Biodiversity

Biodiversity

In the living world, a lot of diversity is seen both in animals and plants. Every plant and animal is unique. The term biodiversity refers to the totality of species, populations, communities and ecosystems, both wild and domestic. It may also be defined as the variety and variability among living organisms and the habitats in which they live.

Biodiversity includes a variety of ecosystems such as those that occur in deserts, forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and agricultural fields. In each ecosystem,

living creatures, including humans, form a community interacting with one another and with other animals, plants, air, water and soil around them. The living things form biotic community and non-living things form abiotic community.

Habitat

Fishes and crabs grow only in water while many animals like elephants, tigers and camels live on land. The geographical features and environmental conditions on earth differ from one place to another. Though camel can live anywhere it is able to live in deserts more comfortably.

Activity 1

Collect the pictures of various ecosystems like lake, pond, forest, desert, mountains, and Polar regions and prepare a chart of animals in these places.

Polar Bear and Penguins dwell in cold regions. Living in such harsh conditions requires special features in these animals which help these organisms to live, breed and excel well in that particular place. Living or dwelling place of an organism is known as habitat.

Activity 2

Look at the below picture and prepare a chart for the following interpretation.

* How does the climate differ in these habitats?

The climate differ in these habitats by their environmental factors.

* Name some animals that exist in these habitats.

Cow, Rabbit, Fish, Butterfly, Duck

* Can an animal survive if it is shifted from one habitat to another contrasting habitat?

No, an animal cannot survive if it is shifted from one habitat to another contrasting habitat.

In Jurong Birds Park, Singapore, Penguins are kept in a big glass case with ice bergs and temperature is maintained at 0° C and below.