The Living Organisms and Their Surroundings

9. The Living Organisms and Their Surroundings

Introduction: Paheli and Boojho went on vacation to many places. They saw camels in Rajasthan, yaks in Kashmir, and crabs on the beach in Puri. They realized that living organisms are found everywhere, even inside our homes!

Habitat and Adaptation

Habitat: The surroundings where organisms live is called their habitat. It connects the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. Habitat means a dwelling place (a home).

Adaptation: The presence of specific features or certain habits, which enable a plant or an animal to live naturally in its surroundings (habitat) is called adaptation.

Journey Through Different Habitats

1. Terrestrial Habitats (Land):

• Deserts: Animals like rats and snakes stay in burrows deep in sand to escape heat. Plants (Cactus) have leaves reduced to spines to reduce water loss (Transpiration). Stem performs photosynthesis.
• Mountain Regions: Trees are cone-shaped with sloping branches so snow slides off. Animals have thick fur (Snow Leopard, Yak, Mountain Goat).
• Grasslands: Lion (Predator) is light brown to hide in dry grass. Eyes in front to see prey. Deer (Prey) has strong teeth and long ears to hear predator. Eyes on side for wide view.

2. Aquatic Habitats (Water):

• Oceans: Many sea animals have streamlined bodies. Squids and Octopuses stay deeper. Dolphins and Whales breathe air through blowholes (nostrils) near top of head.
• Ponds and Lakes: Roots of aquatic plants are reduced. Stems are long, hollow and light to float. Frogs have webbed feet to swim and strong back legs to hop.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

What makes something "living"?

• Do all living things need food? Yes, for energy and growth.
• Do all living things show growth? Yes, a baby grows into an adult. Plants grow.
• Do all living things respire? Yes. Breathing is part of respiration. Body uses oxygen from air.
• Do all living things respond to stimuli? Yes. E.g., Looking at bright light (Closing eyes), Touching a hot pan.
• Do all living things excrete? Yes, getting rid of wastes.
• Do all living things reproduce? Yes, producing young ones of their own kind.
• Do all living things move? Animals move. Plants don't move place to place, but show movements (opening of flowers).

Chapter Summary

• The surroundings where plants and animals live, is called their habitat.
• Several kinds of plants and animals may share the same habitat.
• The presence of specific features and habits, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called adaptation.
• There are many types of habitats, however, these may be broadly grouped as terrestrial (on the land) and aquatic (in water).
• Living things need food, they respire and, excrete, respond to their environment, reproduce, grow and show movement.

Exercise Q1

Q: What is a habitat?

Exercise Q2

Q: How are cactus adapted to survive in a desert?

Exercise Q3: Fill in the blanks

• The presence of specific features, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called Adaptation.
• The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called Terrestrial habitat.
• The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called Aquatic habitat.
• Soil, water and air are the Abiotic factors of a habitat.
• Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them, are called Stimuli.

Exercise Q4

Q: Which of the things in the following list are non-living? Plough, Mushroom, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water hyacinth, Earthworm.

Exercise Q5

Q: Give an example of a non-living thing, which shows any two characteristics of living things.

Exercise Q6

Q: Which of the non-living things listed below, were once part of a living thing? Butter, Leather, Soil, Wool, Electric bulb, Cooking oil, Salt, Apple, Rubber.

Exercise Q7

Q: List the common characteristics of the living things.

Exercise Q8

Q: Explain, why speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals that live there. (Hint: There are few hiding places for animals in the grasslands).

Key Facts and Definitions