Different plants and Animals (Habitats)

Escape from Unsuitable Conditions Some species can survive unfavorable environmental conditions by escaping from them temporarily. For example, desert animals usually hide underground or in the shade during the hottest part of the day. Many desert species are active at night, when temper- atures are much lower. A longer-term strategy is to enter a state of reduced activity, called dormancy, during periods of unfavorable conditions, such as winter or drought. Another strategy is to move to a more favorable habitat, called migration. An example of migration is the seasonal movements of birds, which spend spring and summer in cooler climates and migrate to warmer climates in the fall. THE NICHE Species do not use or occupy all parts of their habitat at once. The specific role, or way of life, of a species within its environment is its niche (NICH). The niche includes the range of conditions that the species can tolerate, the resources it uses, the methods by which it obtains resources, the number of offspring it has, its time of reproduction, and all other interactions with its environment. Parts of a lion’s niche are shown in Figure 18-6. Generalists are species with broad niches; they can tolerate a range of conditions and use a variety of resources. An example of a generalist is the Virginia opossum, found across much of the United States. The opossum feeds on almost anything, from eggs and dead animals to fruits and plants. In contrast, species that have narrow niches are called specialists. An example is the koala of Australia, which feeds only on the leaves of a few species of eucalyptus trees. Some species have more than one niche within a lifetime. For example, caterpillars eat the leaves of plants, but as adult butter- flies, they feed on nectar. Plants and animals are able to share the same habitats because they each have different niches. FIGURE 18-6 niche from the Old French nichier, meaning “to nest” Word Roots and Origins www.scilinks.org Topic: Niche/Habitats Keyword: HM61029 mb06se_iecs02.qxd 5/24/07 10:25 AM Page 365 366 CHAPTER 18 ENERGY TRANSFER All organisms need energy to carry out essential functions, such as growth, movement, maintenance and repair, and reproduction. In an ecosystem, energy flows from the sun to autotrophs, then to organisms that eat the autotrophs, and then to organisms that feed on other organisms. The amount of energy an ecosystem receives and the amount that is transferred from organism to organism affect the ecosystem’s structure. PRODUCERS Autotrophs, which include plants and some kinds of protists and bacteria, manufacture their own food. Because autotrophs cap- ture energy and use it to make organic molecules, they are called producers. Recall that organic molecules are molecules that con- tain carbon. Most producers are photosynthetic, so they use solar energy to power the production of food. However, some autotrophic bacteria do not use sunlight as an energy source. These bacteria carry out chemosynthesis (KEE-moh-SIN-thuh-sis), in which they use energy stored in inorganic molecules to produce carbohydrates. In terres- trial ecosystems, plants are usually the major producers. In aquatic ecosystems, photosynthetic protists and bacteria are usu-

Animals and Plants in Different Habitats

2.2 Study Guide [ 2.2 Sequence Assessment 1/21 and 1/22] Ecosystems and Ecological Relationships Invasive Species ● An invasive species is a plant, animal, or organism that is not native to a specific area and causes harm to the environment or human health. Why are they harmful? Invasive species often outcompete native species for food, water, and space. They can spread quickly because they lack natural predators in the new environment. What is their impact on the ecosystem? Invasive species can reduce biodiversity by pushing native species to extinction or by changing the habitat in which native species live. Biodiversity and Its Importance to Ecosystems Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a specific area, including different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, and the ecosystems they form. ● Stability: Biodiversity makes ecosystems more resilient to changes such as climate change, diseases, and natural disasters. ● Food chains and webs: A greater variety of species means more sources of food for different animals, helping maintain a balanced food web. For example, a forest with many species of plants and animals can recover from a drought more easily than a forest with fewer species. Predator-Prey Relationships In a predator-prey relationship, one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey). The predator benefits by getting food, while the prey loses its life.The population sizes of predators and prey are often linked. If there are more prey, the predator population may grow, but if too many predators eat the prey, the predator population will decrease. This relationship can be shown in the graph below. ● For example: Lions hunt zebras for food. When there are many zebras, lions have more food and their population can grow. However, if too many lions eat the zebras, the zebra population can decrease. Predator-prey relationships help keep animal populations balanced, preventing one species from becoming too numerous and harming the environment. Ecological Relationships There are several types of relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. These include commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism. Commensalism In commensalism, one organism benefits from the relationship while the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example would be Barnacles and Whales. Barnacles attach to the skin of whales. The barnacles get access to nutrient-rich water while the whale swims, but the whale is not affected by their presence. Parasitism In parasitism, one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other organism (the host), which is harmed. For example, fleas live on dogs and feed on their blood. The fleas benefit, but the dog may suffer from itching, infections, or even anemia. Another example are tapeworms and humans. Tapeworms live in the intestines of humans and absorb nutrients, leaving the human host malnourished. Mutualism In mutualism, both organisms benefit from the relationship. An example would be bees and flowers: Bees collect nectar from flowers to make honey, while helping the flowers by transferring pollen, which helps them reproduce.

draw up a table with examples of animals and plants in a particular habitat, such as a garden, rice field, seashore, and mangrove swamp; 5. use flow charts to compare the different stages in the life cycle of animals, such as a butterfly, frog, chicken, and human; 6. use information from secondary sources to group animals according to the food they eat. Some are: a. plant eaters (herbivores), b. meat eaters (carnivores), and c. plant and meat-eaters (omnivores); and 7. draw a simple food chain using living things from the Philippines and label them as herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

