The Living Organisms and their Surroundings
Living and Non-living Things
• The study of living organisms is called biology.
Habitat and Adaptation
Habitat
• The place where an organism lives is called itshabitat.
• Deserts, mountains, forests, grasslands, soil, ponds, lakes and rivers are some examples ofhabitats.
• The habitat provides food, water, air, light, shelter and a place for breeding to plants and animals living in it.
Types of Habitat
Habitats of Some Common Plants and Animals
Components of a Habitat
Adaptation
• The presence of specific body features which enable a plant or an animal to survive
in a particular habitat is calledadaptation.
• Adaptation is of two kinds - structural adaptation and behavioraladaptation.
• Structural adaptation refers to changes in the shape and size of the body of ananimal.
Examples: Ducks have webbed feet which enable them to wade through watereasily.
• Behavioral adaptation refers to changes shown by an animal with respect to its behavior.
Examples: Penguins move in large groups to protect themselves fromredactors.
Adaptations in Animals
Some Terrestrial Habitats
Deserts
• A waterless area of land covered with sand and with little or no vegetation is called adesert.
• It receives very low rainfall. The annual rainfall is less than 250 mm peryear.
• The maximum temperature in deserts ranges between 43.5°C and 49°C. The minimum
temperature ranges between 0°C and3°C.
Adaptations of Organisms Living in Deserts
Mountain Regions
• A very high hill is called amountain.
• Mountains can be covered withsnow.
• Mountainous habitats are usually very cold andwindy.
Adaptations of Organisms Living in Mountain Regions
Forests
• A large area of land covered mainly with trees and plants is called aforest.
Adaptations of animals living in forests
Some Aquatic Habitats
Oceans
• A very large area of sea is called anocean.
Ponds, Lakes and Rivers
• Small water bodies are referred to as ponds, lakes andrivers.
• The process of being accustomed to a different environment over short periods of time is
called acclimatization.
