[Ncert Science Notes]* Ncert Science Class VI | Chapter 9. THE LIVING ORGANISMS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS

 CHAPTER – 9 

THE LIVING ORGANISMS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS 

• The surroundings where plants and animals live, is called their habitat. 

• Several kinds of plants and animals may share the same habitat. 

• The presence of specific features and habits, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called adaptation. 

• There are many types of habitats, however, these may be broadly grouped as terrestrial (on the land) and aquatic (in water). 

• There is a wide variety of organisms present in different habitats. 

• Plants, animals and microorganisms together constitute biotic components. 

• Rocks, soil, air, water, light and temperature are some of the abiotic components of our surroundings. 

• Characterisitcs of living things: 

(i) They need food to grow and for the processes. 

(ii) The young ones grow into adults. 

(iii) They respire. Animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. 

(iv) They respond to changes in the surrounding (stimull). 

(v) They all get rid of wastes produced in the body (excretion). 

(vi) They reproduce their own kind. 

(vii) They show movement. 

• Habitat: The surroundigs whwere organisms live. It has two components biotic (living things like plants and animals) and biotic (non-living things like rocks, soil, air and water).

Type of Habitat:

(a) Terrestrial Habitat: Plants and animals live on land. Example: forest, grasslands, deserts, coastal and mountain ranges.

(b) Aquatic Habitat: Plants and animals live in water. Example: ponds, swamps, lakes, rivers and oceans. 

Adaptations: Presence of specific features or certain habits which enable an organism to live in its surrounding. Terrestrial: 

(a) Deserts: Small animals stay in borrows deep in sand during day, and come out at night. In plants, leaves are either absent or very smell as spines; stem has a thick waxy coating; roots go deep into the soil.

(b) Mountains: Animals have thick skin or fur; mountain goat has strong hooves. Trees are cone shaped having sloping branches; leaves are needle like.

(c) Grasslands: Animals are light brown in colour; Lion: Long clause in front legs that can be withdrawn inside the toes; eyes in front of face. Deer: Srong teeth, long ears, eyes on the sides of head.Aquatic:

(a) Ponds: 

• Plants with roots fixed in soil: Stems are long, hollow and light; leaves float on water.

• Plants with roots submerge: Leaves are narrow and thin ribbon-like.

(b) Oceans:

• Animals have streamlined body; gills to respire (dolphins and whales have blowholes).

• Animals like squids and octopus do no have streamlined body and stay deep in water.