Create a multiple choice test (10 questions with answers) from the following text: The Environment The environment is the combination of forces and conditions that surround and influence living and non-living things. Human beings’ environment includes such factors as temperature, food supply and other people that surround them. A plant’s environment may be made up of soil, sunlight, and animals that will eat the plant. A rock’s environment may be made up of seaweed, water and fish. Non-living environmental factors, such as temperature and sunlight, make up the abiotic (non-living) environment. Living organisms such as seaweed and food, make up the biotic environment. Both the abiotic and biotic environments interact to make up the total environment of living and non-living things. Ecology Ecology studies the relationships between living things and their environment. No living thing, plant or animal, lives alone. Every living thing depends in some way upon certain other living and non-living things to survive. The study of ecology increases our understanding of the world and all its creatures. This is crucial because humanity’s survival and well-being depend on relationships that exist on a world-wide basis: changes in distant parts of the world affect us and our environment. One concern of ecologists is the rate at which we are using up natural resources such as coal, gas, and oil. Along with scientists, they are searching for ways to use sunlight and atomic energy for fuel and power as alternative energy sources. Ecology also studies how many living organisms there are on Earth and how they are distributed. It also considers non-living physical factors of the environment, for example the presence of water, as these can influence where organisms decide to live. It is also important to know which organisms share the same environment, as they may need each other to survive. This kind of information helps ecologists to conserve our natural world, protecting the habitat of animals that are in danger of extinction, or trying to reduce pollution and global warming. Ecosystems Ecosystems are biological communities of all living things like plants, animals and organisms in a specific area that interact with each other and with the non-living forms present in their environment. They are the foundations of the biosphere and determine the health of the entire planet’s system. A biosphere is a global ecosystem, containing many different kinds of ecosystems.

1 .Sand soil • Has course/ large particles • they are larger than those of clay • Loses water quickly • Has less organic matter • Has good aeration • Allows good root penetration • Leaching of nutrients is more in sand soil. • Does not stick when wet 2. Clay soil • Has very fine particles which are closely packed • The soil is sticky when wet and can be moulded into any shape • It holds more water than sand and loam • It has poor drainage • It cracks when dry • It has poor aeration • It does not allow good root penetration 2 .Loam soil • Is a mixture of sand and clay particles • It half clay half sand • It can be easily moulded into a shape but easily crumbles • Holds water for a longer time than sand • It sticks on the hands when wet • It has good drainage • It has good aeration • It allows good root penetration • Loam is the best soil Soil Fertility • When soil has enough plant nutrients it is fertile • Soil fertility is the presence of nutrients in the soil • A farmer can add nutrients to the soil to make it fertile • This is done by applying fertilizers and compost. • A fertiliser is a substance that is added to the soil to increase fertility • Nutrients found in the soil include Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium ( NPK ) • They are called major nutrients or macro nutrients because they are needed in large quantities Minor nutrients • Minor nutrients are needed in smaller quantities • Minor nutrients are also called micro nutrients or trace elements • Examples of minor nutrients are boron, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium and molybdenum Soil erosion • Is the washing away of top soil by agents such as Water Wind Animals Humans 1. Water: • Water washes away soil when it rains. • Loose soil is washed away into dams and rivers. • Steep slopes also lead to soil erosion. • Ploughing 2 . Wind • The blowing away of soil by wind causes soil erosion. • When people cut down trees wind erosion easily takes place. • Type of soil also leads to wind erosion. Which soil type is easily eroded by wind? 3 . Animals • Animal cause soil erosion by overgrazing. • Overgrazing is when animals eat plant or vegetation leaving the ground surface bare. • Animals walking on the same pathway for a long time make the soil loose. • Animals that live underground also burrow loosening the soil. • This makes soil break easily and get washed away. WATER WATER CONSERVATION Water • Water is important in agriculture • It is used to: Clean farm tools Mould bricks Wash milking equipment Cool machines Provide homes(habitat) for fish Give animals drinking and bathing water Sources of Water Natural sources 1. Natural rains: • rain water from the clouds is a primary source of water. • It is used to water crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and so on during the rainy season. • Rain water that collects into the rivers and dams is used by animals and people for drinking. 2 . Rivers : • Rivers are some of the major sources of water for different activities such as fishing, boat cruising and irrigation. 3 . Streams : • A stream is a small river. • Streams supply water for irrigating garden crops especially in rural areas. • They are also a source of water for animals to drink and bath. Sources of Water 4 . Springs : • Springs are usually found on hilly areas. • They result from pressure of underground streams. • The pressure forces water underground to form a channel to the surface of the soil and flow above the ground. Sources of Water Man made sources Man discovered that water for agriculture was not enough during the rain and cool dry seasons. They decided to make structures which would harvest or collect and store water for future use. 1.Protected well: • Wells are dug in the ground by hand. • They are often lined with bricks and concrete so that they do not cave in. • Protected wells are covered, therefore are safe to drink from. 2 . borehole : • They are deep holes made by drilling machines. • Drilling can be done up to 70 metres deep. • Water is pumped using an electric pump or hand pump. Sources of Water 3 . Dams : • A dam is a large wall or barrier built to hold water to save it for future use. 4 . Weir : • A weir is made by construction a cement brick wall or concrete wall across a river to trap water and eroded soil. • water flows over the wall when the river is inflood. 5 .Water tank : • Is a temporary manmade water source. • Water from a water tank is usually harvested from roof tops or it works along a borehole or protected well as temporary storage. • Water is pumped from the borehole or protected well into the water tank. 6 . reservoir : • A large natural or manmade lake used as a source of water. PLANTS Uses of plants • Fibre for making clothes • Oil for cooking, making paint and chemicals • Sugar for tea • Wood for timber • Refreshing drinks and alcohol • Food for people and animals • Protect the soil from erosion • Plants supply us with fresh oxygen for breathing. • Some plant parts are used as medicine.

Adaptations of plants and animals in different biomes

Recognize that water is one of the basic needs of plants and animals; 3. participate in a guided investigation to identify the effect of different types of soil on the growth of plants;

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