CLASS 6TH | BIOLOGY | HABITAT AND ADAPTION | REVISION NOTES

Adaptation is the ability of plant and animal to cope means to live and survive with the
conditions of their habitats.
Adaptation can be physical feature or special behaviour.
On basis of habitats organisms divided into five main groups:
o Terrestrial
o Aquatic
o Amphibians
o Arboreal
o Aerial
Adaptation of plants animals with respect to their habitats.
(A) Structural adaptation:
The special body parts of an organism helps in survive.
Change in skin colour, shape are examples of structural adaptation
(B) Physiological adaptation:
The special system found in organism which helps in survival. Ability to maintain a constant
body temperature, making venom comes under physiological changes
(C) Behavioural adaptation:
Taking a certain posture, being active at night are behaviour adaptations.
Aquatic Habitat:
Hydrophytes are the plants found in fresh water bodies.
 As they are light in weight and spongy, and having air chambers make them float in
water. Poor development of root system.Eg. water lily
 Some plants are submerged in water, as they have narrow leaves, lack in stomata as
they breathe to their surface and makes the water clean Eg. Tapegrass
 With developed root system plants termed as fixed plants such as lotus.
Adaptation in Fish:

1. Fish have streamline and smooth body having gills for respiration. Whereas dolphins
   and whale do possess the blowholes at upper parts of their head by which they
   perform breathing above water surface.
2. Presence of scales on their bodies protect them and make easy to swim.
3. Flat fins and tails help the fish to change their direction in water.
4. In salty water as well as in fresh water fish can survive.
   

Adaptation for Deserts:
 Plant Life:

1. Xerophytes are the plants which live in hot and dry climates of deserts.
   Example: cactus, babul.
2. Roots are long to penetrate deep into soil in search of water easily.
   Adaptation in Cactus:
    For storage of water cactus possess fleshy and swollen stem
    The stem is green to store food. Waxy coat help in retention of water.
    Photosynthesis is carried out by leaves
    Leaves are converted into spikes as to reduce loss of water from transpiration.
   Animal Life:
   Animals have fewer pores and thick skin and they excrete less urine and minimal amount of
   sweat in order to retain more water.
   Adaptation in Camel:
3. Have long eyelashes and ear hairs , theses variation protect eyes and ears from sand
   .
4. Long legs to stay away from heat
5. Hump on camel store fat as stored food.
6. Broad feet helps them to walk on sand
7. Ability to drink large amount of water at a time
8. Nostrils can be closed to keep out sand
   Adaptation for Mountains:
   Plant life:
9. Plants grow near the land, which prevent uprooting due to harsh and strong wind.
   Examples pine and fir.
10. Plant cope up with extreme cold temperature.
11. Leaves are needle shaped to prevent water loss
12. Some plants grow under snow layer.
    Animal life:
    Animal mainly found in mountain region are goat, sheep snow leopards, polar bear.
    They have thick coat of hair from prevention of chilling cold.
13. White thick and long fur that keeps the body warm found in case of goat
14. Strong hooves to walk on cliff and on uneven slope.
15. They can jump very far

Adaptation for Air:

Adaptation for flight in Birds

1. Feathers are provide insulation.
2. Feathers protect them from cold and rain and keep the body warm as well
3. Feather are act as water proofing with reflection of UV rays as well
4. Body is light weighted and in streamline to overcome resistance
   Plant Life:
   Aerial plant have root system above ground.
5. Plants evolved with aerial root system in order to absorb more sunlight as in
   evergreen rain forest lack in direct fall of sunlight on ground
6. They may grow on the trunks, leave and branches of host plant.
7. Epiphytes are orchids and bromeliads
8. Epiphytes absorbs moisture from air or moisture laden pockets of the host plant.
9. They are autotrophic in nature.
   Acclimatization:
   This includes the certain changes occur in organism for shorter period of time to help them
   to adjust with periodic changes.
   Example include the growth of thick wool during winter season only in case of sheep.
   o Adaptation refers to the changes in organism for longer period of time
   o Acclimation refers to the changes occur in an organism a short period of time.