Terrestrial Adaptations in Plants and Animals

Stems are covered by waxy coating in order to prevent the loss of water and helps in maintaining the water level in the plant under dry conditions.

The process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment is known as adaptation.

The trees in mountain habitats usually have cone shape having sloping branches. This shape makes the rainwater and snow to slide off easily.

Stems are modified in cactus in order to perform Photosynthesis. Stems are flattened and green having thick waxy coating over them and helps in performing photosynthesis as leaves are converted into spines.

Pine tree is found in the mountains.

Fir trees are found in mountains.

Plants is the biotic component.

Cactus are found in deserts as they are adapted to live in dry conditions.

Small changes that take place in the body of a single organism over short periods, to overcome small problems due to changes in the surroundings, are called Acclimatisation.

The broad-leaved trees found on mountains shed their leaves before the onset of winter. This prevents such trees from losing water from their leaves.

In the Northern Hemisphere, north-facing slopes receive less direct sunlight, are cooler, often support different vegetation (higher elevation types), and are better for retaining snow for skiing compared to south-facing slopes.

Chaparral biomes are characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, resulting in evergreen shrubs and animals adapted to drought conditions.

To stay away from the intense heat during the day, they stay in burrows deep in the sand. These burrows stay cool in the day and hence protect these animals from hot weather.

Yak have long hair to keep them warm in low temperature.

A waterless area of land covered with sand having no or little vegetation is called desert.

Desert animals come out only during the night when it is cooler.

The snow leopard has thick fur on its body. This fur protects them cold and keeps them warm.

Desert rats pass out a small amount of urine and hence conserve water in their body.

The snow leopard has a thick layer of fat beneath its skin for insulation to protect it from cold.

The ozone layer protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Without it, terrestrial animals would be exposed to lethal levels of radiation, leading to mass extinction.

Natural ecosystems like forests, oceans, and grasslands operate using solar energy without human-made subsidies like fertilizers or fuel. Machines, houses, and industries are human-made and require external energy inputs.