in the fish help them to use oxygen dissolved in water.

Habitat:- The place where organisms live is called habitat. Habitat means a dwelling place (a home). The habitat provides food, water, air, shelter and other needs to organisms. Several kinds of plants and animals live in the same habitat:-

Terrestrial Habitat:- The plants and animals that live on land is said to live in terrestrial habitats. For example:- forests, grasslands, deserts, coastal etc.

Aquatic Habits:- Animals that live in water are called aquatic habitats. Lakes, rivers and oceans are some examples of aquatic habitats.

Biotic Components:- The organisms, both plants and animals, living in a habitat are its biotic components.

Abiotic Components:- The non-living things such as rocks, soil, air and water in the habitat constitute its abiotic components.

Germinated:- When the seed turns into a sprout, it is said to have germinated. This is the beginning of the life of a new plant.

Note:- Abiotic factors like air, water, light and heat are important for the growth of plants. In fact, abiotic factors are important for all living organisms.

Some Terrestrial Habitats:-

1.Deserts:-

There are desert animals like rats and snakes, which do not have the long legs that a camel has. To stay away from the intense heat during the day, they stay in burrows deep in the sand.
Desert plants lose very little water through transpiration. The leaves in desert plants are either absent, very small, or they are in the form of spines. This helps in reducing loss of water from the leaves through transpiration.
Photosynthesis in desert plants is usually carried out by the stems. The stem is also covered with a thick waxy layer, which helps to retain water in the tissues of cacti. Most desert plants have roots that go very deep into the soil for absorbing water.

Mountains Region:-

These habitats are normally very cold and windy. In some areas, snowfall may take place in winters.
Mountain trees are normally cone shaped and have sloping branches. The leaves of some of these trees are needle-like. This helps the rainwater and snow to slide off easily.
Animals that live in mountains have thick skin or fur to protect them from the cold. For example, yaks have long hair to keep them warm. Snow leopard has thick fur on its body including feet and toes. This protects its feet from the cold when it walks on the snow.

Some Aquatic Habitats:-

Oceans:-

There are some sea animals like squids and octopus, which do not have this streamlined shape. They stay deeper in the ocean, near the seabed and catch any prey that moves towards them.These animals have gills to help them use oxygen dissolved in water.
There are some sea animals like dolphins and whales that do not have gills. They breathe in air through nostrils or blowholes that are located on the upper parts of their heads.

Ponds and lakes:- In aquatic plants, roots are much reduced in size and their main function is to hold the plant in place. The stems of these plants are long, hollow and light. The stems grow up to the surface of water while the leaves and flowers float on the surface of water.

Do all organisms need food?

All living things need food.plants make their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Animals depend on plants or other animals for their food.

Food gives organisms the energy needed for them to grow. Organisms also need energy for other life processes that go on inside them.

Do all organisms respire?

When we breathe out, the air moves from inside our body to outside. Breathing is part of a process called respiration. In respiration, some of the oxygen of the air we breathe in, is used by the body. We breathe out carbon dioxide produced in this process.

Respiration is necessary for all living organisms. It is through respiration that the body finally obtains energy from the food it takes.

Stimuli:- Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them are called stimuli.All living things respond to changes around them.

Living organisms and excretion:- All organisms need food. Not all the food that is eaten is completely used, only a part of it is utilised by the body. Leftover food has to be removed from the body as wastes. The process of getting rid of wastes by organisms is known as excretion.

Do all organisms reproduce their own kind?

Animals reproduce their own kind. The mode of reproduction may be different, in different animals. Some animals produce their young ones through eggs. Some animals give birth to the young ones.

Plants also reproduce. Like animals, plants also differ in their mode of reproduction. Many plants reproduce through seeds. Some plants also reproduce through parts other than seeds. For example, a part of a potato with a bud, grows into a new plant.

Do all organisms move?

Animals move from one place to another and also show other body movements.

Plants are generally anchored in soil so they do not move from one place to another.

Note:- Living things have certain common characteristics — they need food, they respire and, excrete, respond to their environment, reproduce, grow and show movement.