1. The document discusses adaptations in plants and animals that allow them to survive in different habitats and environments. It provides examples of adaptations seen in aquatic organisms, desert animals like camels and snakes, mountain plants and animals, and predators and prey like lions and deer. 2. Adaptations discussed include how camels, snakes, and desert plants like cacti reduce water loss, how aquatic animals breathe and plants are structured, and physical traits like thick fur and hooves that help mountain animals withstand cold and traverse rocky slopes. 3. The document also addresses the differences between biotic and abiotic habitat components, the process of germination, stimuli, excretion, and adaptations that allow some marine mammals to

1. Chapter 9
Livingorganisms:Characteristicsandhabitat
Q1-How do aquaticorganismsobtainoxygenin sea?
Ans – Aquatic organismsabsorbsoxygendissolvedinwater.
Q2- Whatare the adaptationthathelp camel to survivein desert?
Ans- The bodystructure ofa camel helpsit to survivein the desert condition.Camelshavelonglegs
whichhelp them to keep their bodiesaway fromthe heat ofthe sand.They excrete small amountof
urine dungis dry andthey donot sweat. Since camels losevery littlewater fromtheir bodies,they can
live formany dayswithout water.
Q3- How fishes are adaptedto survivingwater?
Ans- Fisheshave slipperyscales on their bodies.These scales protect the fishandalsohelp in easy
movement throughwater. The fishhave flatfinsand tail that help them to change directionand keep
their body balanceinwater. Gillspresentin the fishhelps them to use oxygendissolvedin water.
Q4- Whatdo you mean by aquatichabitat? Giveexample
Ans- Habitat of plantsandanimalslivinginwater is calledAquatichabitat.Examplepond, sea,lake.
Q5- Whatdo you mean by terrestrial andhabitat?Give examples
Ans Habitatof plantsand animalslivingonlandiscalledTerrestrial Habitat.ExampleForest,
grasslandetc.
Q6- Write differencebetween bioticand abioticcomponentsofa habitat
Ans- The organisms,bothplantsandanimals,livinginahabitat are its bioticcomponents.
The non-livingthingssuchasrock,soil,air,waterin the habitatconstituentsits abioticcomponents.
Q7- Whatis meant by germination?
Ans- The growingofseedlingfrom seed is calledgermination.
Q8- Whatabioticfactors are needed by seed forgermination?
Ans – For germinationseed needs – air,water andwarmth ( sunlight)
Q9- Whatis adaptation?Whathappensto organismswhodonot adapt?
Ans- Adaptationisthe methodby which organismsgetwell adjustedto the climate.Adaptationdoes
not take place in a shorttime becausethe abioticfactorsof a region change very slowly.

2. Those organismswhichcannotadapt to these changesdie and onlythe adapted ones survive.
Q10- How desert plant likecacti survive indesert ?
Ans – Desert plantslose very littlewater through transpiration.Theleaves in desert plantsare either
absent,very small,or they are present inthe shapeof spines.This helpsin reducinglossof water from
the leaves throughtranspiration.The leaf-likestructure you see in a cactus is,in fact,its stem.
Photosynthesisinthese plantsis usuallycarriedout by the stems. The stem is alsocovered with a thick
waxy layer,which helpsto retain water. Mostdesert plantshave roots thatgo very deep intothe soil
for absorbingwater.
Q11- How animalslikerat, snake adaptin desert condition?
Ans- There are desert animalslikerats and snakes,which donot have the longlegsthat the camel
has. To stay awayfrom the intense heat duringthe day, they stay in burrowsdeep inthe sand.These
animalscomeout only duringthe night,when it is cooler.
Q12- How are plantsfoundin mountainregionable to survivesnow andrain fall?
Ans- Mountaintrees are normallycone shapedandhave slopingbranches.The leavesof some of
these trees are needle-like.Thishelps the rainwater andsnow to slideoffeasily.
Q13- Whatare adaptations seen inanimalsofmountainregion?
Ans- Animalslivinginthe mountainregionsare also adaptedto the conditionsthere .They have thick
skinor fur to protect them from cold.For example,yaks have longhair to keep them warm.Snow
leopardhas thick fur onits body includingfeetandtoes. Thisprotects its feet fromthe coldwhen it
walkson the snow.The mountaingoathasstrong hoovesfor runningup the rocky slopesof the
mountains.
Q14- Writeshort note on characteristicsseen in Lion anddeer ?
Ans – Lion-Alionlives ina forest or a grasslandandisa strong animal thatcan hunt andkill animals
like deer. It islightbrown in colour.Lionshave longclaws in their frontlegs that can be withdrawn
insidethe toes. .It’s lightbrown colourhelps it to hidein dry grasslandswhenit hunts for prey
(animalstoeat). The eyes infront of the face allowit to have a correct idea aboutthe locationof its
prey.
Deer- A deer is another animal thatlives inforests and grasslands.Ithas strongteeth for chewing
hard plantstems of the forest. A deer needs to know aboutthe presence ofpredators ( animalslike
lionthat make it their prey ) in order to run awayfrom them and notbecome their prey. It has long
ears to hear movementsof predators.The eyes on the side of its headallowit to look in all directions
for danger.The speed of the deer helpsthem to run away from the predators.
Q15-How dolphinsandwhalessurvivewithoutgillsin water ?

3. Ans- There are somesea animalslike dolphinsandwhalesthatdo not have gills.They breathe in air
throughnostrilsor blowholesthat are located onthe upper parts oftheir heads. This allowsthemto
breathe in air when they swimnear the surfaceof water. They can stay insidethe water for a long
time withoutbreathing.They come out to the surface fromtime to time,to breathe inair.
Q16- Whatadaptationsisseen in aquaticplants?
Ans - In aquaticplants,rootsare muchreduced in size andtheir main functionisto holdthe plantin
place. The stems of these plantsare long,hollowandlight.The stems grow up to the surface of water
whilethe leaves andflowers,floaton the surfaceof the water. Someaquaticplantsare totally
submergedin water. All parts ofsuch plantsgrow under water. Some of these plantshave narrow and
thinribbon-likeleaves.These can bendin the flowingwater. In some submergedplants,leaves are
often highlydivided,throughwhichthe water can easilyflow withoutdamagingthem.
Q17- Whatis stimuli?
Ans- Changesin our surroundings thatmakes usrespond to them, are called stimuli.All ofus respond
immediatelyto suchchanges.
Q18- Whatis excretion?
Ans- The process ofgetting rid ofthese wastesby the livingorganismsisknownas excretion.